WORCESTERSHIRE BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE
Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SZ
A company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 04416182 This company is a Registered Charity under registration No. 1096279
ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE BOARD 1[st] May 2023 to 30[th] April 2024
Objective of the Company
To provide a service which collects, manages and disseminates quality environmental information for the public benefit.
Public Benefit Statement
In addition to the public benefits arising from the availability of quality environmental information, such as assisting decision making which protects the environment, WBRC provides identification services to members of the public, and provides education on environmental issues through its support of the Worcestershire Recorders, their field events, the production of the joint journal, Worcestershire Record, and its website www.wbrc.org.uk. We aim to include records held by WBRC on the National Biodiversity Network Atlas of which WBRC is a member.
WBRC has continued to supply information to all Service Level Agreement holders including Environment Agency, Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, together with providing data to environmental consultants and local natural history groups, with species identification assistance to members of the public on an ongoing basis as single data requests. During the year WBRC Board have been working to produce a 3 year strategic plan to cover April 2024 to March 2027 to secure and further develop the organisation.
Staffing increased from 1.6 FTE to 1.8 FTE in October 2023 with 2 long-term volunteers contributing greatly during this reporting period within the areas of data processing and administrative duties. Commercial enquiries remained an important income stream, representing c.40% of total income, Service Level Agreement streams were stable during this period and all look to renew for next financial year. WBRC can report a sound financial status to end the year.
The update of the Worcestershire area of the National Ancient Woodland Inventory continued during this financial year. This is a major project fully funded by Woodland Trust and in conjunction with Natural England; WBRC will continue to feed into this project until September 2024.
The database has continued to grow over the year, giving access to over 1.65 million records in the county. The methods by which data is funnelled into WBRC have begun to evolve over the last few years and much more biological recording is undertaken by individuals via online portals such as iRecord. WBRC is working to update and maintain processes to ensure we collate and provide access to the best possible data for the county.
Review of Financial Activity
The organisation finished the year with total assets of £66,873.78
Ruth Bourne
Chair of the Board
Worcestershire Biological Records Centre
| Worcestershire Biological Records Centre Financial Statement - 01.05.23 to 30.04.24 Bank Balance Brought Forward Income: Contributions Worcs Wildlife Trust Worcs County Council Environment Agency Woodland Trust (Ancient Woodland Inventory) Sales Bank Interest Income Total Total Assets |
Charity Number Company Number 78577.04 Expenditure: 10500 Employment Costs Phone & Broadband 2250.00 Insurance 10133.55 Expenses/Travel 19200.00 Office/Equipment/IT Training/Conferences Rent/Rates OS Licence ALERC Membership Expenditure Sub Total 39442.50 763.46 Balance Carried Forward 82289.51 160866.55 |
1096279 4416182 88062.92 736.92 683.35 214.56 1259.48 40.00 1250.00 695.54 1050.00 93992.77 |
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| 66873.78 | ||
examiner's on the E. | CHARITY CHARITY COMMISSION COMMISSION | Independent Independent examiner's report report on the FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts Ca¥) _ FOR'ENGLAND AND WALES accounts
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ENGLAND AND WALES AND WALES WALES accounts FOR'ENGLAND AND WALESAND WALESWALES accounts |
ENGLAND AND WALES AND WALES WALES accounts FOR'ENGLAND AND WALESAND WALESWALES accounts |
ENGLAND AND WALES AND WALES WALES accounts FOR'ENGLAND AND WALESAND WALESWALES accounts |
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| Section A Section A |
Independent Examiner's Report Independent Examiner’s Report |
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| Report to the members of Reporttothetrustees/ members of |
the trustees/ trustees/ |
Worcestershire Biological Records Centre he nies ee sale Worcestershire Biological Records Centre |
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| On accounts Onaccounts |
accounts for forthe |
for the year ended theyear ended |
30" | ||||
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| Set out Set outon pages |
out on on pages |
on pages on pagesi |
1 i y |
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| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above |
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| charity ("the Trust") for the year ended charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended |
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| Responsibilties Responsibilties |
and and |
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation ofthe |
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| basis of report basis of report |
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 |
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| ("the Act"). (“the Act”). |
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| I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out |
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| under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, |
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| have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission |
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| under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. |
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| Independent Independent |
[The charity's gross income exceeded E250,000 and I am qualified to [The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and |
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| examiner's statement examiner's statement |
undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of |
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| applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. applicable listed body]]. Delete[ ] ifnot applicable. |
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| I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have |
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| come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material |
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| respect: respect: |
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| • the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 |
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| of the Charities Act; or of the Charities Act; or |
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| • the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or |
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| • the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements |
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| concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities |
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| (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 otherthan any requirement |
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| that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter that the accounts givea ‘true and fair’ viewwhich is not a matter |
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| considered as part of an independent examination. considered as part of an independent examination. |
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| I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection |
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| 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. with the examination towhich attention should be drawn in this report in ordertoenableaproperunderstandingoftheaccountstobereached. |
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- Please Please delete delete the the words words in in the the brackets brackets if if they they do do not not apply. apply.
Date:
Signed: a Name: Name:| SoOKWN RLAUIS Relevant professional qualification(s) qualification(s) or or body body Relevant professional CAMA Manrtac 1 JER IER 1
Oct Oct 2018 2018
(if any):
Address: Address: | Rcse COWAGE G(bue c-temsq [Cecio ee,, SCAMScreGRVE BACHS | OCR CCS OR NG
Section Section B B Disclosure Disclosure
Only Only complete complete if if the the examiner examiner needs needs to to highlight highlight material material matters matters of of concern concern (see (see CC32, CC32, Independent Independent examination examination of of charity charity accounts: accounts: directions directions and and guidance guidance for for examiners). examiners).
Give Give here here brief brief details details of of
any any items items that that the the
examiner examiner wishes wishes to to disclose disclose.
IER IER 2 2
Oct Oct 2018 2018