Registered Company No. 04306537 (England and Wales) ## **The BCN Society** (A Company Limited by Guarantee) Registered charity number 1091760 ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] March 2026 Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts Trustees Report Profit and Loss Account ## The BCN Society |BALANCE SHEET
31STMarch 2026
FIXED ASSETS - Note 4
Costs bfwd
Additions
Less Depreciation
Less Loss on Disposals
Current Assets
Debtors
Cash at Bank & in hand
CREDITORS - Amounts falling due within 12 months
Trade Creditors
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)
CREDITORS - Amounts falling due after more than one
Deposits for keys
TOTAL NET ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)
REPRESENTED BY
Restricted fund Events
Restricted fund Awards for all
Restricted fund work party expenses
Restricted fund CRT BCN 250
Accumulated surplus|2026
2025
£
£
45515
45185
16194
3500
(4789)
(3170)
(6890)
0
50030
45515
0
0
258959
28547
258959
28547
0
0
0
0
308989
74062
year
0
110
308989
73952
0
0
0
0
0
0
2970
2970
306019
70982
308989
73952|| |---|---|---| |||2025| For the year ending 31[st] March 2026 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Director's responsibilities; - The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476, - The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. These financial statements were approved by the board on 22nd May 2026. M. J. O’Keeffe ## **The BCN Society** ## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the period ended 31[st] March 2026 1. Principal accounting policies - a) Basis of Accounting The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards. ## 2. Share Capital The company has no share capital being a company limited by guarantee. Each members liability is restricted to £1. 3. Accumulated Surplus |umulated Surplus|| |---|---| |Surplus brought forward

Surplus for the year

Balance carried forward
|2026
73952
235037| ||308989| ## 4. Fixed Assets The society owns a work boat purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund. The items also include tools for use by work parties and a marquee for use at events. Depreciation is charged on the straight line basis at 10% and 20% per annum. No depreciation is charged on the work boat. ||Work Boat|Tools and|Motor
|Marquee|Total| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Equipment|Vehicles||| |Brought Forward|24601|9867||11047|45515| |Additions||0|16194|0|16194| |Sales||(6890)|||(6890)| |Depreciation||(1592)|(1619)|(1578)|(4789)| |Written off|||||-| |Carried Forward|24601|1385|14575|9469|50030| ## **The BCN Society** ## Report of the Trustees The trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 1985, present their report and financial statements for the period ended 31[st] March 2026. . ## Review of activities The Company, a registered charity was formed to promote the use and retention of the waterway known as the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). The society leases from Canal & Rivers Trust the Titford Pumphouse a Grade II listed former Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Pumphouse which had been restored by the former British Waterways (now CRT) and is used by the society as a headquarters with meeting room, office and storage. The society carries out work on the BCN and organizes a number of events to promote the use of the canal. Report to AGM ## BCNS AGM 22 May 2026, Chair’s statement Good evening everyone and welcome to Annual General Meeting of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society. It’s great to see everyone here tonight and thank you for attending. As usual I take this opportunity to go through the highlights and main issues of the past 12 months. I’ll start with our constitution. As some of you may be aware, the BCN Society has a slightly complicated legal and governance structure which involves separate bodies registered with Companies House and The Charity Commission. These arrangements were best practice back in the early 2000s, but now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is the most common form for new bodies. We are proposing to convert to a CIO as this will simplify our administration and, in particular, avoid the need to file two sets of documents, and give us a structure which meets current charity law. Straight after this AGM there will be an Extraordinary General Meeting when we will seek approval from the membership for the conversion to a CIO. Turning next to events and activities. We held a successful 2025 Rally here at the Pumphouse, which certainly makes things easier from an organisational point of view. The only niggle was the lack of water until we managed to find someone from CRT to turn on the pumps! We ran three explorer cruises, including one aimed at hire boats from Alvechurch. As usual these were well supported. They continue to serve an important function introducing people to the many delights of the BCN. Thanks to Explorer Cruise leaders, Paul & Kirsty, Stephen & Barbara and John & Sally. The Marathon Challenge is another key event and the 2025 Edition finished at Withymoor. This year it finishes here, so it’s going to be busy on Sunday (yes, again we have tried to arrange for the pumps to run). Thanks, as ever, to Jon Pegg for organising the Challenge. This year’s Big Clean Up in collaboration with the IWA Wergies was based at Sneyd Junction and the Walsall area. As some of you will know it was supposed to be at Longwood but a pollution incident at Aldridge closed the canal. Despite the revised arrangements it seems to have been a success. The main event of 2026 so far has been the Icicle Cruise to Walsall in conjunction with our friends at Fund Britain’s Waterways. This was extremely successful and gained some excellent coverage. Walsall Basin was full of boats, the sun was shining, Bob was interviewed for local TV, and I was photographed holding a BCNS banner with the Lady Mayor of Walsall! Like 2025, it definitely wasn’t icicle weather! Work parties remain at our core and Mike Rolfe has handed over the reins to Paul Scrutton. I should highlight the clean up at Moorcroft Junction which took place over three weekends ahead of the Icicle Cruise, was a fantastic achievement and received a lot of positive coverage on social media channels. Jeff Carter has calculated over 1,000 hours volunteer hours so far this year. I should also mention insurance in relation to work parties, and the fact that we are reviewing processes and, in particular, the need for us to adopt the use of life jackets. Last month we held a canal history event which amongst other things showcased some of the material in the Archive. Another one is planned for November, so watch out for that. All of our activities require people to support them - I can’t name everyone but just to mention Phil Wild as archivist, Andy Tidy as social secretary and Marie Sherratt as membership secretary. On finaces, and without treading on Kath’s territory, it goes without saying that things are getting more expensive. We continue to monitor income and expenditure and as last year, we are not proposing an increase in subscription rates. On assets, the Jean Draycott legacy and another donation have allowed us to rationalise and upgrade or vehicles/trailers. Now have a newish truck and trailer in good condition. We’ve also been able to invest in a brand new chipper, which has already proved extremely useful, and we have a BCNS- branded canopy and sides for the large pop-up. Of course the Pumphouse itself also needs to be maintained - hired in plant to repair broken guttering. Also mindful that our lease expires in 2027 and we will need to see how these discussions with CRT pan out. Atlas & Malus are the two historic Grand Union Canal Carrying Company boats which we own jointly with Coombeswood Canal Trust. They both celebrated their 90th birthdays in 2025. Oversight of the boats is done through a Memorandum of understanding between BCNS and CCT and out into practice by the A&M Advisory Group. It’s been clear for some time that we needed to gain a proper understanding of the condition of Atlas & Malus. Also CCT had successfully bid for some money from Dudley Council (part of a Government pot of money levelling-up) which allowed them to develop their Relauching Atlas & Malus project. Stephen Busby led this project and I think now knows more about historic narrowboats than he ever thought he needed to! Over the last six months or so, the holds of both boats have been completely cleared out. Malus has been blacked and the hold and running gear repainted. Malus had a survey while on the slip at Hawne; Atlas is currently on the bank at Stretton on the Shroppie for some attention and then she too will have a survey. After that we can see where we are. I must particularly thank Tim and Sara on Corolla for towing Malus on the Icicle Cruise and also for bringing her round from Hawne to Oldbury last weekend. Next I want to highlight a few people who are stepping down from various Society roles. First, Kath O’Keeffe who for the last few years had held the purse strings as our Treasurer. Second, Mike Rolfe who for even more years has been our work party coordinator. Finally to Barrie Johnson who has stepped down as a trustee after xx years. Fortunately, all three will still be active in the society but please join me in thanking them for their contributions. Last year you may recall that I started proceedings by telling you about the serious accident which had occurred at the top of Ryder’s Green locks. Well I’m delighted to say that George has made a miraculous recovery, is back boating and is hear today. Many of you will also be aware that in December, Bernard was rescued from the water at Withymoor. He too has made a great recovery. I’ll embarrass both of them now by asking for a round of applause to show how pleased we are to see them. Coincidently in both instances, the same person was present to assist in the rescue - Paul Scrutton. We are delighted that Paul received the Harry Sykes Award from the Association of Waterway Cruising Club for an exceptional act of rescue from the water. His bravery and quick actions have had a huge impact and we are very proud to have him as part of the BCNS. One of our members had a heart attack the other week, and of course we send him our best wishes. George, Ian and Phil were involved in checking his boat was secure and then moving it from Birmingham back to his home mooring in Tipton. Many thanks to them. I’ll just end by saying that all this demonstrates what a fantastic community the BCNS is. Thanks to all of you for your continuing support. By Order of the Board Secretary ## Examiners report I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Phil Clayton 22[nd] May 2026 ## **The BCN Society** ## INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31[st] March 2026 |Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
2026 Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
2025
Income
£
£
Subscriptions
6666
6666
7675
7675
Other Income
0
0
Donations
242512
242512
0
13894
13894
Events
734
734
2057
2057
Grants
0
0
0
0
Pumphouse
340
340
395
395
Rents received
6772
6772
6212
6212
Other charitable income
6681
6681
6262
6262
257039
28730
Total
Income
263705
36405
Expenditure
Operating Expenses
0
19400
19400
6270
5741
12011
Administration expenses
Events
533
533
0
467
467
Rent & Rates
9354
9255
13143
13143
Depreciation
4789
4789
3170
3170
Other Expenses
0
(110) (110)
0
0
0
14566
16780
33966
28791
(Loss) Surplus for the year
229739
7614
Bank interest
5298
322
Surplus for the year carried
forward
235037
7936|Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
2026 Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
2025
Income
£
£
Subscriptions
6666
6666
7675
7675
Other Income
0
0
Donations
242512
242512
0
13894
13894
Events
734
734
2057
2057
Grants
0
0
0
0
Pumphouse
340
340
395
395
Rents received
6772
6772
6212
6212
Other charitable income
6681
6681
6262
6262
257039
28730
Total
Income
263705
36405
Expenditure
Operating Expenses
0
19400
19400
6270
5741
12011
Administration expenses
Events
533
533
0
467
467
Rent & Rates
9354
9255
13143
13143
Depreciation
4789
4789
3170
3170
Other Expenses
0
(110) (110)
0
0
0
14566
16780
33966
28791
(Loss) Surplus for the year
229739
7614
Bank interest
5298
322
Surplus for the year carried
forward
235037
7936|2025| |---|---|---| |||| |||| |||7614
322
7936|