Charity registration number 1094175 (England and Wales)
Company registration number 04425086
GENERAL AVIATION SAFETY COUNCIL Annual Report And Unaudited Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
General Aviation Safety Council
Legal And Administrative Information
| Trustees | Captain N Jamieson | (Appointed 17 October 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| G Coleman | ||
| Mrs E Walkinshaw | ||
| R G Hughes | ||
| P A Hall | ||
| R Mason | ||
| M Robinson | ||
| T R Scorer | ||
| S Slater | ||
| S R Tilling | ||
| Secretary | M O'Donoghue | |
| Senior management | M O'Donoghue | Chief executive officer |
| Charity number (England and Wales) | 1094175 | |
| Company number | 04425086 | |
| Registered office | Rochester Airport | |
| Chatham | ||
| Kent | ||
| England | ||
| ME5 9SD | ||
| Independent examiner | Chavereys Limited | |
| The Goods Shed | ||
| Jubilee Way | ||
| Faversham | ||
| Kent | ||
| England | ||
| ME13 8GD |
General Aviation Safety Council
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 3 |
| Independent examiner's report | 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7 - 13 |
General Aviation Safety Council
Trustees' Report (Including Directors' Report)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
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 of association, the Companies Act 2006 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).
Objectives and activities
The objects for which the charity is established are to foster the development of general aviation in the United Kingdom along safe lines by encouraging competence, safety and good airmanship among general aviation pilots, operators and all concerned with general aviation activity.
Public benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Activities
The charity produces its own flight safety magazine which is distributed to subscribers, along with a free newsletter sent out occasionally to around 9,000 addresses to highlight important safety items or forthcoming events. The charity participates at aviation events, promotes discussions within the aviation community through seminars, and maintains a website to support its objectives. Safety Events and Airspace Infringement Awareness courses, delivered through a team of volunteer Regional Safety Officers, remain core activities.
Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives
Significant activities and achievements against objectives include continuing with popular physical Safety Evenings delivered to flying clubs, associations, and other organisations during 2024. GASCo was represented at the major GA events, including Blackbushe Airport Air Day, Private Flyer events at Wycombe Air Park and Leeds East International together with the LAA Rally at Leicester.
Despite a setback in the retendering process for the CAA Safety Promotions contract, which GASCo did not win, the Board decided to continue with the popular Safety Evenings, focusing on direct engagement with the GA community.
During the year, meetings of the Board and Council were held in person and online as were some of the General Aviation meetings that representatives of GASCo normally attend (e.g. The Department of Transport's Aviation Safety meetings, General Aviation Partnership; the UK Flight Safety Committee; Local Airspace Infringement Team meetings; Regional Airspace User Working Groups and others)
Charitable donations were increased by the use of ‘contactless’ card readers at certain events and by holding raffles at the end of Safety Evenings with prizes generously supplied by Pooley’s and AFE Limited
Financial review
The charity's deficit for the year was £3,484 (2023: deficit £4,361). Further savings measures were introduced during the Autumn of 2024 to eliminate the deficit. These included general running cost reductions and, most significantly, the closure of the Rochester Office to save monthly rental costs. Thanks to the generosity of Rochester City Airport, a 'hot desk' facility was provided free of charge for the Executive Administrator, and an IT upgrade supported remote working. In October 2024, the CAA announced a 95% reduction in its financial contribution to GASCo from £20,000 to £1,000, effective 1 April 2025, necessitating further savings and cutbacks in 2025.
Reserves policy
The board has set the minimum reserve at £5,000 which is based on the sum that would be needed to wind up the charitable company in the event that it becomes apparent that it can no longer be run as a going concern.The actual current reserves (unrestricted funds) were £18,658 as at 31 December 2024.
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General Aviation Safety Council
Trustees' Report (Including Directors' Report) (Continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
Plans for future periods
Looking ahead to 2025, GASCo will continue its focus on delivering safety training and promoting flight safety within the General Aviation community. However, recent developments necessitate adjustments to our strategy:
-
Project JANUS has been abandoned following confirmation from Allianz, and no future income is expected from this initiative.
-
A successful trial of a Human Factors and Airspace training course was delivered to British Transport Police (BTP) in March 2025. However, it is anticipated that BTP may bring this course in-house, which may limit GASCo's future revenue from this source.
-
GASCo will continue to explore new training opportunities, including Human Factors and Airspace Awareness courses, and actively seek partnerships with organizations in need of safety training.
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Our core activities, including Airspace Infringement Awareness Courses, the Flight Safety Magazine, and regional safety events, will continue to be a priority.
-
Financial management will be a key focus, with careful monitoring of income and expenditure to maintain a positive financial position throughout the year.
-
The Board will continue to explore opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the charity.
Structure, governance and management
The General Aviation Safety Council is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Captain N Jamieson (Appointed 17 October 2024) M Bagshaw (Resigned 17 October 2024) G Coleman Mrs E Walkinshaw R G Hughes P A Hall R Mason M Robinson T R Scorer S Slater S R Tilling
Organisational structure
The management of the company is the responsibility of the trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association
The charity is managed by the board of trustees. Each trustee must be a member of one of the full member organisations. These are governmental departments and agencies, representative general aviation organisations of individuals and corporate bodies, and learned societies, all of whom are interested in furthering the objectives of the charity.
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General Aviation Safety Council
Trustees' Report (Including Directors' Report) (Continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Captain N Jamieson Trustee
21 May 2025
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General Aviation Safety Council
Independent Examiner's Report
To The Trustees Of General Aviation Safety Council
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of General Aviation Safety Council (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
-
2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
-
4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Chavereys Limited
The Goods Shed Jubilee Way Faversham Kent ME13 8GD England 3 June 2025
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General Aviation Safety Council
Statement Of Financial Activities Including Income And Expenditure Account
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Notes | £ | £ | ||||
| Income from: | ||||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 49,559 | 50,034 | |||
| Charitable activities | 3 | 56,364 | 110,886 | |||
| Investments | 4 | - | 41 | |||
| Total income | 105,923 | 160,961 | ||||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | 5 | 109,407 | 165,322 | |||
| Total expenditure | 109,407 | 165,322 | ||||
| Net expenditure and movement in funds | (3,484) | (4,361) | ||||
| Reconciliation of funds: | ||||||
| Fund balances at 1 January 2024 | 22,172 | 26,533 | ||||
| Fund balances at 31 December 2024 | 18,688 | 22,172 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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General Aviation Safety Council
Balance Sheet
As At 31 December 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 10 | - | 600 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 11 | 7,744 | 8,685 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 20,291 | 25,699 | |||
| 28,035 | 34,384 | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one | 12 | ||||
| year | (9,347) | (12,812) | |||
| Net current assets | 18,688 | 21,572 | |||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 18,688 | 22,172 | |||
| The funds of the charity | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | 14 | 18,688 | 22,172 | ||
| 18,688 | 22,172 |
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 21 May 2025
Captain N Jamieson
Trustee
Company registration number 04425086 (England and Wales)
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
General Aviation Safety Council is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Rochester Airport, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9SD, England.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is made up of direct costs and support costs. All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
1.6 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Office equipment
33% straight line
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
1.7 Financial instruments
The charity 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 charity's balance sheet when the charity 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.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
1.8 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Council members | 43,663 | 44,675 |
| Other donations | 5,896 | 5,359 |
| 49,559 | 50,034 |
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
3 Income from charitable activities
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Flight safety subscriptions | 21,478 | 19,507 |
| Seminars | 1,200 | 880 |
| Electronic Conspicuity - Human Factors | 111 | 50,000 |
| Airspace infringements awareness courses | 28,286 | 33,956 |
| Projects and other income | 5,289 | 6,543 |
| 56,364 | 110,886 |
4 Income from investments
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Interest receivable | - | 41 |
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
5 Expenditure on charitable activities
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Direct costs | |||
| Staff costs | 29,739 | 46,192 | |
| Airspace infringements awareness courses | 16,210 | 18,941 | |
| Flight safety expenses | 21,097 | 23,017 | |
| Seminars | - | 410 | |
| Administrative services | 16,600 | 18,800 | |
| Safety evenings | 1,392 | 3,673 | |
| Events | 2,386 | 2,441 | |
| Electronic Conspicuity - Human Factors | 616 | 30,535 | |
| 88,040 | 144,009 | ||
| Share of support and governance costs (see note 6) | |||
| Support | 21,367 | 21,313 | |
| 109,407 | 165,322 | ||
| Analysis by fund | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 109,407 | 165,322 |
6 Support costs allocated to activities
| Support costs allocated to activities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Executive expenses | 1,918 | 1,483 | |
| Council and board meeting expenses | 678 | 841 | |
| Office | 9,171 | 8,410 | |
| Rent and electricity | 2,766 | 3,547 | |
| Insurance | 3,618 | 3,466 | |
| Bank charges | 151 | 579 | |
| Irrecoverable VAT | 740 | 537 | |
| Legal and professional fees | 74 | 40 | |
| Depreciation | 601 | 960 | |
| Independent Examiner's fee (governance cost) | 1,650 | 1,450 | |
| 21,367 | 21,313 | ||
| Analysed between: | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 21,367 | 21,313 |
7 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year, no trustee received reimbursed expenses (2023 - 1 reimbursed £29).
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
8 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |||
| 1 | 1 | |||
| Employment costs | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| Wages and salaries | 27,998 | 44,500 | ||
| Other pension costs | 1,741 | 1,692 | ||
| 29,739 | 46,192 |
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
9 Taxation
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
10 Tangible fixed assets
| Tangible fixed assets | |
|---|---|
| Office | |
| equipment | |
| £ | |
| Cost | |
| At 1 January 2024 | 30,744 |
| At 31 December 2024 | 30,744 |
| Depreciation and impairment | |
| At 1 January 2024 | 30,143 |
| Depreciation charged in the year | 601 |
| At 31 December 2024 | 30,744 |
| Carrying amount | |
| At 31 December 2023 | 600 |
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued)
For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
| 11 | Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Amounts falling due within one year: | £ | £ | |
| Trade debtors | 2,348 | 3,250 | |
| Other debtors | 2,736 | 2,546 | |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 2,660 | 2,889 | |
| 7,744 | 8,685 |
| 12 | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Other taxation and social security | (359) | 2,467 | ||
| Trade creditors | 5,486 | 4,083 | ||
| Accruals and deferred income | 4,220 | 6,262 | ||
| 9,347 | 12,812 | |||
| 13 | Retirement benefit schemes | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Defined contribution schemes | £ | £ | ||
| Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes | 1,741 | 1,692 |
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
14 Unrestricted funds
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
| At 1 | January | Incoming |
Incoming |
Resources |
Resources |
At 31 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | resources | expended | December | ||||
| 2024 | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| General funds | 22,172 | 105,923 | (109,407) 18,688 |
||||
| Previous year: | At 1 | January | Incoming |
Resources |
At 31 |
||
| 2023 | resources | expended | December | ||||
| 2023 | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| General funds | 26,533 | 160,961 | (165,322) 22,172 |
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General Aviation Safety Council
Notes To The Financial Statements (Continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
15 Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
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