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2022-03-31-accounts

Company number: 02712823 Charity number: 1012361 OSCR number: SC040116

The Bat Conservation Trust

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2022

The Bat Conservation Trust

Contents

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Administrative information ............................................................................................................................... 3 The President’s message ................................................................................................................................... 5 Review by the Chair and Chief Executive .......................................................................................................... 7 Trustees’ annual report ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Independent auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the Bat Conservation Trust ......................... 38 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) .................................. 42 Balance sheet ................................................................................................................................................... 43 Statement of cash flows ................................................................................................................................... 44 Notes to the financial statements ................................................................................................................... 45

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Status The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7 May 1992 and registered as a charity in England and Wales on 29 June 1992 and in Scotland on 9 December 2008. Governing document The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association. Company number 02712823 Charity number 1012361 England and Wales Charity number SC040116 Scotland Registered office and Studio 15 Cloisters House, Cloisters Business Centre, operational address 8 Battersea Park Rd, London SW8 4BG Trustees Professor Kirsty Park (Chair, resigned Oct 2021) Jean Matthews (Chair from Oct 2021, previously Vice Chair) Steven Roe (Vice Chair from Oct 2021) Steve Markham (Treasurer, resigned Oct 2021) Dr. Ruth Waters (Treasurer from Oct 2021) Bob Cornes (Hon Secretary, resigned Oct 2021) Annika Binet (Hon Secretary from Oct 2021) Dr. Cerys Bradley (from Oct 2021) Stuart Brittenden Dr. Abigail Entwistle Rupert Lancaster Colette Marshall (co-opted May 2022) Roger Mortlock (resigned Oct 2021) Lord John Randall Dr. Orly Razgour (from Oct 2021) Helen Slinger (from Oct 2021) Matthew Terry (from Oct 2021) President Chris Packham CBE Vice Presidents Professor Paul Racey John Burton Dr. Robert Stebbings Patron David Gower OBE Ambassador Kate Rusby

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Honorary roles Hon Education Officer Shirley Thompson MBE
Hon Science & Professor Paul Racey
Conservation Advisor
Hon Science Advisors Professor Gareth Jones
Professor Kate Jones
Hon Legal Advisor Michael Ford QC
Senior Management Team
Chief Executive Kit Stoner
Director of Conservation Dr. Carol Williams (p/time)
Director of Communications & Dr. Joe Nunez-Mino
Fundraising
Bankers The Co-operative Bank plc
Kings Valley
Yew Street
Stockport SK4 2JU
Health and Safety JEM Safety Management Ltd
190 Moor Lane
Upminster
Essex RM14 1HG
Insurance brokers First Insurance Solutions Ltd
First Insurance Solutions House
Centre 3000, St. Leonards Road
Maidstone, Kent ME16 0LS
Financial advisors Coloma Wealth Management LLP
5th Floor, Pinnacle House
23-26 St Dunstan’s Hill
London EC3R 8HN
Investment managers Parmenion Capital Partners LLP
Aurora, Counterslip
Bristol BS1 6BX
Employment advisors Ellis Whittam Ltd
Woodhouse, Church Lane
Aldford, Chester CH3 6JD
Solicitors Aaron & Partners LLP
Grosvenor Court, Foregate Street
Chester CH1 1HG
Auditor HW Fisher LLP
Acre House, 11-15 William Road
London NW1 3ER

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

The President’s Message

As I look back on the remarkable achievements made by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and its supporters since I became President in 2006 and as I look at what was achieved and discovered even just during this 30th anniversary year, I realise, like all of us, that I am still learning incredible things about bats and this wonderful charity. All of it fills me with a sense of confidence that if the next 30 years can achieve at least as much, we are moving nature recovery in the right direction.

We have just seen another year of successes in bat population increases for some British species and we only know this thanks to the amazing work of citizen scientists who take part in BCT’S National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP). These dedicated volunteers donate their skilled time and passion to record vital data to enable BCT to see how our wild bat populations are faring. Although the pandemic interfered with NBMP work and other face-to-face and field work, we still saw a 49% increase in summer sites surveyed, plus 599 volunteers trained, 19 online workshops and 1,202 sites surveyed.

Of course, those conservation wins have not happened by chance, but by passion, toil and dedication by so many brilliant and skilled people, working on conservation in so many important ways, whether it’s joining individual projects, working in science discovery and research, on the Helpline, giving advice, outreach or expertise in other ways.

For example, the fantastic Back from the Brink project brought together BCT and several wildlife charities to help almost 100 threatened species, including bats, in England. Those species’ prospects of survival have improved after five years of concerted work by eight organisations funded primarily by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We also saw new species information guides for grey longeared, barbastelle, noctule and Bechstein’s bats.

That was just for England, so it’s great to learn that new initiatives are starting in Wales with Natur am Byth and Scotland with Species on the Edge. Work to save rare species and reconnect communities with nature is getting off the ground with both of these exciting projects.

The Bats in Churches project also had its busiest year since it began in 2019, with events reaching over 3,000 people. As a result, we know that around half of historic churches are thought to house bats, but it could be many more.

As the world watched the COP26 try to deliver action on climate change, we also saw incredibly important research by scientists on the impacts of global heating on bats. You can read this in the special freely downloadable Spring 2021 edition of Bat News via the resources on our website.

Migration patterns are predicted to change due to the warming climate, so it was fascinating to see one of Britain’s ringed bats, dubbed the ‘Olympian’ bat smashing a British record for long distance migration, and flying 2,018 km across Europe. This is one of the farthest ever known flights by a bat, globally. What a terrible pity she ended up in the jaws of a cat.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Here’s to another 30 brilliant years of bat conservation, through education, inspiration, collaborative action and scientific research to inspire us all to value and speak up for the world’s only flying mammals.

Chris Packham

President, Bat Conservation Trust

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Review by the Chair and Chief Executive

This was a big birthday year for us. With our supporters, we enjoyed celebrating 30 years of championing bats and working with a diverse spectrum of people and organisations to conserve these magnificent mammals for today and tomorrow. We reflected on our achievements and discoveries so far, and the big challenges ahead through all our events, in special features in our Bat News member magazine, and in a whole month of batty themed activities during BatFest.

It’s been a year of actions to reach out to new audiences, to be more inclusive and to increase nature access for everyone. This included our panel debate for International Women and Girls in Science Day, our work with Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Diverse Sustainability Initiative, and our online and face-to-face events and projects. In 2021 we developed new ways to engage younger and more ethnically diverse volunteers, increasing participation from 16-25 year olds and ethnic minority individuals. We launched the NightWatch community science project in England. It is engaging more people with nature, increasing more diverse participation among those from urban and ethnic minority communities and gathering new bat data. NightWatch Glasgow began too, and we held training, workshops, walks, and introduced AudioMoth bat detectors in urban areas.

In the past year, influencing policy has continued to be a key focus for BCT. The Environment Bill became the Environment Act. We are delighted that supporters joined the mass campaign calling for legally binding targets to end wildlife’s decline by 2030. We will continue working with other NGOs to make sure that the targets are fit for purpose, and to ensure that other initiatives coming out of the Act (for example, biodiversity net gain for developments and Local Nature Recovery Strategies) work for bat conservation.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill has just been published, and in the months leading up to this, we have worked with other NGOs on two related areas: planning and access to nature. We joined more than 60 nature, health, planning and equality organisations to demand ‘a legal right to nature’ in upcoming Levelling Up legislation. We responded to several consultations including the 7th Quinquennial Review for reviewing species in Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, a vital piece of legislation for bat conservation.

On development and planning, we saw more than 15,000 people using the Partnership for Biodiversity online planning advice portal, even though funding has ended. The BCT Roost Awards and Bat Roost Tree Tag Scheme have been showcasing best practice techniques in avoiding bat roost impacts and the web pages for both schemes went live. BCT worked with Natural England (NE) and Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) on a new approach to licensing mitigation work in England, called Earned Recognition.

Our work on bat crime prevention saw 36 proposals reviewed, working alongside police and the Bat Crime Priority Delivery Group (PDG). We ran workshops as part of the UK Wildlife Crime Enforcers Conference and had oversight on 136 police investigations.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

A huge thank you once again to everyone who supports our work and makes bat conservation impactful. This year, for example, the National Bat Helpline began recruiting volunteers for a new out of hours service and saw an incredible response. The Helpline fielded 11,187 enquiries, with 5,311 of them handled by the out-of-hours Volunteer Bat Care Helpline.

The support from everyone especially through such challenging times strengthens everything we do and builds our hopes for a better future for bats, wildlife and people.

Jean Matthews, Chair

Kit Stoner, Chief Executive

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, applicable law and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Structure, Governance & Management

History of The Bat Conservation Trust

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) was formed in 1991, by far-seeing individuals who recognised that the combination of challenges to the conservation of bats was unique. BCT is proud to be the leading non-governmental organisation devoted solely to the conservation of bats and their habitats. In a very short time, BCT has grown to become an organisation with more than 6,500 members, with offices in England, Wales and Scotland and a team equivalent to around 30 full-time staff including scientists, specialists in training, outreach and biodiversity, volunteer engagement, fundraising, media and membership. BCT’s core activities include: biodiversity delivery (taking effective practical conservation actions and influencing policy to secure bat populations); the National Bat Monitoring Programme; delivering advice about bats (through the National Bat Helpline and through long-term partnerships with the statutory nature conservation organisations and with statutory investigators and prosecutors); training professionals and volunteers; and engaging and educating wider audiences.

An overview of who we are

BCT has championed bats for 30 years and the places they need to survive.

Our vital stats: We spend just 13p (2021: 12p) on fundraising per £1 raised

Around 200,000 online supporters

Around 3,000 volunteers

Our purpose:

Vision: A world rich in wildlife where bats and people thrive together.

Mission: To conserve bats for present and future generations. Through education, collaborative action and scientific research, we inspire individuals and organisations to value and speak out for bats.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Values: Inspiration, collaboration, evidence-based.

The charity's main activities and the people and wildlife we strive to help are described below. All our charitable activities focus on conserving bats for present and future generations and are undertaken to further Bat Conservation Trust’s charitable purposes for the public benefit.

We work to:

Discover: To ensure scientific evidence is in place to support bat conservation.

Act: To secure and enhance bat populations and their resilience in a changing world.

Inspire: To win the levels of support required to secure and enhance bat populations.

Strengthen: To enable BCT to achieve financial stability and sustainable staff workloads; to ensure staff and volunteers are motivated and well led.

DISCOVER

National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP)

The NBMP is run by the Bat Conservation Trust, in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and supported and steered by Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot and Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

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It is the longest running purpose-built, multi-species monitoring programme for mammals in the UK and relies on a nationwide network of citizen scientists. In 2021, the Hibernation Survey was suspended due to the unknown but credible risk of humans passing SARS-CoV-2 on to bats while carrying out close-proximity surveys. However, summer surveys were less impacted by COVID-19 than in 2020, and there was a 49% increase in the number of sites surveyed, with 1,202 sites surveyed in total. Bat detector and sound analysis workshops were again run online, with 19 (2021: 13) workshops providing training for 599 volunteer surveyors. Eighty-seven percent (2021: 88%) of volunteers used our online recording portal to return their survey data.

Following on from the volunteer demographic and engagement reports we commissioned in early 2021 we have been working to engage younger and more ethnically diverse volunteers. This work was supported by our new Volunteer Engagement Officer role, funded through the government’s Kickstart scheme. We ran some free online introductory workshops on looking for bats in your local area, expanded our social media promotion of the Sunset Survey, reached out to groups that connect people with nature, and delivered bat talks in partnership with Voyage Youth. Volunteer demographics are now monitored through a new demographic form included as an optional part of the NBMP online sign-up process. We are starting to see some positive results from this work, including increased numbers of new sign-ups within the 16-25 age group (16.3% of new sign-ups from May 2021 to March 2022 compared with <3% of existing volunteers responding to our questionnaire in March 2021). There was also an increase in new sign-ups who identified themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority group (4.1% of new sign-ups compared with 0.02% of March 2021 questionnaire respondents).

NBMP data have enabled us to produce statistically robust population trends for 11 of the UK’s 17 breeding bat species. The latest results were published in the NBMP Annual Report in May 2021.

Advances in monitoring

EchoHub

EchoHub is an open-source, community-built, sound library focusing exclusively on bat sounds. The goal of EchoHub is to make it easier to share and access recordings of bat sounds for diverse purposes such as scientific research, conservation, education, and the arts. The website’s wireframe is completed. We have tested the website with initial users and collated feedback. We are currently editing the website to incorporate the users’ feedback. The next step will be to soft-launch the website with the collaboration of two or three bat groups.

NightWatch

NightWatch is a community science/citizen science project launched in 2021. It is run by the Bat Conservation Trust and supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). NightWatch has two main goals:

Ninety-five participants took part in our NightWatch pilot survey in the 2021 summer/autumn. We are currently analysing the data and will share the results with them soon. We have recruited a part time Engagement Officer for the NightWatch project who will develop and implement an engagement strategy to liaise with community groups and engage and recruit participants.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

We are in the process of collating and providing feedback on the beta version of the NightWatch online portal. The website can host multiple surveys and other BCT passive acoustic surveys can be added at any time. We are developing an upload app that will enable volunteers to upload their recordings directly to the cloud-based classification system. We plan to trial the app this coming survey season.

Sound classification system

We are developing our sound classification system with the help of an Amazon Web Services specialist. The sound classification system will encompass our upload app, our survey website and our bat classification algorithm. It will streamline the data processing for NightWatch and other passive acoustic projects.

Woodland monitoring

In 2021, BCT and Forest Research undertook a scoping study to investigate ways to integrate acoustic monitoring of bats into the National Forest Inventory field survey (NFI). In addition, following on from the successful 2019 Forestry England Bat Survey proof-of-concept study, we undertook a second pilot survey during 2021 with Forestry England, to refine the survey protocol for long term woodland monitoring and improve our understanding of the variability of woodland bat monitoring data between years. We are currently carrying out statistical analysis of the data which will inform the survey design for the woodland surveys that we plan to run in summer 2022.

Other monitoring partnerships

During 2021 we continued to partner with the Government of Jersey to analyse ten years of acoustic data from Jersey, and make recommendations for a comprehensive monitoring programme for the island that includes a variety of monitoring approaches. We are also supporting the RSPB to pilot bat monitoring across their reserves.

Research

Impacts of bias on detecting bat population change

BCT have co-supervised two PhDs over the past year that have looked at the impacts of bias in bat population modelling: ‘Modelling drivers of population change in bats’ (Lea Dambly, hosted by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)) and ‘Using ecoacoustics to understand anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity: a case study on European bats’ (Ella Browning, hosted by UCL), both of which draw on data from the NBMP.

Ella completed her PhD in 2021 and published another paper in collaboration with BCT ‘Accounting for spatial autocorrelation and environment are important to derive robust bat population trends from citizen science data’ (Ecological Indicators 2022;

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2200190X). In this work, Ella used Bayesian hierarchical modelling method (integrated nested Laplace approximation) to investigate the impact of spatial and environmental bias on trends estimated using Field Survey data. The nature of the NBMP as a citizen science programme means that there is greater survey coverage in areas of greater population density, and in certain habitats. This is partially controlled by weighting data for Great Britain by country, in proportion to the ratio of non-upland area to number of sites surveyed; however, this does not account for within-country spatial autocorrelation, or biased

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

sampling of different habitats. Using this novel modelling approach, this study confirmed that the reported population trends are broadly robust, although some small changes were found.

NBMP data were also used by PhD student Lea Dambly in a case study examining parameters affecting species distribution models that use integrated data (data from more than one source). Lea used integrated data from the NBMP and National Biodiversity Network (NBN) for the serotine bat ( Eptesicus serotinus ) in Great Britain to create point process models that use Bayesian methods to fit a triangular mesh over the spatial domain. These models are very effective for data integration but as changing the mesh density, to fit more or less to the data can influence the model predictions, these types of models are often avoided by ecological modellers. In this study, Lea compares models with different mesh sizes and recommends caution when modelling, to avoid overfitting with a too fine mesh, versus loss of accuracy with increased coarseness. Data integration is crucial if modellers are to utilise location data from the maximum number of sources, so Lea’s study is an important step forward in highlighting the tools available for researchers to do this.

Bats and insects

BCT is project partner on a new Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded study investigating the drivers and repercussions of UK insect population declines, alongside the University of Leeds, UKCEH, University of Reading and Rothamsted Research, called the DRUID project (Drivers and Repercussions of UK Insect Declines). This project began in January 2021. It will be making the most comprehensive assessment to date of the state of the UK’s insect populations, and seeking to link insect population changes to changes in insect predator populations (bats and birds).

BCT is co-supervisor of a PhD hosted by Rothamsted Research, investigating the long-term changes in the abundance and phenology of migrating insects as potential drivers of population change in insectivorous birds and bats. Hannah Romanowski started the South West Bio Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP) studentship PhD in Sept 2021. She completed her Rotation 1 project with BCT and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), as an introduction to the NBMP and bird datasets she will be working with during her PhD. Hannah is due to complete her field-based Rotation 2 at the University of Bristol with supervisory input from BCT and will be collecting bat activity data for comparison to insect trap data.

BCT is also co-supervisor of Penelope Fialas who is working towards a PhD on valuing ecosystem services provided by UK bats under climate change. This coming season will focus on vineyards.

Vincent Weir Scientific Award

The Vincent Weir Scientific Award was first established in 2010 to recognise the achievements of new bat researchers and their contributions to bat conservation. Domhnall Finch won the award in 2021 for his PhD work on the landscape scale management of greater horseshoe bats. Domhnall used multiple research techniques, including field experiments, meta-analysis and computer modelling, to examine horseshoe bat responses to traffic noise, landscape features and management systems. Domhnall has published four papers from this PhD research in good academic journals, including Environmental Pollution, Landscape Ecology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and Animals.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Kate Barlow Award

The 2022 Kate Barlow Award was awarded to Elyce Gosselin of the University of Idaho, USA. Genomic data generated as a part of Elyce’s project will provide novel information about the phylogenomics, landscape genomics and population genomics of the two species of bats found in the Galápagos Islands: the Galápagos red bat ( Lasiurus blossevillii brachyotis ) and hoary bat ( L. villosissimus ). While the Galápagos is an iconic island system and many species have been studied extensively, very little is known about the bat populations despite their status as two of the few terrestrial mammals native to the Galápagos. With the genomic data, Elyce will be able to evaluate the taxonomic status of the two species of bats, determine the timing and number of colonization events, evaluate whether there is gene flow between islands, and estimate genetic diversity and effective population size. This information, as well as occupancy modelling and habitat-use data collected as another part of her project, will be used to create a data-informed, long-term management and monitoring plan with Galápagos National Park. Elyce’s project forms part of her PhD thesis at the University of Idaho, USA.

ACT

Biodiversity

Professional Guidance/Standards

‘Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition)’ continues to have a far reach. During 2021, the UK Bat Steering Group discussed tree surveys for bats (see below) and several meetings were held to discuss the technical content of the next edition of the guidelines, notably around the use of infrared cameras and how to cover more significant maintenance and infrastructure projects. A draft of the 4th edition is now with the Technical Review Board for their comments and will be published in hard copy format (with a non-printable pdf available on the BCT website) later in 2022. There will be opportunities to sponsor this publication.

An updated version of ‘Bats and Onshore Wind Turbines: Survey, Assessment and Mitigation’ was published on the NatureScot website in August 2021. BCT contributed to this update. BCT attended the Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife in the Netherlands in April 2022.

BCT’s Head of Biodiversity sits on the Advisory Group (led by CIEEM) for updating the ‘Bat Mitigation Guidelines’, alongside a variety of stakeholders including the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs). The results of our mitigation project were fed into the new guidelines. A beta version was published in summer 2021 for public comment and BCT has attended subsequent meetings and contributed to further reviews. The guidance should be published later in 2022. The guidelines will be widely publicised by BCT and others, including on our website, through our bulletins, through our developer contacts and at the Consultant’s Forum in 2023.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

UK Bat Steering Group

On an annual basis BCT convenes the UK Bat Steering Group. This group is made up of a range of organisations that influence bat conservation through their activities (SNCBs, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Forestry Commission, National Trust, Vincent Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Woodland Trust and Historic England). In 2021, two meetings of the group were held, one on bat surveys of trees/woodland and the other on mitigation and compensation for impacts on trees/woodland during development. More detail can be found on the BCT website. The content of the meeting has been used in updating the bat survey guidelines (see above).

Links with other organisations

BCT continues to work with organisations with which we have overlapping work areas as this level of collaboration is vital in achieving positive outcomes. These organisations include the SNCBs, CIEEM, the Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) and the Environment Agency (EA).

In addition, we convene a Consultants Forum annually to update consultants on BCT’s activities and to hear from them on their concerns and priorities. This year’s forum went ahead in January 2022.

Earned Recognition Project

BCT is working with Natural England and CIEEM on the pilot for a new transformative approach to licensing mitigation work in England that impacts on bats, which will streamline the licensing process, raise professional standards and improve outcomes for bats. This approach is known as Earned Recognition (ER).

ER works on the basis of assessing and accrediting a consultant’s competence in undertaking survey work and designing effective mitigation so that, by using an accredited consultant, developers can experience a more streamlined licensing process for their scheme or project.

The competency requirements for consultants are being defined on the basis of relevant selected elements of CIEEM’s Competency Framework (but a more detailed version with an emphasis on bats) with the indicators of competence mapped across to BCT’s Professional Training Standards. There will be different competency requirements based on the level of accreditation applied for, which, in turn, relates to the degree of risk to bats and bat roosts from the projects that the accredited consultant will be able to work on.

During the last financial year, BCT has contributed to the production of ER assessment materials, the assessment and training of ER assessors, evaluation of the pilot and important decisions through the Steering Group. The project is currently in the process of completing assessments and accreditation for up to 100 ecologists. Some have already been accredited and the Site Registration portal has been opened for those ecologists to benefit from the more streamlined licensing process.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

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Bats and farming

In this last year, BCT has been part of two collaborative projects with a focus on delivering for bats in the farmed landscape. Both have been focussed on the grey long-eared bat and both projects have completed in this year.

The Grey Long-eared Bat Project, as part of ‘Back from the Brink’, continued to work with farmers and landowners to improve foraging habitat (primarily species rich grassland) and connectivity, throughout the south Devon project area until it completed in November 2021. It was a very successful project with 213 landowners engaged (2021: 198), the number of hectares enhanced or restored (80.5ha) and the number of community events (62) all far exceeding their targets. A total of 86 volunteers were trained or engaged by the project. Legacy was an important part of closing this project.

One aspect of this was the collaboration with East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a Green Recovery Challenge Funded project 'Return of the True Night Rider'. This 18month project continued and expanded upon the work of the Back from the Brink Grey Long-eared Bat Project moving the focus to East Devon and into West Dorset. Work continued with farmers and landowners on habitat improvement and connectivity. This project completed in January 2022 when in this short period a further 47 land managers had been engaged and 19.25 Ha of habitat enhanced or restored. With both projects successfully completed, BCT is looking to build on this foundation with further collaborative farming-based projects for a wider range of bats.

Partnership working has continued with the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Farm Wildlife and Pesticides Action Network UK, although this work has been much reduced due to lack of a farm wildlife specialist from August 2021.

Policy

The past year has been challenging in terms of policy work, with some very important reforms and policies being proposed that could have significant impacts on bat conservation, but reduced capacity to input into these in the second half of the year. Policy work has included the Environment Bill (now Act), planning reform and access to nature for everyone, Nature Recovery Green Paper, Biodiversity Net Gain, High Speed Two, Environmental Land Management Schemes, the Quinquennial Review (QQR7) for reviewing species in Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Nature Recovery Networks. As well as inputting into many of these areas as an individual organisation, we also continue to work very closely with other environmental NGOs through the four Environment Links and Greener UK, to get a strong and effective voice for conservation across the United Kingdom. In recent months we have joined the newly set up Better Planning Coalition which has a focus on proposed planning reforms.

BCT continues to promote the importance of retaining and strengthening the legislation protecting bats. Promotion of bats and their protection is supported through our Species Champions projects (England: 3 Species Champions, Wales: 1 Species Champion, Scotland: 1 Nature Champion).

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The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Licence monitoring project with NE

BCT is currently working with NE and stakeholders on a project to identify options to improve European Protected Species licence monitoring. A stakeholder day was held in March 2022, attended by 20 stakeholders who shared views on key issues and potential solutions. A report has been drafted consolidating these views and developing three options for improvements, with pros and cons for each (including stakeholder impact).

Jersey Licensing Framework

BCT is currently working with the Jersey Government on a new licensing framework for bats, following the introduction of the Wildlife (Jersey) Law in 2021. Stakeholder consultation is part of this work, one stakeholder day went ahead in October 2021 and another in March 2022, after which the licences will be finalised. The framework includes the following licences: Bat Ecologist Class Licence, Bat Care Class Licence, Arborist Class Licence, Bat Mitigation Licence and Bat Research Licence.

The Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning (PBP)

Our funding for the Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning Project has now come to an end. However, we continue to maintain the partnership website and Wildlife Assessment Checklist (WAC) and the latter is being updated as appropriate. We make contact with partners annually to check for updates.

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The Bat Conservation Trust

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Wildlife Crime Project

Our statistics show that the majority of bat-related offences occur within development/construction projects. Armed with this knowledge, the Wildlife Crime Project’s strategic work has focussed on relevant crime prevention initiatives in the last year. At the December 2021 UK Wildlife Crime Enforcers Conference the project ran two workshops entitled, ‘COVID and Bats/Crime Prevention & Planning (development)’. The latter workshop was to develop new preventative approaches to bat offences, some 36 proposals were made, which have been consolidated and are being looked at by the police-chaired Bat Crime Priority Delivery Group (Bat Crime PDG).

The Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) for Northumbria Police, Debbie Ford (who recently took the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) portfolio lead on Wildlife and Rural Crime) stated that the Police/NGO partnership is the best working example she has ever seen in her 28-year career.

The United Nations’ ‘wildlife and forest crime analytic toolkit report’ was publicly released on 17 December 2021. The document involved the seven wildlife crime priorities, one of which is bat crime. The BCT Wildlife Crime Project was involved. The Bat Crime PDG has a 12-month work plan which will encompass recommendations from this report. BCT has published a position statement on the website calling for more accountability from other bodies in relation to the report’s recommendations.

The day-to-day operational work of the project continues; primary demand is from the police, ecologists and the public seeking advice and guidance on bat related offending. In the last 12 months the project has had oversight on 136 (2021: 125) police investigations into bat crime. Offence disposals have varied from restorative justice outcomes to police cautions and court prosecutions.

With the continuous challenges on funding and capacity, the project strives in partnership to protect bats and their habitats in line with BCT conservation priorities, whilst ensuring offenders do not benefit from their illegal actions.

Built environment

BCT’s work to improve awareness, knowledge and action for bat conservation within the built environment sector goes from strength to strength. In 2021, this meant the launch of BCT’s first exciting strategic partnership with a housebuilder. Vistry Group approached BCT with aims that aligned with BCT’s goals, to upskill their staff in biodiversity awareness, to enable them to go above and beyond mandatory biodiversity net gain. The Built Environment Manager ran two webinars for Vistry Group staff in early 2022; introducing their staff to BCT and bats, then the second webinar focussed on technical advice. This is prior to workshops for key staff to be run later in the year and the identification of demonstrator sites to showcase best practice.

The year included delivering a suite of online engagement work; existing training courses such as ‘Bats for Building Professionals’ and ‘Bats for Pest Controllers’ were run through the year, but new online courses were also launched. The Built Environment Manager was contracted by Historic England to produce bats in traditional buildings awareness guidance webpages, then to deliver a technical webinar to building professionals on this topic. From this work a new ‘Bats for Heritage Professionals’ training was developed to much interest, with courses running in January and February 2022.

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The Roost Award winner has been working closely with the built environment project, promoting the best practice techniques of avoidance of bat roost impacts recognised by their case study. The winner Chris Damant delivered a workshop at the National Bat Conference on heritage buildings and became a judge for the upcoming Roost Awards 2022, to be announced at the National Bat Conference.

Knowledge gathered from case studies and engagement with ecologists continues to feed into the Roost Partnership to create the best opportunities for bats in the built environment by working with bat box and access product manufacturers. A proportion of the sales revenue from partners is reinvested into the Roost scheme, with the aim of improving bat roosting habitat. This unique partnership signed up a new partner in 2021, lead roof tile manufacturer Just Lead, which led to articles promoting the Partnership in trade magazines such as Roofing Today.

Engagement with ecologists to gather feedback on the built environment project, as well as other relevant BCT departments, was done through the Consultants Forum that ran in January 2022 and was attended by 100 ecological consultants, topics included key policy work and changes in licensing processes that could impact consultants.

The steering group that oversees the issue of non-bitumen coated roofing membrane impacts on bats continues to meet on a regular basis and to support each other to tackle issues raised by ecologists and the industry. The steering group which comprises BCT, academics and the SNCBs welcomed roofing membrane manufacturer TLX to the board in early 2022 to further this work.

After delays due to COVID-19 and securing funding, the next phase of bat box sensor testing work with partners Arup began in March 2022. This aims to refine the sensor design and with further field testing and data analysis to assess their viability. Long-term, the goal is to have a partnership involving property developers, environmental consultancies and conservation technologists to look at the potential for a commercial product.

Bats and woodland

The following Back from the Brink (BftB) integrated projects – Roots of Rockingham, Dorset Heathland Heart and Ancients of the Future drew to a close in July, August and November respectively. BCT’s Woodland Officer worked with the project leads and partners to complete the project’s final reports and survey summary reports with habitat recommendations were shared with landowners and volunteer surveyors. In addition, species information guides for barbastelle, noctule and Bechstein’s bat were produced and are now available to download from the BftB and BCT websites. The legacy of these projects continues after the completion of the projects. A local bat group in Northamptonshire has agreed to continue with the surveys started by the Roots of Rockingham project, which includes NBMP roost counts, monitoring of veteranisation techniques trials (using trial cameras) and continued support to a private estate on the conversion of air raid shelters into hibernaculum. Following the completion of the ‘habitat requirements of Bechstein’s bats in the Dorset Heaths’ report in 2020, Dorset Bat Group and BCT had a virtual meeting with Forestry England and local landowners during February 2022 to discuss the project findings and consideration of key commuting routes in any future management plans. This was followed by a site visit in the afternoon led by the Dorset Bat Group.

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BCT’s Bat Roost Tree Tag Scheme (BRTTS) web pages went live in May 2021. The primary purpose of the scheme is to ensure trees containing confirmed bat roosts are easily identifiable. The presence of a tag on a tree is well recognised by woodland workers and site managers, so providing a bat roost tree tag will bring clarity to those on the ground about those trees already identified as bat roosts. When a woodland operative sees a tag and their actions may impact the tree, they will know they need to seek appropriate advice before proceeding with any work, giving a significantly increased level of protection for bat roosts in trees. Additionally, all tree roost and species records collected through the scheme will support current and future work studying bats’ use of different tree species and roosting opportunities.

Looking forward, during this year’s survey season, we will be working with the Dorset and Somerset Bat Groups to complete three radiotracking surveys to learn more about Bechstein’s bat’s use of atypical habitat and landscapes through our Fascinating World of Woodland Bats project. Radiotracking training will also be delivered to members of the Somerset Bat Group through the project.

BCT’s Woodland Officer continued to work with the NBMP on their passive acoustic monitoring projects and took on the project officer role for two pilot Forest Bat Surveys in 2021, one for Forestry England and one for Forest Research. The datasets collected from both projects has allowed us to refine a survey protocol that can be used to construct a Natural Capital Account for the bat population in woodlands and trial survey methods and administrative procedures.

Bats in churches

The project has continued to work closely work with over 100 project churches. All of the churches which needed surveys have had them and a majority of the project capital works are complete and in a phase of post-work monitoring.

Over the year we hosted or were part of 29 engagement events which took place at project churches, celebrating the churches and their bats. There were a further 13 (2021: 14) online events from our Bats in Churches LIVE webinars to talks to bat groups. Collectively, our events reached over 3,000 people. We delivered 28 training events, from heritage cleaning workshops to bat survey training and best practice forums for professional ecologists and architects. In addition, we shared project news via nine radio interviews and were on television on BBC Midlands Today and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. Over the year, the project has had articles in nine magazines or newspapers, including ‘The Biologist and Conservation Land Management’.

The project continued to run our citizen science surveys between June and August and we had our busiest year since it started in 2019. The aim of the surveys is to learn more about bats’ use of church buildings and to better understand perspectives around bats in churches across the country. The study has a total of 785 volunteers registered and to date 338 churches have been surveyed. We have developed a new results page to easily share a summary of our findings: https://batsinchurches.bats.org.uk/Results.aspx.

One of the main barriers when it comes to volunteer involvement in our surveys is contacting a selected church. To help, over the winter we've contacted the priority churches we hope to survey in 2022 and are currently matching the churches with volunteers. We hope that this will encourage a large uptake in the surveys over the summer for our fourth and final Bats in Churches Study season.

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Our Research Strategy Group has continued to shape our approach to understanding and sharing our findings and will be increasingly important in the upcoming year as we begin to collate and analyse the findings from our mitigation and citizen science work. In 2021, a legacy group was also formed to ensure the project has a long-term positive impact and it will continue to meet once a quarter.

INSPIRE

Helpline

The National Bat Helpline provides a national advice and information service available to anyone who is interested in or concerned about bats. You can find helpful advice about bats and their roosts online (https://www.bats.org.uk/advice) or reach us on 0345 1300 228 between 9.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays all year round. The Helpline fielded a total of 11,187 (2021: 14,857) enquiries (calls, emails and letters) in 2021-22.

The Helpline provides immediate welfare advice to those who have found grounded, injured and orphaned bats through our Volunteer Bat Care Helpline. Trained volunteers help us respond to members of the public who have found grounded and injured bats during our open hours, with an ‘Out of Hours’ Volunteer Bat Care Helpline also provided during evenings and weekends in the summer. These dedicated volunteers handled 5,311 enquiries during 2021-22. We maintain a blog for members of the UK Bat Care Network as a way of sharing stories, news and best practice with the volunteers who rescue bats. We continued to raise funds to support the running of this service.

Helpline staff organised 674 (2021: 618) roost visits (6% of all Helpline enquiries (2021: 4.2%)) on behalf of Natural England through their free bat advice service. We also advised on a further 1,462 (2021: 2,890) Natural England enquiries (13.1% of all Helpline enquiries (2021: 19.5%)) which did not require a visit. The Natural England casework is an enormously important part of our work, which would not be possible without the dedication and flexibility of their Volunteer Bat Roost Visitors. The help and advice given by those who take part in this service is extremely valuable and we at BCT believe the system is vital to the conservation of bats in the UK.

The Helpline advised on calls from various sectors including churches with enquiries about safely undertaking maintenance work, bat walks and involving parishioners in encouraging bats to the church and grounds. We have also contributed to the Bats in Churches partnership project and will continue to do so over the coming year.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Helpline whether that be donations of time, money or expertise over the last year. We are so grateful to our callers who do the right things for bats and seek out advice from the National Bat Helpline.

Training and conferences

BCT delivered 27 (2021: 25) training courses this year for a combined audience of over 500 people (2021: 349 people); this is more than in previous years, partly due to the increased capacity of some

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of the new online courses. We started reintroducing in-person training and held nine courses in person and the rest online.

We reversed last year’s pattern and returned to the majority of our courses being openly advertised courses with 10 as in-house courses.

Building on the success of last year’s experiments, we continued to run some courses online as well as introducing new ones such as online bat care training course in collaboration with Maggie Brown of West Yorkshire Bat Hospital and ‘British bats, their ecology and conservation’. All received positive feedback. BCT also collaborated with the Environment Agency on our first training videos to help their field staff working with trees.

Following consultation, the National Bat Conference was held online again and was attended by 250 (2021: 278) people. It was moved to Halloween this year and extended to include Friday afternoon as well to incorporate celebrations of BCT’s 30th anniversary including a panel discussion looking at 30 years of the Bat Conservation Trust. For 2022, we are planning a hybrid format incorporating the best of our online events with an in-person conference at Yarnfield Park near Stafford on 23-25 September 2022.

We continued to hold regional bat conferences online until March 2022 when the Midlands Bat Conference was our first hybrid conference with both in person and virtual delegates. Bookings were lower than expected and we are undertaking a consultation with bat workers to understand what they want from regional bat conferences moving forward.

We repeated “BatFest” a series of online events which ran from International Bat Night on and through September. New events included the Batty Sketch-a-long, Bats versus Moths – our collaboration with Butterfly Conservation and the Batty Awards. We also ran a successful online panel discussion for International Day of Women and Girls in Science exploring “Challenges and Opportunities for Women and Girls in Bat Science and Conservation” which shone a light on a variety of topics not often discussed publicly from barriers to getting started in bat work to menstruation and balancing fieldwork and parenthood. As part of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work, we plan to continue exploring some of these topics in future events.

Membership

Membership continues to be an important source of income and is also a way for supporters to add their voice to ours and become more informed and involved in bat conservation. Membership makes up approximately 10% of BCT’s income and is a particularly important because it is unrestricted in nature. We aim to continue supporting existing BCT members and encouraging others to join.

The number of members and membership income has increased every year over the last five years but the rate of growth has slowed over the last 12 months. BCT’s fulfilment (sending out of welcome packs and membership magazines) is back up and running, after stalling during the pandemic, and we have been exploring ways to improve the current welcome pack new members receive. We are aiming to implement some further improvements to the way we interact with members in 2022-23. We have also run membership recruitment campaigns, which have been successful so we plan to do more in the future. We encourage supporters to join as members through a series of channels

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including (but not restricted to): social media, newsletters from several BCT departments (e.g. NBMP, Helpline, Communications & Fundraising), communications with the press, bat groups, etc.

We are pleased to say that we had five (2021: eight) new life members and four new corporate members over the year. Corporate members receive opportunities for sponsoring projects, events and publications ahead of being offered to others.

Our current members receive one or both our magazines (depending on membership type) as well as discounts on BCT conferences and training courses. We continue to produce engaging content for our members. The spring 2021 issue of Bat News focused on climate change and the summer edition marked BCT’s 30th anniversary with a range of articles covering the discoveries and bat conservation progress that have been made during the last 30 years.

The Adopt a Bat scheme is another important source of income and an engagement tool. Income decreased slightly this year but it had been increasing steadily for the last five years. Adopt a Bat subscribers have the perk of receiving a cuddly bat with their welcome packs and we will be reviewing the contents of this pack in 2022-23 to ensure this is still an attractive subscription. They also receive a newsletter twice a year with fun and interesting information about bats and bat conservation.

Championing bats

BCT continues to champion bats by raising appreciation of bats and the importance of bat conservation as well as encouraging supporters to get involved; whether that is becoming members, donating, volunteering, raising funds for bats, raising awareness or sharing our news. Last year it was BCT’s 30th anniversary which was celebrated through a series of events and promoted via a series of channels.

BCT published 24 news pieces about topics ranging from bat crime, policy/advocacy, celebrating collaborative projects; and six blogs from a variety of guests were also shared across our network, via newsletters, membership magazines, mainstream media and social media.

Having a social media presence is an important to way to raise awareness of bats and bat conservation with a wide range of people, from professionals, academia, bat enthusiasts and wildlife enthusiasts. It is also an effective education, fundraising and membership recruitment tool and a useful way to be kept up to date with relevant news from the sector, including research projects and other relevant news.

Bat Conservation Trust’s presence in social media continues to grow despite not having a dedicated member of staff. At the end of the financial year the Bat Conservation Trust had:

The third season of our podcast BatChat finished just before the year end and was sponsored by two of our corporate members. Season 4 is already being recorded and will be launched in Autumn 2022. So far BatChat has been downloaded 35,390 times. The first episode ever published (Shirley

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Thompson: The Past, Present & Future of Bat Conservation) is the most popular episode ever, followed by ‘Bats & Coronavirus’ and ‘Woodchester Mansion’.

Education

Education is a theme that runs throughout all our projects and activities. Our engagement with Younger Audiences continues to happen via The Young Batworker magazine entirely produced by Shirley Thompson MBE, BCT’s Honorary Education Officer. We are increasingly interacting with younger audiences via social media which generates significant content for the magazine.

We have a range of freely downloadable resources and activities from the website including a bilingual educational pack (Welsh and English). We aim to develop further resources and make best use of the existing material so that we can support the education work carried out by bat groups.

Bat group support: UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

BCT could not deliver all that it does for bat conservation without the support of bat groups across the British Islands. We have a formal relationship with 86 (2021: 88) groups (70 (2021: 70) Partner Groups and 16 (2021: 18) Network Groups) across the British Isles, with new groups forming this year in England and Scotland.

Abby Packham, Bat Groups Officer, now supports groups in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (this follows the retirement of Steve Lucas, see ‘BCT in Wales’ below). After her return from maternity leave in the winter Liz Ferrell, Scottish Bat Officer, moved organisations to spend more work time in the great outdoors. We wish Liz all the best and thank her for all her hard work to support bat groups and bat conservation in Scotland. Claudia Gebhardt, who was maternity cover for Liz, is now the permanent full time Scottish Bat Officer.

Together, our Bat Groups Officer and Scottish Bat Officer provide a range of support to groups, including talks, training, outreach materials (e.g. leaflets), insurance, advice and guidance, and networking opportunities such as the (new this year) online bat group mingles. Bat group projects are supported financially through the Partner Group Support Fund (with five awards made this year totalling £1,502 (2021: three totalling £1,028)) as well as through advice, guidance and participation for collaborative work, where appropriate. Updates and information are disseminated to bat groups through the production of the monthly bat group bulletin, the BCT website (which includes dedicated pages for bat groups), as well as through direct regular contact, annual meetings (which include presentations and training), regional meetings, biennial regional conferences, and the annual Bat Workers’ Forum. Due to restrictions on gatherings continuing this year, many events have been held virtually which has opened up access; however we have also seen the return to in-person events such as the hybrid Midlands Regional Conference, where attendees could join in-person or online for the same event.

Looking ahead, we are working on how we can better support bat groups through training and expansion of accessible resources, to encourage them to make the most of virtual opportunities. We would also like to encourage uptake of existing partnerships and develop more collaborative projects that engage with the bat groups, as well as finding new ways of showcasing the wonderful work being done locally in front-line bat conservation, throughout the British Isles.

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BCT in Wales

This year has seen Steve Lucas, our Wales Officer and Species Legislation & Policy Specialist, retired after 13 years with BCT. We are thankful to Steve for his years of dedicated work and his expertise. He will be missed by the bat groups he supported as well as by colleagues at BCT. In recent years, Steve had worked three days a week as our Species Policy & Legislation Specialist, with the Wales Officer role reduced to only two days a week due to funding constraints. We remain without a Wales Bat Officer post at present due to lack of funding for this role. The Welsh landscape is tremendously important for 15 British bat species. Therefore, our Bat Groups Officer is continuing to provide support to bat groups in Wales and in February 2022 a successful Wales Bat Workers Day was held. This included a session to honour Tom McOwat, a long-standing bat worker who died in October 2021. Tom was a pillar of the bat conservation community, his reach extending far beyond Wales, and his outstanding achievements have helped shape bat conservation today.

Delivering for bats on the ground in Wales is still in focus. Natur am Byth is a collaborative project based in Wales and linked to the Back from the Brink family which in the last year has successfully entered its development phase. As well as having a role across other landscape scale multi-partner projects across the country, BCT has a single species project on the population of lesser horseshoe bats on the Gower. This population is genetically separated and possibly isolated from those elsewhere. Increasing urbanisation and associated light pollution have restricted the locations where these bats are able to move between the Gower and elsewhere. The project will utilise citizen science to understand how lesser horseshoe bats are currently able to move in and out of the Gower and will work with local authorities, communities, and the lighting sector to tackle the features of urbanisation that are causing this important population to falter.

BCT in Scotland

With the support of NatureScot, BCT runs the Scottish Bat Project which engages people in bat recording, conservation, and education activities. The project currently works with 10 volunteer bat groups, as well as 173 active National Bat Monitoring Programme volunteers, to increase our knowledge of the nine bat species found in Scotland and to tackle their conservation threats. We also undertake a range of public engagement work.

Some of the project highlights over the past year:

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Through 2022 into 2023 we will continue to work with Scottish Bat Groups and create new connections between our volunteers and landowners and land managers, and with other environmental organisations. We will help them to develop skills in managing Scottish landscapes for bats and bat groups will gain access to new areas to find out more about their local bat populations. A large focus will be on growing the skills of existing volunteers through the Scottish Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Skills Programme, which will include training in advanced survey skills to find out more about Nathusius’ pipistrelles in Scotland. We will continue to bring bat skills and enthusiasm to young people through online training events. The ‘NightWatch’ project will continue in Scotland, enabling underserved communities to participate in bat surveys and reaching new, more diverse audiences. At the Scottish Bat Workers’ Conference’ event planned for March 2023, Scottish bat workers and bat enthusiasts will be able to meet up and attend a variety of talks to further develop our bat survey skills and knowledge. If the funding application is successful, the Scottish Bat Project will also be linking up again with the ‘Species on the Edge’ project, a partnership project active in various areas of Scotland.

Pete Guest Award

This award is given in memory of Pete Guest who was an inspirational figure in the bat conservation movement for more than 20 years. Each year, the bat world is invited to nominate individuals who have made an outstanding practical contribution to bat conservation.

A total of seven (2021: 10) bat workers (including two joint nominations) were nominated in 2021 and we received almost 400 votes. The 2021 winner was Tony Atkinson of the Cornwall Bat Group. Tony has been a dedicated bat conservationist in the Cornwall area for many decades, and has inspired and supported many in their own batty journeys. Well done Tony!

BCT in Europe and Internationally

BCT has focused primarily on UK work in the past year, but has continued to engage with the Eurobats Agreement. The Eurobats Advisory Committee of Eurobats took place online in 2021 with BCT staff attending Intersessional Working Group sessions on Monitoring and Indicators, Light Pollution, Communication, Bat Conservation and Public Health, Evaluation Criteria for Assessment Reports Concerning Bats, and Bats and Climate Change. BCT staff are also inputting into guidelines for Bats and Insulation and Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation.

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During 2021/22 we have once again collaborated with international colleagues on COVID-19/SARSCoV-2 guidance for bat rehabilitators, researchers, and cavers, as well as information for a wider general audience, through participation in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Bat Specialist Group and the Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks (GBatNet). The work with the IUCN SSC BSG OneHealth Working Group has increased in remit to look more generally at the situation with regards to bats and diseases.

Bats and disease

We continue to provide advice and guidance to the public, volunteers and bat workers around issues relating to bats and disease, including rabies, white-nose syndrome and COVID-19. We proactively communicate about disease-related matters through our web pages, articles in Bat News, the Bat Group Bulletin, Bat Carers’ Bulletin Blog, other external publications (where the opportunities arise), as well as presentations at meetings and conferences.

The past year has once again seen a focus on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19). Through membership of the IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group One Health Working Group, we have contributed to updated guidance for bat field workers, bat rehabilitators, and cavers. As part of the 2021 National Bat Conference we included a panel discussion on ‘Communications around bats, COVID-19 and other diseases’, with four experts covering virology, bat disease research, science communications and journalism. Although SARS-CoV-2 has not been found in bats, there is a risk of human to bat transmission of the virus. We have worked with Imperial College London on a project to test for SARS-CoV-2 in bats that have had contact with finders or rehabilitators with COVID-19.

We continue to work with UK governmental organisations such as the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Defra on disease surveillance, including representation on the GB Exotic Disease Core Group for Rabies. Only our activities supporting the APHA rabies passive surveillance programme are directly funded (with a contract in place through to the end of March 2023). BCT’s lead on diseases was a co-author on a paper ‘Incursion of European Bat Lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1) in Serotine Bats in the United Kingdom’ published in the journal Viruses. The latest addition to our web pages on bats and diseases is a section dedicated to information on rabies pre-exposure vaccinations aimed at volunteers and professional bat workers. We have developed a completely new workshop on ‘Biosecurity and bats: effective disease risk management’ which compliments a new section in the fourth edition of the Bat Survey Good Practice Guidelines (due to be published by the end of 2022).

Looking ahead, we need to find new sources of funding for our disease risk management activities. We hope to attend the 3rd International Symposium on Infectious Diseases of Bats in July 2022. We will continue to collaborate with UK and international experts and hope to build on the panel discussion at the 2021 National Bat Conference by developing plans for a dedicated event around science communication to take place in the next few years. We are very grateful for the support of external expert advisors. Our ongoing work to keep our information and guidance on bats and diseases as current as possible remains a priority.

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BatLife Europe

As a founding partner of BatLife Europe (which has 36 NGO partners), BCT has supported this initiative since its creation, and continues to do so with BCT’s CEO currently acting as a Trustee and Treasurer. Due to COVID-19 and capacity, BatLife Europe has not carried out all its planned activities, but has progressed the Bat of the Year project, with the brown long-eared bat being chosen as bat of the year for 2022/23.

STRENGTHEN

BCT works hard to make our funds go further and this was partly achieved in 2021 by downsizing our office space and careful budgeting across the organisation. We have also been building on our approach to flexible and remote working opportunities for staff, supporting people in different circumstances in their work-life balance. We have also been working to build staff capacity in various areas of our work to build organisational resilience and address staff workloads. We continue to provide Mental Health First Aid training and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Volunteers are crucial to BCT’s work and get involved in many different ways, including through our National Bat Helpline, through NBMP surveys and via their local bat groups. We continued to provide support through our Bat Groups and Country Officers. Dedicated volunteers handled ‘Out of Hours’ calls on our helpline and received training and support throughout the busy season. To get more people from a wider background involved in the NBMP, we commissioned volunteer demographic and engagement reports and have used the information to engage effectively with younger and more ethnically diverse volunteers, running free online introductory workshops on looking for bats, running bat talks and using social media to promote survey opportunities.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Diverse organisations are more welcoming to a wider range of people, but there is also evidence that they benefit from improved performance, innovation and creativity. BCT is committed to improving our own practices to ensure that we are an inclusive employer and that our activities are welcoming and open to all.

Activities undertaken by BCT in this past year to improve EDI have included:

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EDI will remain a focus in 2022/23 with the new appointment of a part-time staff member who will help to support the EDI Working Group in undertaking key priorities and actions, and ensuring that EDI is embedded in our organisational strategy.

Fundraising Statement

Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) was established to promote the conservation and study of bats in the British Isles and elsewhere in the world, and to disseminate information relevant to these objects. BCT is committed to these charitable aims and fundraises in order to fulfil these.

FUNDRAISING APPROACH: We have a small, dedicated fundraising team who work to secure the resources needed to fund BCT’s work. We secure funding from different sources which includes applying for funding from trusts and grants, encouraging donations from members and wider supporters, while also encouraging them to carry out their own independent community fundraising to support our work. We have collaborator agreements in place with some companies who choose to donate part of their profits. Where a company chooses to support our work by being a corporate member, sponsorship or direct donation we carry out an assessment of their suitability as donors. Fundraising targets are reflected in the budget and reviewed in an income tracker document.

FUNDRAISING REGULATION: BCT is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and abides by its rules and regulations.

FAILURES: We have had no failures in fundraising regulator compliance. We employ reputable companies to assist with distributing membership material. We do not employ fundraising or marketing agencies to target people by telephone, or in the street, to persuade them to set up regular donations to BCT.

MONITORING: We have not used any external fundraising companies and have not monitored the activities of anyone carrying out community fundraising.

COMPLAINTS: We have an established fundraising complaints procedure and have not received any complaints over this period.

PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE: At BCT, we respect the privacy and contact preferences of all members, supporters and donors. We adhere to Data Protection law. We will respond promptly to requests to cease contacts or complaints and act to address their causes. We have a safeguarding policy that covers all aspects of our charitable activities.

BCT respects the rights of its members and supporters to have clear, truthful information on the work we are involved in; to report openly on how we spend donated and statutory funds and to manage donors’ information responsibly. We comply with the Charity Commission and UK law in every respect, including those regarding openness and honesty with our supporters and members of the public.

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Safeguarding

BCT is committed to upholding the principle that children and vulnerable adults are entitled to protection from physical, sexual and emotional harm and have the right to a safe, positive and enjoyable environment. We are committed to upholding our safeguarding policy, which can be viewed here: https://www.bats.org.uk/the-trust/policies/safeguarding

The Trustees

The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are shown on page 3. All Trustees also act as directors for the purposes of company law.

The Trustees are elected at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and serve for three years. Trustees are eligible for reselection at the end of their first and second term of three years, but following election for a third term, may not be eligible for reselection until one year has elapsed from them ceasing to be a member of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees may co-opt any Member eligible for election to fill a vacancy until the next AGM.

The Trustees regularly audit their collective skills, competencies and experience against those required to fulfil their responsibilities and proactively recruit new Trustees to fill gaps. All proposed Trustees are put to the BCT membership prior to any appointment. On appointment training is given according to the needs of the Trustee and new Trustees have an induction with key members of staff.

The Trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights and any benefits received by the Trustees are incidental. As members of the charity they undertake to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such undertakings at 31 March 2022 was 12 (2021: 11).

Public Benefit

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

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Risk Management

The Trustees and Senior Management Team have reviewed the major risks which the charity faces. They review these risks at least annually. The Trustees implement improvements to systems of internal control in order to mitigate other operational and business risks as and when identified.

Some of the major risk areas are:

Remuneration Policy

Remuneration of all staff is considered on an annual basis by the Board of Trustees. The Senior Management Team make recommendations to the Trustees for a) the cost of living based on inflation rates, the London Living Wage and an annual salary survey we take part in with other environmental NGOs, and b) for any staff increments based on job bands, performance and any extra responsibilities taken on. The Trustees make the final decision in the context of BCT’s budget. The salary of the Chief Executive is set by the Chair in consultation with the Trustees.

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Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees (who are also directors of The Bat Conservation Trust) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law 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 charitable company and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to auditor

In so far as each of the Trustees is aware:

And

32

The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Treasurer’s report

Despite the continued economic uncertainty, which has impacted heavily on the charity sector, BCT has continued its vital work. The economic downturn has meant we ended the year with a slight decrease in funds, this was due to a loss on investments reflected at the time of our financial statements.

We achieved a small surplus in unrestricted funds through careful management of our finances due to cost-cutting measures such as a change in office space and by continuing to invest in fundraising. However, the scale of the surplus shows we must continue with this cautious spending and diversification of income streams.

For the year ended 31 March 2022, income was £1,632,007 (2021: £1,568,217) and expenditure was £1,595,153 (2021: £1,412,574), leading to net surplus for the year of £36,854 (2021: £155,643). Taking into account losses on investments of £57,186 (2021: gains of £483,565), the net movement in funds for the year was a decrease of £20,332 (2021: an increase of £639,208).

Investment policy

Investments total £2,580,593 (2021: £2,603,514) at 31 March 2022. The aim of these funds is to provide a steady additional annual income stream to support our work, helping to reduce the risks associated with our reliance on project funding. Both this and the prior year were unpredictable in terms of investments and global stock markets were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For budgeting purposes, BCT assume a 6% total return per year to take into account market fluctuations. Investments are expected to meet our ethical criteria with returns reported on via a benchmark.

Reserves policy

We adopt a risk-based approach for our reserves policy in order to define the amount we need to enable us to sustain our operations and protect us from unforeseen events. We have also been investing some of our reserves in strategic projects to secure BCT’s long-term financial viability. At the end of the 2021/22 financial year our total reserves stand at £3,298,653 (2021: £3,318,985). Of this, £2,359,197 (2021: £2,425,735) are endowment funds and £169,927 (2021: £239,956) are restricted funds for projects. This leaves unrestricted funds of £769,529 (2021: £653,294) of which £266,893 (2021: £189,317) have been designated to key programmes of work in the next financial year (see notes to the financial statements for details). This leaves us with £502,636 (2021: £463,977) as unrestricted, unallocated funds. Of this, £383,347 (2021: £357,935) represents free reserves after deducting the net book value of fixed assets.

33

The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

The trustees' policy is to work towards holding six months operating costs, approximately £500,000, in unrestricted free reserves. We will continue to review our reserves policy and our progress towards achieving it each year. On behalf of BCT, I would like to thank all our members, donors and partners for their fantastic support and our volunteers and staff for their endless hard work on behalf of bat conservation.

Ruth Waters, Treasurer

34

The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Thanks to our Supporters

We would like to thank all our members and friends who have made donations during the past year. We do not have the space to name everyone; however, we would like to thank everyone for their greatly valued support without which none of our work would be possible.

Partner Bat Groups

Avon Bat Group Ayrshire and Arran Bat Group Bedfordshire Bat Group Berkshire & South Bucks Bat Group Birmingham & Black Country Bat Group Cambridgeshire Bat Group Cardiff Bat Group Central Scotland Bat Group Cheshire Bat Group Cleveland Bat Group Clwyd Bat Group Clyde Bat Group Cornwall Bat Group Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group Devon Bat Group Dorset Bat Group Dumfries & Galloway Bat Group Durham Bat Group East Lancashire Bat Group East Yorkshire Bat Group Essex Bat Group Fife & Kinross Bat Group Glamorgan Bat Group Gloucestershire Bat Group Guernsey Bat Group Gwynedd Bat Group Hampshire Bat Group Herefordshire Mammal Group Herts & Middlesex Bat Group Inverness Bat Group Isle of Wight Bat Group Isles of Scilly Bat Group Jersey Bat Group Kent Bat Group Leicestershire & Rutland Bat Group Lincolnshire Bat Group Loch Lomond Bat Group London Bat Group Lothians Bat Group Manx Bat Group Merseyside & West Lancashire Bat Group

Montgomeryshire Bat Group Nene Valley Bats Norfolk and Norwich Study Group North Bucks Bat Group North Ceredigion Bat Group North East Scotland Bat Group North Lancashire Bat Group North Wales Mammal Group Northern Ireland Bat Group Northumberland Bat Group Nottinghamshire Bat Group Oxfordshire Bat Group Pembrokeshire Bat Group Shropshire Bat Group Skye and Lochalsh Bat Group Somerset Bat Group South Cumbria Bat Group South Lancashire Bat Group South Yorkshire Bat Group Staffordshire Bat Group Surrey Bat Group Sussex Bat Group Tayside Bat Group Vale of Glamorgan & Bridgend Bat Group Valleys Bat Group Warwickshire Bat Group West Yorkshire Bat Group Worcestershire Bat Group

Charitable Trusts, Statutory Bodies and Other Organisations Animal and Plant Health Agency Animal Friends Insurance Betty Phillips Charitable Trust Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust Chapman Charitable Trust Ernest Kleinwort Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Forest Research Forestry England Garfield Weston Foundation Green Mountain Trust

35

The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Idris and Margaret Jones Charitable Trust Jack Patston Charitable Trust Michael Cornish Charitable Trust Natural England Pilkington General Charity Fund Pillar Charitable Trust The David Webster Charitable Trust The Marsh Charitable Trust The National Lottery Heritage Fund The Rose Animal Welfare Trust CIO

Sponsors (Sponsorships of £100 or more)

Animal Friends Echoes Ecology Highland Titles Lotek NHBS Pettersson Titley Scientific Vistry Wildcare Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.

Corporate Members (as at 31 March 2022)

Arbtech Consulting Ltd Asw Ecology Ltd Batability Courses & Tuition Batbox Ltd Big Domain Campsites.co.uk Canine Cottages Cleankill Environmental Services Ltd Continental Landscapes Dorset County Council Echoes Ecology Ltd Ecological Survey and Assessment Ltd English Heritage Highland Titles Ltd Historic England Holidaycottages.co.uk

Homegrown Timber Ltd I&G Ecological Consultancy Ltd Ingencia Kate’s Clothing Ltd Killgerm Chemicals Ltd Marquis & Lord Ltd Original Cottages Stay in Cornwall Stay in Devon Tamworth Property Services The Nestbox Company Ltd Titley Scientific Treework Ltd United Environmental Services Ltd Viking Optical Ltd Vivara Pro Whitcher Wildlife Ltd Wilby Tree Surgeons Wildcare Wildlife Acoustics Wold Ecology Ltd

Donations from Bat Groups (of £100 or more in the year to 31 March 2022)

Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group Devon Bat Group Hampshire Bat Group Hertfordshire & Middlesex Bat Group Kent Bat Group Manx Bat Group North Ceredigion Bat Group Oxfordshire Bat Group South Lancashire Bat Group Surrey Bat Group Warwickshire Bat Group

Legacies

Elizabeth Anne Wallace

36

The Bat Conservation Trust

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Auditor

HW Fisher LLP were re-appointed as the charitable company's auditor during the year.

The report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Jean Matthews Chair

11 Aug 2022

37

The Bat Conservation Trust

Independent Auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the Bat Conservation Trust

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Bat Conservation Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

38

The Bat Conservation Trust

Independent Auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the Bat Conservation Trust

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors’ Report included within the Trustees' annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

39

The Bat Conservation Trust

Independent Auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the Bat Conservation Trust

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees, the Trustees, who are also the Directors of the Charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

As part of our planning process:

40

The Bat Conservation Trust

Independent Auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the Bat Conservation Trust

For the year ended 31 March 2022

The key procedures we undertook to detect irregularities including fraud during the course of the audit included:

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities and fraud rests with the trustees of the charity.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members and trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company, the charitable company’s members as a body, and the charitable company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Carol Rudge Carol Rudge (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of HW Fisher LLP

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Acre House 11-15 William Road London NW1 3ER

Date: …………………………………….11 Aug 2022

41

The Bat Conservation Trust

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Note
Income
Donations and legacies
2
Investment income
Income from charitable activities
Conferences
Training courses and meetings
Projects and research
3
Other activities
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds
Membership support
5
Costs of raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Conferences
Biodiversity training courses
Project and research costs
4
Total expenditure
5
Net income/(expenditure) before
net (losses)/gains on investments
Net (losses)/gains on investments
11
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
17		 2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
Total
£
£
£
£
404,026
36,909
-
440,935
48,503
-
-
48,503
29,289
-
-
29,289
73,991
-
-
73,991
527,303
435,420
-
962,723
64,437
12,129
-
76,566
1,147,549
484,458
-
1,632,007
66,778
-
-
66,778
131,819
-
13,256
145,075
26,862
-
-
26,862
68,640
-
-
68,640
733,311
554,487
-
1,287,798
1,027,410
554,487
13,256
1,595,153
120,139
(70,029)
(13,256)
36,854
(3,904)
-
(53,282)
(57,186)
116,235
(70,029)
(66,538)
(20,332)
116,235
(70,029)
(66,538)
(20,332)
653,294
239,956
2,425,735
3,318,985
769,529
169,927
2,359,197
3,298,653		 2021
Total
£
400,980
43,685
62,744
37,347
976,795
46,666
1,568,217
67,118
120,259
17,493
63,479
1,144,225
1,412,574
155,643
483,565
639,208
639,208
2,679,777
3,318,985

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 in note 17 to the financial statements.

For Companies Act purposes, excluding Endowed funds, income for the year ended 31 March 2022 was £1,632,007 (2021: £1,568,217) and expenditure £1,581,897 (2021: £1,398,934) and losses on investments of £3,904 (2021: Gain £40,900). Net income was £46,206 (2021: £210,183)

Comparatives for the statement of financial activities are given in note 19.

42

The Bat Conservation Trust Company number: 02712823

Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2022

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Intangible assets
10
Investments
11
Non-current assets
Current assets
Assets held for sale
12
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts due
within one year
14
Net current assets
Net assets
16
Reserves
Endowment funds
17
Restricted funds
17
Unrestricted funds
General funds
17
Designated funds
17
Total funds
17		 2022
£
£
6,994
112,295
2,580,593
2,699,882
-
372,201
427,869
800,070
(201,299)
598,771
3,298,653
2,359,197
169,927
502,636
266,893
769,529
3,298,653		 2021
£
£
5,724
100,318
2,603,514
2,709,556
155,000
149,586
469,874
774,460
(165,031)
609,429
3,318,985
2,425,735
239,956
463,977
189,317
653,294
3,318,985		 2021
£
£
5,724
100,318
2,603,514
2,709,556
155,000
149,586
469,874
774,460
(165,031)
609,429
3,318,985
2,425,735
239,956
463,977
189,317
653,294
3,318,985
2,709,556
609,429
800,070
(201,299)		 774,460
(165,031)
502,636
266,893		 463,977
189,317
3,318,985
2,425,735
239,956
653,294
3,318,985

Approved by the trustees Signed on their behalf by:

Jean Matthews (chair)

11 Aug 2022

43

The Bat Conservation Trust

Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (expenditure)/income for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation charges
Dividends and interest
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Sale of property bequeathed to the charity
Losses/(gains) on investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Cash withdrawn from investment portfolio
Investment charges taken directly from cash held
as part of the investment portfolio
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Bank interest received
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible asset
Net cash provided by investing activities
Change 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
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand		 2022
£
£
(20,332)
32,322
(48,503)
1,473
155,000
57,186
(222,615)
36,268
-
14,219
5,018
19
(5,721)
(41,321)
(47,023)
(42,005)
469,874
427,869
At 1 April
2021
£
469,874
469,874		 2022
£
£
(20,332)
32,322
(48,503)
1,473
155,000
57,186
(222,615)
36,268
-
14,219
5,018
19
(5,721)
(41,321)
(47,023)
(42,005)
469,874
427,869
At 1 April
2021
£
469,874
469,874		 2021
£
£
639,208
26,277
(43,685)
-
-
(483,565)
6,733
55,299
90,000
14,896
305,163
34
(3,001)
(3,800)
(6,767)
298,396
171,478
469,874
Cash flows
At 31 March
2022
£
£
(42,005)
427,869		 2021
£
£
639,208
26,277
(43,685)
-
-
(483,565)
6,733
55,299
90,000
14,896
305,163
34
(3,001)
(3,800)
(6,767)
298,396
171,478
469,874
Cash flows
At 31 March
2022
£
£
(42,005)
427,869
Cash flows
£
(42,005)
(42,005)
469,874		 298,396
171,478
427,869 469,874
At 1 April
2021
£
469,874		 At 31 March
2022
£
427,869
469,874 (42,005) 427,869

Analysis of change in net debt

The charity had no net debt during the year

44

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2022

1. Accounting policies

Status

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7 May 1992 and registered as a charity on 29 June 1992.

The registered office is Studio 15, Cloisters House, Cloisters Business Centre, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, England, SW8 4BG.

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" ("FRS102"), the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

The functional currency of the financial statements is Sterling.

b) Going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period exceeding 12 months from the date of signature. In particular the trustees have considered the charity's forecasts and projections and have taken account of pressures on donation and investment income.

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

c) Income

Income received by way of donations is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receipt is probable and can be measured reliably. Member subscriptions are accounted for on receipt.

Gifts in kind comprise meeting rooms and catering provided free of charge for trustee and other meetings where material. Gifts in kind are included in income and expenditure at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity, which is the price that would have had to be paid if hiring a room and paying for catering on the open market. Volunteer time is not included in the financial statements.

45

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Income (continued)

Legacy income is accounted for on a receivable basis. A legacy is considered receivable when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received.

Investment income represents bank interest and dividend income, included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable.

Revenue grants are credited to the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the amounts, any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Where unconditional entitlement to grants receivable is dependent upon the fulfilment of conditions within the charity's control, the incoming resources are recognised when there is sufficient evidence that the conditions will be met. Where there is uncertainty as to whether the charity can meet such conditions the incoming resource is deferred.

Grants for the purchase of fixed assets are credited to restricted income when receipt is probable. Depreciation of fixed assets purchased with such grants is charged against the restricted fund. Where a fixed asset is donated to the charity for a specific purpose, it is treated in a similar way to a restricted grant.

Fees for training courses and the annual conference are recognised in the financial statements during the year in which the conference or training course to which they relate occurred. Research contracts are recognised in the financial statements as entitlement is earned through completion of the contract.

d) Fund analysis

The expendable endowment funds are funds whereby the capital sum is invested, and income earned is used to contribute to core costs. The capital element may also be spent should sufficient need arise.

The permanent endowment funds are funds whereby the capital sum is invested, and income earned is used to contribute to core costs. The capital element is to be retained to generate future income for the work of BCT.

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other income receivable or generated for the objects of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

46

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Fund analysis (continued)

Transfers are made to and from designated funds at the discretion of the trustees. Transfers are made between restricted funds or from restricted funds to general funds only if agreement has been obtained from the donor.

e) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised in the period in which it is incurred. Expenditure includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

Expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function is apportioned based on staff time.

The costs of generating funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in raising funds for the charitable work. Fundraising costs associated with raising funds for a specific charitable activity are allocated to that activity.

Rentals payable under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership remain with the lessor, are charged to the statement of financial activities in the year in which they fall due.

f) Tangible and Intangible Assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Furniture and fittings - 20% per annum on a straight-line basis.

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.

Intangible assets are recognised at cost and amortised over the assets' expected useful life. The amortisation rate in use is as follows:

Database - 20% per annum on a straight line basis.

Amortisation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities.

47

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

g) Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable under the scheme by the charity to the fund. The charity has no liability under the scheme other than for the payment of those contributions.

h) Foreign exchange rates

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the end of the financial year. All exchange differences are written off to the Statement of Financial Activities.

i) Investments

Investments are stated at mid-market value at the balance sheet date. The gain or loss for the period is taken to the statement of financial activities. All movements in value arising from investment changes or revaluations are shown in the statement of financial activities.

j) Financial Instruments

BCT has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

48

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

2.
Donations and legacies
Current Year
Membership subscriptions
Members' & other donations
Legacies
Prior Year
Membership subscriptions
Members' & other donations
Legacies		 2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
163,214
-
163,214
100,812
36,909
137,721
140,000
-
140,000

404,026
36,909
440,935
2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
158,684
-
158,684
119,906
66,752
186,658
55,638
-
55,638


334,228
66,752
400,980

49

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

3. Projects and research income

Projects and research income
Current Year
Government grants & contracts
Grants & contracts from other charitable bodies		 2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
466,952
214,948
681,900
60,351
220,472
280,823
527,303
435,420
962,723

Projects and research income- grants, contracts and donations

Project income was received in the year from the following organisations and donors:

Natural England
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Back from the Brink
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Bats in Churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Species on the Edge
National Lottery Heritage Fund - NAB
NatureScot
Natural Resources Wales
Government of Jersey
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Forestry England
Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust
Historic England
East Devon AONB
Forest Research
Office for National Statistics
Ministry of Justice
Michael Cornish Foundation
Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust
Garfield Weston
David Webster Charitable Trust
Vistry Group
Chapman Charitable Trust
Animal Friends
Other Grants and Contracts		 2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
201,251
39,612
240,863
184,000
-
184,000
-
35,883
35,883
-
113,472
113,472
-
32,598
32,598
-
2,785
2,785
-
30,647
30,647
4,202
-
4,202
39,121
-
39,121
-
10,000
10,000
-
15,000
15,000
-
37,500
37,500
1,500
-
1,500
32,483
-
32,483
-
48,423
48,423
4,395
-
4,395
43,250
-
43,250
-
1,000
1,000
-
3,500
3,500
-
25,000
25,000
-
2,000
2,000
13,250
-
13,250
1,000
-
1,000
-
37,000
37,000
2,851
1,000
3,851
527,303
435,420
962,723

50

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

3.
Projects and research income (continued)
Prior Year
Government grants & contracts
Grants from other charitable bodies		 2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
457,278
262,283
719,561
40,004
217,230
257,234
497,282
479,513
976,795

Projects and research income - grants, contracts and donations

Project income was received in the year from the following organisations and donors:

Natural England
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Back from the Brink
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Bats in Churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Species on the Edge
NatureScot
Natural Resources Wales
Government of Jersey
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Forestry Commission
The Rufford Foundation
Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust
Edith Murphy Foundation
Historic England
Fidra
David Webster Charitable Trust
British Ecological Society
Government Furlough grant
Other Grants and Contracts		 2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
277,924
111,655
389,579
148,060
-
148,060
-
65,980
65,980
73,571
73,571
-
26,239
26,239
-
29,963
29,963
-
5,667
5,667
6,645
-
6,645
-
8,000
8,000
-
14,779
14,779
-
10,000
10,000
-
124,000
124,000
-
2,000
2,000
10,170
-
10,170
25,000
-
25,000
2,000
2,000
1,998
1,998
20,544
-
20,544
8,939
3,661
12,600
497,282
479,513
976,795

51

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

4.
Projects and research costs
Current Year
Biodiversity Projects
National Bat Monitoring Programme
Research projects – Bat conservation
Bat Groups Support & Public Education
International Projects
Scottish Bat Project
Wales Bat Project
Prior Year
Biodiversity Projects
National Bat Monitoring Programme
Research projects – Bat conservation
Bat Groups Support & Public Education
International Projects
Scottish Bat Project
Wales Bat Project		 2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
441,217
326,875
768,092
159,335
19,934
179,269
51,341
133,952
185,293
27,515
34,641
62,156
278
4,510
4,788
26,292
31,790
58,082
27,333
2,785
30,118
733,311
554,487
1,287,798
2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
476,746
300,906
777,652
146,278
22,667
168,945
12,013
21,788
33,801
46,903
22,366
69,269
(634)
421
(213)
25,386
30,983
56,369
37,120
1,282
38,402
743,812
400,413
1,144,225

52

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

5. Total Expenditure

Total Expenditure
Current Year
Salaries & temporary staff (note 7)
Travel & training
Advice & other project costs
Publications & events
Premises
Other costs
Support costs allocated to activities
Governance costs allocated to activities
Total
Prior Year
Salaries & temporary staff (note 7)
Travel & training
Advice & other project costs
Publications & events
Premises
Other costs
Support costs allocated to activities
Governance costs allocated to activities
Total		 Costs of raising
funds
Membership
support
Conferences
Biodiversity
training courses
Projects and
research
Governance
Other
support costs
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
78,932
29,122
8,643
29,163
737,917
5,816
154,814
110
146
359
1,475
22,374
653
9,705
7,676
7,284
-
16,103
105,713
8,150
18,462
1,553
7,400
6,739
10,102
6,131
-
-
-
-
-
-
980
-
103,401
28,855
12,814
8,246
779
26,923
-
138,613
117,126
56,766
23,987
57,622
900,038
14,619
424,995
27,020
9,679
2,779
10,652
374,865
-
(424,995)
929
333
96
366
12,895
(14,619)
-
145,075
66,778
26,862
68,640
1,287,798
-
-
Costs of raising
funds
Membership
support
Conferences
Biodiversity
training courses
Projects and
research
Governance
Other
Support costs
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
72,120
33,570
8,039
34,652
800,312
5,777
61,449
313
239
-
846
18,696
72
11,173
11,011
10,434
-
14,233
56,425
6,000
13,977
1,292
6,905
460
5,389
4,352
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,121
-
61,512
15,254
8,709
6,910
369
14,798
-
125,165
99,990
59,857
15,409
55,489
896,704
11,849
273,276
19,427
6,959
1,997
7,658
237,235
-
(273,276)
842
302
87
332
10,286
(11,849)
-
120,259
67,118
17,493
63,479
1,144,225
-
-		 2022
Total
£
1,044,407
34,822
163,388
31,925
104,381
216,230
1,595,153
-
-
1,595,153
2021
Total
£
1,015,919
31,339
112,080
18,398
63,633
171,205
1,412,574
-
-
1,412,574

53

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

5. Total Expenditure (continued)

Analysis of support costs:
Salaries
Non salary staff costs
Membership costs
Property
IT costs
Office running costs
Insurance
Legal fees
Depreciation and amortisation
Outsourced finance & payroll
Irrecoverable VAT
Bank charges
Analysis of governance costs:
Governance staff costs
Audit Fee
Trustee expenses and meeting costs
6.
Net (expenditure)/income for the year
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation and amortisation
Operating lease costs
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Trustees' expenses (2022:2 trustees (2021:1 trustee))
Trustee indemnity insurance
Auditors' remuneration – audit services		 2022
£
154,814
10,742
194
105,292
9,686
35,645
17,815
500
32,322
35,731
17,013
5,241
424,995
5,816
8,150
653
14,619
2022
£
32,322
39,304
1,473
653
1,542
8,150		 2021
£
61,449
11,207
697
61,513
14,807
24,949
19,099
-
26,277
35,230
12,980
5,068
273,276
5,777
6,000
72
11,849
2021
£
26,277
47,811
-
72
1,320
6,000

Expenses reimbursed to trustees relate to travel and subsistence costs relating to both attendance at trustees' meetings and other operational work carried out in furtherance of the Trust's objects. No trustees were reimbursed for their services as trustees during the year (2021: no trustees reimbursed).

54

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

7. Staff numbers and costs

The aggregate payroll cost of these persons was as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Employer's pension contributions		 2022
£
933,845
75,143
35,419
1,044,407		 2021
£
910,640
77,175
28,104
1,015,919

Included in staff costs above are redundancy costs of £nil (2021: £nil)

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed and excluding trustees who are all non-executive) during the year were as follows:

Support and governance
Direct charitable activities		 Number of employees
2022
2021
No.
No.
3
3
35
33
38
36		 Number of employees
2022
2021
No.
No.
3
3
35
33
38
36
36

No employees earned more than £60,000 during the year (2021: No employees earned more than £60,000 during the year).

The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the trustees and the Senior Management Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £146,510. (2021: £144,038).

8. Taxation

The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

55

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

9.
Fixed assets
Cost
At the start of the year
Additions during the year
Disposals during the year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
Released on disposal
At the end of the year
Net book value at the end of the year
Net book value at the start of the year		 Furniture &
Fittings
Computers
Field
equipment
£
£
£
70,794
14,007
14,598
2,085
1,806
1,830
(69,705)
(3,978)
-
3,174
11,835
16,428
68,832
10,245
14,598
664
2,098
216
(68,231)
(3,979)
-
1,265
8,364
14,814
1,909
3,471
1,614
1,962
3,762
-		 Total
£
99,399
5,721
(73,683)
31,437
93,675
2,978
(72,210)
24,443
6,994
5,724

Prior Year

Cost
At the start of the year
Additions during the year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
At the end of the year
Net book value at the end of the year
Net book value at the start of the year		 Furniture and
Fittings
Computers
Field
equipment
£
£
£
70,794
11,006
14,598
-
3,001
-
70,794
14,007
14,598
68,342
9,062
14,598
490
1,183
-
68,832
10,245
14,598
1,962
3,762
-
2,452
1,944
-		 Total
£
96,398
3,001
99,399
92,002
1,673
93,675
5,724
4,396

56

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

10. Intangible assets

Cost
At the start of the year
Additions during the year
Cost at the end of the year
Amortisation at the start of the year
Charge for the year
Amortisation at the end of the year
Net book value at the end of the year
Net book value at the start of the year		 CRM
database
App
development
£
£
121,122
3,800
-
41,321
121,122
45,121
24,224
380
24,225
5,119
48,449
5,499
72,673
39,622
96,898
3,420		 Total
£
124,922
41,321
166,243
24,604
29,344
53,948
112,295
100,318

Prior Year

Cost
At the start of the year
Additions during the year
Cost at the end of the year
Depreciation
Amortisation at the start of the year
Charge for the year
Amortisation at the end of the year
Net book value at the end of the year
Net book value at the start of the year		 CRM
database
App
development
£
£
121,122
-
-
3,800
121,122
3,800
-
-
24,224
380
24,224
380
96,898
3,420
121,122
-		 Total
£
121,122
3,800
124,922
-
24,604
24,604
100,318
121,122

57

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

11. Investments

Investments
2021-22
At the start of the year
Additions at cost
Less disposals at carrying value
Dividend income
Portfolio costs
Net loss on revaluation
At the end of the year
2020-21
At the start of the year
Additions at cost
Less disposals at carrying value
Withdrawals
Dividend income
Portfolio costs
Net gain on revaluation
At the end of the year
Listed Investments comprise:
UK Corporate Bonds
UK Equity Growth
UK Equity Income
International Equity
Emerging Markets Equity		 Listed
investments
£
2,546,534
828,346
(799,617)
-
-
(57,186)		 Cash in portfolio
Total
£
£
56,980
2,603,514
(828,346)
-
799,617
-
48,484
48,484
(14,219)
(14,219)
-
(57,186)
2,518,077 62,516
2,580,593
Listed
investments
£
2,122,277
351,105
(410,413)
-
-
-
483,565		 Cash in portfolio
Total
£
£
58,917
2,181,194
(351,105)
-
410,413
-
(90,000)
(90,000)
43,654
43,654
(14,899)
(14,899)
-
483,565
2,546,534 56,980
2,603,514
2022
2021
£
£
1,003,633
1,003,530
518,783
545,306
352,483
367,814
394,545
379,031
248,633
250,853
2,518,077
2,546,534

The investments listed on a recognised stock exchange comprise the amounts held at fair value through profit or loss.

58

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

12. Assets held for sale

Current assets held for sale
Value at the start of the year
Proceeds from sale
Value at the end of the year		 2022
£
155,000
(155,000)
-		 2021
£
155,000
-
155,000

Assets held for sale in the prior year represented a property bequeathed to Bat Conservation Trust. The sale of this property was completed during the year ended 31 March 2022.

13. Debtors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade debtors
Other debtors
Accrued income
Prepayments
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxes and social security
Accruals
Deferred course and event income
Other creditors
Deferred income comprises course and event income paid in advance.
Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year		 2022
£
169,189
9,615
170,943
22,454
372,201		 2021
£
30,661
5,026
73,032
40,867
149,586
2022
£
46,776
63,502
63,556
9,661
17,804
201,299
2022
£
20,794
(20,794)
9,661
9,661		 2021
£
48,683
45,672
36,746
20,794
13,136
165,031
2021
£
32,374
(32,374)
20,794
20,794

14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

59

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

15. Operating lease commitments

The charity had commitments at the year end under operating leases expiring as follows:

Land & buildings
- Less than one year
- Two to five years
Other
- Less than one year
- Two to five years
16.
Analysis of net assets between funds
Current Year
Fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year
Prior Year
Fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year		 2022
£
22,000
7,333
3,486
4,648
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£
£
£
119,289
-
-
221,396
-
2,359,197
428,844
169,927
-		 2021
£
17,250
-
3,486
8,134
2022 Total
funds
£
119,289
2,580,593
598,771
769,529
169,927
2,359,197		 3,298,653
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£
£
£
106,042
-
-
177,779
-
2,425,735
369,473
239,956
-		 2021 Total
funds
£
106,042
2,603,514
609,429
653,294
239,956
2,425,735		 3,318,985

60

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Current Year
Vincent Weir endowment funds:
Expendable Endowment Fund
Permanent endowment fund
Total endowment funds
Restricted funds:
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – Planning
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – NightWatch
Natural England – Biodiversity
Natural England – Monitoring
Natural England – Partnerships
NatureScot – Scottish Bat Project
National Lottery Heritage Fund – Species on
the Edge
National Lottery Heritage Fund – Back from
the Brink
National Lottery Heritage Fund – Bats in
Churches
Forestry Commission – Woodland Bats
Ernest Kleinwort – Woodland Bats
Edith Murphy Foundation – Woodland
Forestry England
Forest Research – National Forest Inventory
Animal and Plant Health Agency – Bat
Rufford Foundation – Helpline
Animal Friends – Bat Helpline
Garfield Weston – Bat Helpline
Other trusts and donations – Bat Helpline
Kate Barlow Research Award
Bat Group appeals
British Ecological Society – Bats in Churches
David Webster Charitable Trust
Rufford Foundation – International
Government Kickstarter scheme
Anonymous donation
Other restricted project income
Total restricted funds		 At 1 April
2021
Income
Expenditure
Losses on
investments
Transfers
between
funds
At 31
March
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
2,085,362
-
(11,391)
(45,805)
-
2,028,166
340,373
-
(1,865)
(7,477)
-
331,031
2,425,735
-
(13,256)
(53,282)
-
2,359,197
10,000
-
(6,000)
-
-
4,000
111,483
37,500
(45,428)
-
-
103,555
10,000
30,612
(40,612)
-
-
-
10,000
4,500
(13,440)
-
-
1,060
10,000
4,500
(14,500)
-
-
-
-
30,647
(30,647)
-
-
-
-
32,598
(32,598)
-
-
-
-
35,883
(35,883)
-
-
-
-
113,472
(113,472)
-
-
-
2,700
-
(2,700)
-
-
-
4,795
-
(4,795)
-
-
-
2,000
-
(2,000)
-
-
-
8,602
15,000
(23,602)
-
-
-
-
48,423
(48,423)
-
-
-
-
10,000
(10,000)
-
-
-
2,400
-
(800)
-
-
1,600
-
37,000
(37,000)
-
-
-
-
25,000
(14,583)
-
-
10,417
10,296
9,931
(20,227)
-
-
-
24,749
500
(8,435)
-
-
16,814
-
15,243
(15,243)
-
-
-
1,906
-
(1,906)
-
-
-
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
-
-
5,900
-
(1,400)
-
-
4,500
-
12,129
(12,129)
-
-
-
1,610
-
(1,610)
-
-
-
23,515
19,520
(15,054)
-
-
27,981
239,956
484,458
(554,487)
-
-
169,927

61

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds (continued)

Movements in funds (continued)
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds:
BCT Roost Partnership
Database Project
JNCC – NBMP
Natural England – Earned Recognition
Natural England – Helpline
DRUID project
JNCC – Nightwatch
Capacity building – Fidra
Capacity and support – science and monitoring
Digital fundraising and fundraising capacity
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Bellway Homes – wildlife crime project
Organisational development fund
Designated project funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1
April
2021
Income
Expenditure
Losses on
investments
Transfers
between
funds
At 31
March
2022
10,228
-
(6,623)
-
3,512
7,117
100,318
-
(24,985)
-
-
75,333
-
-
-
-
2,564
2,564
15,000
-
(15,000)
-
-
-
11,000
-
(11,000)
-
12,947
12,947
1,099
-
(1,099)
-
-
-
8,255
-
(8,255)
-
-
-
10,417
-
(10,417)
-
-
-
13,000
-
(13,000)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,000
15,000
-
-
-
-
3,159
3,159
20,000
-
(20,000)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
140,000
140,000
-
-
-
-
10,773
10,773
189,317
-
(110,379)
-
187,955
266,893
463,977
1,147,549
(917,031)
(3,904)
(187,955)
502,636
653,294
1,147,549
(1,027,410)
(3,904)
-
769,529
3,318,985
1,632,007
(1,595,153)
(57,186)
-
3,298,653

62

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds (continued)

Movements in funds (continued)
Prior Year
Vincent Weir endowment funds:
Expendable Endowment Fund
Permanent endowment fund
Total endowment funds
Restricted funds:
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - Planning
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - Bearing Witness
for Wildlife
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - Nightwatch
Natural England - Biodiversity
Natural England - Monitoring
Natural England - Partnerships
Natural Resources Wales - NBMP MoA
Contribution
NatureScot - Scottish Bat Project
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Species on
the Edge
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Back from
the Brink
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Bats in
Churches
Forestry Commission - Woodland Bats
Ernest Kleinwort - Woodland Bats
Edith Murphy Foundation - Woodland
Forestry England
Animal and Plant Health Agency - BCT Helpline
Rufford Foundation - Helpline
Other trusts and donations - BCT Helpline
Kate Barlow Research Award
Bat Group appeals
British Ecological Society - Bats in Churches
David Webster Charitable Trust - Bats and
Buildings
Rufford Foundation - International
Anonymous donation
Other restricted project income
Total restricted funds		 At 1 April
2020
Income
Expenditure
Gains on
investments
Transfers
between
funds
At 31 March
2021
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,716,532
-
(11,720)
380,550
-
2,085,362
280,178
-
(1,920)
62,115
-
340,373
1,996,710
-
(13,640)
442,665
-
2,425,735
16,175
-
(6,175)
-
-
10,000
6,480
-
(6,480)
-
-
-
-
124,000
(12,517)
-
-
111,483
-
61,655
(51,655)
-
-
10,000
-
25,000
(15,000)
-
-
10,000
-
25,000
(15,000)
-
-
10,000
-
5,667
(5,667)
-
-
-
-
29,963
(29,963)
-
-
-
-
26,239
(26,239)
-
-
-
-
65,980
(65,980)
-
-
-
-
73,571
(73,571)
-
-
-
-
2,700
-
-
-
2,700
10,000
-
(5,205)
-
-
4,795
-
2,000
-
-
-
2,000
-
12,079
(3,477)
-
-
8,602
-
8,000
(8,000)
-
-
-
-
3,200
(800)
-
-
2,400
-
57,862
(47,566)
-
-
10,296
30,543
-
(5,794)
-
-
24,749
-
4,960
(4,960)
-
-
-
-
1,998
(92)
-
-
1,906
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
-
-
-
5,900
-
-
-
5,900
2,031
-
(421)
-
-
1,610
28,875
8,491
(13,851)
-
-
23,515
94,104
546,265
(400,413)
-
-
239,956

63

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds (continued)

Prior Year
Designated funds:
BCT Bat Roost Partnership
Database Project
JNCC - NBMP
Natural England - Earned Recognition
DRUID project
JNCC - Nightwatch
Natural England - Helpline
Capacity building - Fidra
Capacity and support - science and monitoring
Bellway Homes - Wildlife Crime
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1 April
2020
Income
Expenditure
Gains on
investments
Transfers
between
funds
At 31
March
2021
£
£
£
£
£
£
13,578
-
(3,350)
-
-
10,228
121,122
-
(24,604)
-
3,800
100,318
960
-
(960)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,000
15,000
-
-
-
-
1,099
1,099
-
-
-
-
8,255
8,255
-
-
-
-
11,000
11,000
-
-
-
-
10,417
10,417
-
-
-
-
13,000
13,000
-
-
-
-
20,000
20,000
135,660
-
(28,914)
-
82,571
189,317
453,303
1,021,952
(969,607)
40,900
(82,571)
463,977
588,963
1,021,952
(998,521)
40,900
-
653,294
2,679,777
1,568,217
(1,412,574)
483,565
-
3,318,985

Purposes of expendable endowment funds

The funds were donated by Vincent Weir to be invested to generate income for use to support core costs.

Purposes of permanent endowment funds

The Bat Conservation Trust Fund was established by trust deed dated 31 October 2006, so that the income only may be used to advance the charitable purposes of BCT.

Under a charity commission scheme dated 31 March 2010 the funds are treated as forming part of BCT for the purposes of registration and accounting.

Purposes of restricted funds

. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – Planning Raising the profile of biodiversity in the planning system – a multi-species partnership project.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – Bearing Witness for Wildlife

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – NightWatch

Natural England – Biodiversity

Natural England – Monitoring

Natural England – Partnerships

A project working to ensure that wildlife crime prevention and mitigation improve conservation action for bats and those acting to protect them.

To develop an inclusive, engagement-focused community science bat survey.

To contribute towards our work leading on species conservation plans for six species of bat.

To contribute towards site condition monitoring through the National Bat Monitoring Programme.

To contribute towards employing a Bat Groups Officer who provides support to local bat groups.

64

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of restricted funds (continued)

NRW – NBMP MoA contribution

NatureScot – Scottish Bat Project

National Lottery Heritage Fund – Species on the Edge

National Lottery Heritage Fund – Back from the Brink

National Lottery Heritage Fund – Bats in Churches

Forestry Commission - Woodland Bats

Ernest Kleinwort - Woodland Bats

Edith Murphy – Woodland Bats

Mapping Woodland Bats Forestry England

Forest Research – National Forest Inventory Animal and Plant Health Agency – bat helpline Rufford Foundation – bat helpline

A contribution towards the JNCC funded National Bat Monitoring Programme to bolster delivery in Wales.

To contribute towards developing and carry out our conservation and partnership work in Scotland.

Species on the Edge funding from NHLF is for the development year and new collaborative project with seven other conservation organisations, led by NatureScot.

To undertake development work for Back from the Brink, a collaborative project to save England’s most threatened species.

Partnership project put in place to provide solutions to issues with bats in churches in England.

To support work with woodland bats.

To support work with woodland bats.

To support work with woodland bats.

To fund the Woodland Officer's work in the South East of England. Funding for the Forestry England Bat Survey.

Funding for the Forest Research Bat Survey.

To contribute towards rabies surveillance work and risk management.

Contribution to BCT staff time in supporting Malawian bat helpline.

Animal Friends – bat helpline Garfield Weston – bat helpline Other trusts and donations – bat helpline Kate Barlow Research Award

Bat Group Appeals

British Ecological Society – Bats in Churches David Webster Charitable Trust – Bats and Buildings Rufford Foundation – International

Anonymous donation Government kickstart funding

Other restricted project income

To support the bat care work of the BCT Helpline.

To contribute to the running of the BCT helpline.

Donations to contribute towards the running of BCT's Helpline.

Award granted to a postgraduate student to conduct a substantive bat research project and to honour the late Dr Kate Barlow's contribution to bat conservation.

Towards conservation and monitoring work in England and Scotland.

Ecological outreach with the aim of educating non-scientific audiences, primarily a church audience, about bats.

Contributes towards the development of best practice lighting guidance for industry.

Contribution to training, development and salaries of staff on Malawian bat helpline.

Contribute towards surveying for bats in Suffolk.

Payment from Government Kickstarter Scheme to contribute toward salaries of three Kickstarters at BCT.

Amalgamated small donations restricted to particular projects.

65

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

17. Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of designated funds

BCT Roost Partnership

Joint Nature Conservation Committee – National Bat Monitoring Project

To contribute towards bat box monitoring projects.

For work on the National Bat Monitoring Programme.

Streamlining the bat mitigation licensing system, raising professional standards Natural England – Earned Recognition and improving outcomes for bats. Database project A fund set aside for our current website and customer relationship management (CRM) system. The website will be updated and make it more effective and accessible, and the new CRM system will make our fundraising more efficient and improve the way we engage with members, donors and supporters. To advise a NERC funded project to understand and predict the crossDRUID project ecosystem impacts of insect decline on ecosystem services and natural capital. Contributes to develop an inclusive, engagement-focused community science JNCC – NightWatch bat survey. Contribution towards Natural England Bat Advice Service health and safety Natural England – Helpline review. Capacity building – Fidra Contribution to maintaining core operations of the Bat Conservation Trust Capacity and support – science and To assist with delivery of BCT’s Science and Monitoring strategies. monitoring Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) To invest in training and other EDI priorities Providing support to the police, Crown Prosecution Service, ecologists and the Bellway Homes – wildlife crime public in bat crime cases. Funds received in the current year earmarked for specific projects during 2021Designated project funds 22 Fund to be used strategically for specific projects, capacity or other Organisational development fund organisational requirements

18. Related party transactions

During the year ended 31 March 2021 it was agreed that Annika Binet, a trustee of the Bat Conservation Trust, would be engaged to provide bat surveying services to BCT and that payment would be made to her in respect of these services, not in respect of her work as a trustee. The board of trustees (excluding Annika Binet) are satisfied that Annika is best placed in terms of both location and expertise to provide this service and that her quote cost represents value for money and is at or below commercial rate. Amounts paid to Annika Binet in respect of the above in the year ended 31 March 2022 were £694 (2021: Nil). There were no amounts outstanding at the year end.

During the year aggregate donations from related parties totalled £nil (2021: £26,279).

There were no other related party transactions outside the normal course of business in the current or preceding year.

66

The Bat Conservation Trust

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2022

19. Prior year statement of financial activities

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2021

Income
Income from generated funds
Donations and legacies
Investment income
Income from charitable activities
Conferences
Training courses and meetings
Projects and research
Other activities
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds
Membership support
Costs of raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Conferences
Biodiversity training courses
Project and research costs
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) before net gains
on investments
Net gains on investments
Net income for the year
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
£
£
£
334,228
66,752
-
43,685
-
-
62,744
-
-
37,347
-
-
497,282
479,513
-
46,666
-
-
1,021,952
546,265
-
67,118
-
-
106,619
-
13,640
17,493
-
-
63,479
-
-
743,812
400,413
-
998,521
400,413
13,640
23,431
145,852
(13,640)
40,900
-
442,665
64,331
145,852
429,025
64,331
145,852
429,025
588,963
94,104
1,996,710
653,294
239,956
2,425,735		 Total
£
400,980
43,685
62,744
37,347
976,795
46,666
1,568,217
67,118
120,259
17,493
63,479
1,144,225
1,412,574
155,643
483,565
639,208
639,208
2,679,777
3,318,985

67