## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/directors/** British Institute for Geological Conservation Ltd **members of On accounts for the year** April 2024 **ended Charity no.:** 1016312 Company no.: 02775501 **Set out on pages** 3-5 I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 3 / 04 / 2022. **Responsibilities and** As the charity’s trustees of the Company (who are also the directors of the **basis of report** company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
**Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
- the accounts do not accord with such records; or
- the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- •the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
1
**IER**
.the accounts have not b88n prepared in accordance with th8 Charities
SORP (FRS102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matt8rs in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thls report in order
to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Pl8ase d818t8 the words in the brackets If they do not apply.
Slgned:
4171
Date:
13.Feb. 2025
Name:
Dr. Barry A. Thomas
Relevant professlonal
quallflcatlon{s) or body (If
any):
Address:
Ynys Einion, Eglws Fach, Machynlleth SY208SX
Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see GC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and
guidance for examiners).
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 1[ST] 2024**
|**INCOME**
Interest on Business Account
Evolution Garden Project
Merthyr Tydfill CR (Levelling-Up Fund)
Refund from Pest Control work
Refunds from Suppliers
Misc.
Fees for filming at Bendrick Rocks
**TOTAL**
**EXPENDITURE**
Evolution Garden Project
Employment Costs & Monitoring
Independent Project Monitoring
Development Officer Costs
Educational equipment
Education consultancy
Gardening equipment
Plants
Construction & Project Maintenance
Ecological Survey Equipment
IT Equipment
PPE
Workshop Specimens
Pest Control
Event Catering
Marketing
Postage
Translation
Bendrick Rocks
Aerial Survey
Interpretation boards
Council Meeting (Expenses)
Bank Charges
Geologists’ Assoc. Affiliation Fee
Insurance
**TOTAL**
**TRANSFER TO (FROM) RESERVES**
**RESERVES**
Business Manager Account
Community Account
**TOTAL**|Current year
£2,931.04
£169,628.97
NIL
£27.89
NIL
NIL
**£172,587.90**
£22,536.08
NIL
£25,607.79
£4,360.95
NIL
£2,083.44
£1,751.08
£14,705.93
£4,506.10
£5,072.91
£1,327.40
£2,496.39
NIL
£304.86
£913.99
NIL
£1,390.00
NIL
£100.00
£,2083.93
£65.61
£80.00
£166.75
**£89,553.21**
+£83,034.69
£224,793.58
£1,677.81
**£226,471.39**|Previous year
£492.62
£124,268.32
£245.94
NIL
£106.42
£250.00
**£125,363.30**
£4,000.00
£4,350.00
£70,000.00
£10,315.06
£15,000.00
£2,639.70
NIL
£25,459.77
£5,194.62
NIL
£1,975.73
NIL
£387.93
£125.26
NIL
£96.05
NIL
£700.00
NIL
NIL
£65.97
NIL
NIL
**£140,310.09**|
|---|---|---|
3
**IER**
## **BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 1[ST] 2024**
## **ASSETS**
|**ASSETS**|||
|---|---|---|
||Current year|Previous year|
|A. Called up share capital not paid|NIL|NIL|
|B. Fixed Assets|||
|Land|£45,000.00|£45,000.00|
|Library|£1,000.00|£1,000.00|
|IT Equipment|£5,000.00|NIL|
|C. Current Assets|||
|Stocks|NIL|NIL|
|Debtors|NIL|NIL|
|Investments|NIL|NIL|
|Cash in Bank|£226,471.39|£143,436.70|
|D. Prepayments and accrued income|NIL|NIL|
|**TOTAL**|**£277,471.39**|**£189,436.70**|
|**LIABILITIES**|||
|A. Capital and Reserves|£277,471.39|£189,436.70|
|B. Provisions for liabilities and charges|NIL|NIL|
|C. Creditors|NIL|NIL|
|D. Accruals and deferred income|NIL|NIL|
|**TOTAL**|**£277,471.39**|**£189,436.70**|
Notes
- For the year ending 1 April 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
- The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
- The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
4
**IER**
## **Annual Report 2023‒2024**
BIGC activities have continued to be centred on the _Merthyr’s Roots_ project, supported by the Community Renewal Fund (CRF – “Levelling Up Fund”). The project is based at Cyfarthfa Castle greenhouses and country park, and aims to educate the local communities about their important natural heritage. Numerous activities were again held to benefit a range of stakeholders including children, teachers and youth group leaders and disabled adults, demonstrating the importance of geoheritage and biodiversity. The project employs three disabled people via Merthyr Social Services to help in the greenhouses. Funding will allow the project to continue to at least 2025.
A meeting of the Trustees was held at Cyfarthfa, to review progress of the project. The meeting also discussed the future strategy of BIGC and it was agreed to develop a new Mission Statement document.
Interpretation boards funded by the Geologists’ Association Curry Fund have been installed at Capel Horeb Quarry. A LIDAR survey of the site has also been carried out. The strip of land next to the quarry, which came when the Institute acquired the site, continues to be a problem because of the trees infected with Ash Dieback endangering the adjacent highway. This strip of land forms no part of the geoheritage and so is irrelevant to the Institute’s charitable activities. Since this land is acting as a significant drain on the Institute’s financial resources, negotiations have been initiated with the owner of the neighbouring farm to see if they would be interested in acquiring the land.
An interpretation board has been installed at the Bendrick Rock site, funded by Natural Resources Wales. In collaboration with Cardiff University, the site has been surveyed using drone-based LIDAR. This will facilitate the ongoing monitoring of the condition of the site.
BIGC continues to monitor the situation with the Upper Pennant exposure at Llanhilleth (Tirpentwys/The Canyon). When developments at the site have been finalised, we will continue pushing for it to be designated as a GCR site, and investigate the situation with its ownership.
Representing the UK, Council Members of BIGC attended and gave presentation at the Charnwood Forest meeting of the International Association for the Conservation of Geological Heritage (ProGeo).
BIGC members have been instrumental in initiating special sets of papers for publication in the journals _Geoheritage_ and _Geoconservation Research_ .
**IER**
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