Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date
From 1 1 2024 To 31 12 2024
section A Reference and administration details
Charity name
Hampshire Ornithological Society
Registered charity number (if ary}; 1042309
Charity's principal address | 2 Dunmow Hill
|
Hampshire [Postcode
[Postcode |cus1 3AN | Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity [romene —[onseaay arena [ee dree toa | 1|Keith Betton [Chair|| 3[DavePalmer [Secretary | | 5 | Andy Lester Fs AA 24 to 6/4/24 , 8[MikeChamers | 9 | Barry Page eeee 14 [Tommy Saunders | S|[SSC™~—SSSSSSCSCSCSCSCS] 1615 | Martin Pitt eeee | Roger Dickey 6/4/24 to 31/12/24 Po 18|GeorgeBatho |iM ataze | a SC a Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) [Name CCSCdSDate’s' acted if not for whoole year
TAR
1
March 2042
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) ——<—————_Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
_SectionB _ Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity's trusts
Type of governing document Constitution detailed in the Society Rules document.
How the charity is constituted. The Society is a Charitable Unincorporated Organisation.
Trustee selection methods Election by Society Members at the Annual General Meeting
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
----- Start of picture text -----
|
----- End of picture text -----
-
You may choose to include | additional information, where |
-
relevant, about: | e policies and procedures adopted for the induction and | training of trustees;
-
- the charity's organisational structure and any wider : network with which the charity’ | works;
-
e relationship with any related | parties;
-
e trustees’ consideration of | major risks and the systerti and procedures to manage them. |
Section C
----- Start of picture text -----
Section C Objectives and activities
[ The objects of the Society are within the county of Hampshire: |
i) To advance the education of the public in all aspects of
Summary of the objects of the _SFREEEIORY. ‘
charity set out in its ii) To promote research into ornithology and to publish the useful
9averning docunwat results of such study.
9 iii) To support and encourage the preservation and conservation of
wild birds and places of ornithological interest.
----- End of picture text -----
TAR
2
.
March 2012
----- Start of picture text -----
| The main activities of the Society are:
| To promote and record the study of bird life in Hampshire and to publish
the results in the annual bird report.
To use these results to encourage and support the conservation ofwild
birds and their habitats within the county.
| To foster a wider interest in the recording and preservation of Hampshire
Summary bird life by organising a programme of indoor and outdoor meetings, by
activities of the main | publishing a magazine (three issues each year) and other forms of
public benefitundertakenin relati f o nr t ohe —_| publicity.
these objects (include within | AS set out by the Charity Commissionoo,in its Guidance on Public Benefit in |
this section the statutory | respect of the public benefits requirement in running a charity and its
declaration that trustees have | reporting, in their opinion the Trustees consider that they have complied
had regard to the guidance with their duty to have regard to the Commission’s public benefit
issued by the Charity guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is
Commission on public relevant.
benefit)
Additional details of details of of objectives and activities {Optional information) and activities {Optional information) activities {Optional information) {Optional information) information)
| In| In|| Section 0 — — Achievements and performance, the Chair of the Society, and performance, the Chair of the Society, performance, the Chair of the Society, the Chair of the Society, of the Society, the Society, Society, |
in his report to members, to members, members, outlines some of the activities some of the activities of the activities the activities activities of the Society the Society Society
during the the past year, year, showing how they have how they have they have have helped meet the meet the the Society’s
objectives. Other activities activities (extracted from the reports of the the Chairs of
the Scientific and Membership and Membership Membership Committees) which are also in support of
| the objectives, are also listed.
.
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
Additional details of details of of objectives and activities {Optional information) and activities {Optional information) activities {Optional information) {Optional information) information)
| In| In|| Section 0 — — Achievements and performance, the Chair of the Society, and performance, the Chair of the Society, performance, the Chair of the Society, the Chair of the Society, of the Society, the Society, Society,
in his report to members, to members, members, outlines some of the activities some of the activities of the activities the activities activities of the Society the Society Society
during the the past year, year, showing how they have how they have they have have helped meet the meet the the Society’s
objectives. Other activities activities (extracted from the reports of the the Chairs of
the Scientific and Membership and Membership Membership Committees) which are also in support of
| the objectives, are also listed.
----- End of picture text -----
You may choose fo include further statements, where relevant, about:
-
e policy on grantmaking;
-
e policy programme related investment;
-
© contribution made by volunteers.
TAR
3
March 2012
| Section D | Achievements and performance | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary ofthemain | HOSChair’sReport2024 | ||
| achievements ofthecharity | |||
| duringtheyear | Having startedlast year’sreportsaying that370people atthe2023HOS Members Daybrokeallrecords, |
cannowtellyou that430attendedthe | |
| 2024 event! Itwas terrifictoseesomany ofyou there. Thanks to allthe | |||
| HOSteamwhoworkedhardtomaketheeventworkseamlessly. Ifyou wanttobreaktherecordagain, Saturday 29March is thedate - but |
|||
| pleasecarshareifyoucan. | |||
| Wesaw119newmembersjoinin2024, andweparticularlywelcome them. [fyou arenew to birding, oryouwantfobrush upyour skills, we willagainberunning birdsongtraining eventsintheSpring (1). Our YoungMembersnumberaround80andareagedfrom seven to 22, and |
|||
| wefan 18eventsjust forthem this year (2). Wewidenedtherangeof topicstoincludemammals, reptilesandfungi, whichdrewmuchsupport. |
|||
| As aiways, wearegratefulto theCameron Bespolka Trustfortheir | |||
| support for ourYoungMemberprogramme. Also, ourfemale birding friendshipgroupbrokethe 100markin2024-agreatresult,andwe are |
|||
| proudtobe leading thewayin openingupadditional birding opportunities |
in thisway (3). We are also delighted that other counties are following our example. |
||
| Wewerepleased to approve moreprojects forfinancial support, andin 2025 there willbeHOS-funded initiatives tohelpbreeding Starlings and Swifts, plus House and Sand Martins. We have alsofundedPhD studies |
|||
| ofwintering JackSnipe (4). | |||
| Amajorsurvey ofWoodlarkswas carriedout intheNewForestas part of the HLS breeding monitoring (5). Thissawmembers out in force visiting 293 one-kilometresquares within theSPAbetweenmid-February and May. Analysis ofsurveydata indicated a total of260Woodlarkbreeding |
territorieswithinthe SPA, plus a further64territories reported outside of | ||
| thesurvey methodology. Thisiscitizenscience atitsbestandthe | |||
| contract incomewillbeused tosupport conservation and research. | |||
| You'llbe able to hear aboutthe results ofthese surveys atthe Members |
|||
| Once again,the Hampshire Bird Reportteam createda fantastic record ofwhatwasseen in2024 (6). In additiontothe254 species recorded, |
|||
| Papersincluded resultsofthe keysurveyworkbyHOSmembers on | |||
| Marsh Titsand DartfordWarblers (7). The report included the results of | |||
| the HOS-funded Lapwing Recovery Project atSelbourneand an | |||
| assessment ofbreeding gulls on buildings atNewMilton usingtheHOS drone (8). |
|||
| At the lastAGM |
toldyouthatthecostofproviding allthatyougetas part ofyourHOSmembership (Kingfisher newsletters, Hampshire Bird |
||
| memberships. Responding to members who asked to receive our | |||
| publications digitally, |
|||
| (Weknowthat asmallnumberof you wouldlike ustooffertheHampshire | |||
| TAR | 4 . March2012 |
TAR
Section D
Achievements and performance
Bird Report digitally as well and we will be in touch later to offer you the | Helen Schneider is standing down as a trustee in 2025 and we are | grateful for her time and input over the last three years. 1 would also like to thank everyone who has helped the Society to achieve so much in 2024. if you are reading this and think you can spare time to help HOS, | please drop mea line. ; | wish you a good birding year ahead. | | Keith Betton | | Chair, HOS | | December 2024 | | Whileitems numbered not a complete[in] the listreport of all above, activitieseg undertaken[(1),] are[in] support duringthe of the year, the | | | | Society's objectives in Section C above, as follows; | | {1)(2) inin supportsupport ofof objectiveobjective ii and iii | {3} in support of objective i and iii | (4) in support of objective ii | | (5) in support of objective ii and iii | (7} in support of objective it and tit | (6)(8} inin supportsupport of of objectiveobjective iiiif and iif | Other activities documented in the sub-committee reports in the | Society’s AGM materials which support the objectives include; | || ContinuationLiaison with Conservationand development Organisationsof the ten-year — supportingbird survey objective pian —iii | E | supporting objective ii. | | For details of Grant expenditure during 2024, please see the Treasurer’s | Report filed with this Repost. | | || | | | | : | | | | ||
TAR
5
March 2072
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||
|Brief.|statementa|of the|||||year’sThe Society's expenditure. reservesAs|atpolicy31|Decemberis to hold cash 2024 fundsthe|actualsufficientcash tofunds meetheld one|||
|charity’s policy on reserves|were significantly|in excess|of|this and the|Trustees|intend to use the|
|||surplus funds over the next|two|to|three years|to support|research|and|||
|conservation projects that meet the Society’s objectives and also|||
|purchase|additional|capital|equipment to expand and enhance|research|||
|and|education|projecis.|
|Details of any funds materially|||
|in deficit|None|,|
|Further|financial|review details|(Optional|information)|
|You may choose to include|||||
|relevantadditional about: information, where|||||
|e|the|charity's.|principal|||
|sources of funds|(including|||
|any fundraising);|||
|e|how expenditure|has|||
|supported|the key objectives|||
|of the|charity;|
|e|investment policy and|||
|objectives including any|||
|ethicaladopted.investment policy|||||
|Section F|Other|optional|information|
|||
|||
|||||
|||||
|bt|
|||Section|G|Declaration|
|The trustees declare|that|they|have approved|the|trustees’|report above.|
----- End of picture text -----
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
signature) CAO. |A
Full name(s)! Keith Findlay Betton | David Nicholas James Palmer
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, |... Sarco
etc) ary
Datel 7/0/2025 |
----- End of picture text -----
TAR
6
March: 2012:
Hampshire Ornithological Society — Treasurer’s Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
The Society’s independently examined accounts for the year ended 31st December 2024 are available on the HOS Website.
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and a copy will be filed along with the Annual Return, as required within 10 months of the year end, with the Charity Commission.
In summary, the Society’s receipts totalled £45,876 and expenditure was £49,319 resulting in a deficit for the year of £(3,443).
Set out below are my observations on the accounts.
Receipts
Membership subscription receipts decreased from 2023. This is due principally to 2025 subscriptions received in December 2024 being significantly less than 2024 subscriptions received in December 2023. Membership numbers increased by 22 in 2024.
Donations include £1,385 from the “bid for an expert” and Audubon print auctions that closed on the Members’ Day and a £1,000 from a legacy.
Interest from bank deposits increased as a result of increased funds held on deposit.
Survey and data sales represent £3,200 from Hampshire County Council for the HOS/HBIC data exchange agreement. A Woodlark Survey carried out on behalf of Forestry England was completed during the year, however, £11,000 invoiced for the survey was not received until January 2025.
Members’ Day/AGM receipts comprise £1,299 from the raffle, £300 from exhibitors and £75 for entrance fees.
Payments
Grants and donations include £5,100 and £4,100 grants to HIOWWT for a Sand Martin nesting bank at Testwood Lakes and a Swift and House Martin tower at Blashford Lakes, a grant of £5,772 to Sparsholt College for a study on overwintering and migration behaviours of Jack Snipe and a grant of £4,705 to the BTO for call monitoring of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Hawfinches at sites in Hampshire.
The increase in the Hampshire Bird Report costs compared to the prior year is due to increased postage charges. In future postal charges will reduce as more members will be encouraged to receive HOS publications digitally.
The Society paid no sums by way of remuneration to Trustees or committee members during the year. Trustee expenses represent reimbursed mileage expenses for attendance at committee meetings and other meetings and events on behalf of the Society.
Equipment purchased during the year was three song meters purchased for the BTO call monitoring survey referred to above and any future call monitoring projects carried out by the Society.
Funds
The Society’s funds are held in a one year bond with Charity Bank, a 100 day notice deposit account with Charity Bank, an instant access deposit account with Lloyds Bank and a Lloyds Bank current account. It is the intention to change bankers from Lloyds Bank to The Co-operative Bank early in 2025.
The Trustees are conscious that the cash funds are significantly in excess of the Society’s reserves policy, which is to hold funds sufficient to meet one year’s expenditure. It is intended that the surplus funds will continue to be used over the next two to three years to support research and conservation projects that meet the Society’s objectives and also to purchase capital equipment to expand and enhance research and education projects.
I would like to thank Society member Joy Aubin, our Independent Examiner and a chartered accountant, who examined the accounts at no cost to the Society,, the experts who provided their expertise for the “Bid for an Expert” auction free of charge and all the volunteers who have given their time, free of charge, to the Society throughout the year. David Brookes
Honorary Treasurer 3 February 2025
| |
Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS)
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the period from 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Total|Funds|Total|Funds|
|(unrestricted)|(unrestricted)|
|2024|2023|
|Receipts|
|Membership subscriptions|£23,158.00|£24,710.00|
|Donations|£3,466.32|£2,381.27|
|Income Tax|refund on|Gift Aid subscriptions|£4,762.93|£4,050.35|
|Interest from|deposit accounts|£3,657.34|£2,406.47|
|Publication|sales|£1,369.87|£950.32|
|Rare|Birds|of Hampshire Book|£585.18|£2,436.70|
|Clothing|and accessory sales|£1,572.31|£1,101.00|
|Surveys and data sales|£3,200.00|£11,210.00|
|Courses|and training days|£1,280.00|£1,215.00|
|Bird Report|and Kingfisher Advertising|£1,150.00|£775.00|
|Members’ Day/AGM|£1,674.40|£1,250.00|
|Total receipts|£45,876.35|£52,486.11|
|Payments|
|Grants|and donations|£21,581.92|£6,630.49|
|Hampshire|Bird Report|£12,264.87|£11,519.98|
|Kingfisher|Newsletter|£7,286.50|£9,039.40|
|Rare|Birds|of Hampshire|Book|£0.00|£872.46|
|Members’ Day/AGM and events|£2,206.07|£3,033.08|
|Clothing and accessories|£1,820.70|£633.38|
|Insurance|£490.00|£472.31|
|Cost of data|sales/surveys|£488.48|£610.33|
|Postage,|stationery and room|hire|£1,034.09|£1,738.61|
|Trustee expenses|£671.15|£698.00|
|Equipment|£1,475.73|£1,327.44|
|Total payments|£49,319.51|£36,575.48|
|Net|receipts|£3,443.16|£15,910.63|
|Cash funds|last year end|£122,886.10|£106,975.47|
|Cash funds this year end|£119,442.94|£122,886.10|
----- End of picture text -----
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the end of the period to 31/12/2024
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Cash|Funds:|
|Lloyds|bank current account|£931.37|£1,944.25|
|Lloyds|bank deposit account|£43,326.72|£48,542.47|
|Charity Bank|100|day|notice|account|£53,599.67|£51,871.92|
|Charity Bank one year bond matures|07/10/25|£21,585.18|£0.00|
|Charity|Bank one year bond matured 07/10/24|£0.00|£20,527.46|
|Total cash funds|£119,442.94|£122,886.10|
|Other monetary assets|none|none|
|Liabilities|none|none|
|Other|assets|
|Stock|in hand — Clothing and publications|31/12/24|31/12/23|
|Fieeces|24|21|
|Sweatshirts|17|15|
|Polo shirts|22|18|
|Baseball Caps|30|11|
|Woolly hats/Beanies|4|0|
|Microfibre|cloths|204|0|
|Bird|reports|- three most recent issues|42|50|
|Keyhaveni/Lymington checklists|53|64|
|Hampshire|checklists|77|108|
|Rare|Birds|of Hampshire|123|157|
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
,
----- End of picture text -----
Independent Examiner’s Report To the Trustees of the Hampshire Ornithological Society Registered Charity in England; Number 1042309
| report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Hampshire Ornithological Society (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’}.
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}{b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination. {| confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect :
-
The accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
The accounts did not accord with those records; or 3. The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: “tS ¢ y, e
Name: Mrs DJ H Aubin, BA (Hons), FCA
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies:
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Address: 4 Old Barn Close Christchurch DORSET BH23 20QZ United Kingdom
Date: iS\L]20a5
independent Examiner’s Report To the Trustees of the Hampshire Ornithological Society Registered Charity in England; Number 1042309
| report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Hampshire Ornithological Society (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect :
-
The accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. The accounts did not accord with those records; or
-
The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: “<5 Que
Name: Mrs D J H Aubin, BA (Hons), FCA
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies:
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Address: 4 Old Barn Close Christchurch DORSET BH23 2QZ United Kingdom
Date: Is\L|20a5