## **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 2024 to 30[th] April 2025** 

## **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.  This year WBRC began working to the 1[st] year of the 3 year (2024-27) strategic plan with an overview to secure and further develop the organisation. 

Staffing continued at 1.8 FTE in 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.45% 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 was completed during this financial year. This is a major project was fully funded by Woodland Trust in conjunction with Natural England. 

The database has continued to grow over the year, giving access to over 1.7 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 **£55,912.86** 

Ruth Bourne 

Chair of the Board 

Charity Number 1096279 Company Number 4416182 

## Worcestershire Biological Records Centre Financial Statement - 01.05.24 to 30.04.25 

|||£|
|---|---|---|
|Income|||
|Contributions<br>Contributions<br>Contributions<br>Contributions<br>Contributions<br>Sales|Worcs Wildlife Trust<br>WorcsCounty Council<br>EnvironmentAgency<br>Woodland Trust(AncientWoodland Inventory)<br>EcoRecord ProjectGrant|10,500.00<br>4,750.00<br>10,437.56<br>9,000.00<br>7,500.00<br>38,691.77|
|Bank Interest||628.48|
|||81,507.81|
|Expenditure|||
|Employment Costs<br>Phone & Broadband||85,543.32<br>174.00|
|Insurance<br>Expenses/Travel<br>Office/Equipment/IT<br>Training/Conferences||724.77<br>263.69<br>2,223.58<br>947.80|
|Rent/Rates<br>OS Licence||1,316.03<br>695.54|
|ALERC Membership||580.00|
|Total expenditure<br>92,468.73<br>a|||
|Deficit for year|||
|Balance sheet||£|
|Bank Balance Brought|Forward|66,873.78|
|Deficit for<br>year||-10,960.92|
|BankBalanceCarried|Forward||



+ MK aI LIU 

`CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's report onthe` KOS - |= | CHARITY `FOR` FOR ENGLAND `ENGLAND` COMMISSION ANO `AND` WALES `WALES` | Independent examiner'saccounts `accounts` report on the `Section` Section A `A` Independent `Independent` Examiner’s `Examiner's` Report `Report Report` Report to `to` the `the` trustees `trustees Chaity Name` m ze e ee | WoAcESTERSHILE `wokcESTERSH|2E` HIvLoGucAL `BivLOGCAL` RECORDS `RElol)s` CEATLE `CENTE` | On `On` accounts `accountsfor` for `the` the `year` year were Charity `Charity no` no.[|] `ended` ended `[APliL]` MAL `[202r]` 20 Zs (if `(if` any) `any)` | [04S 6249 `Setout on` Set out on `pages` pages `(remember to incude the page nurnbers of additional sheets)` | `Ireport` report to `to the` the trustees `trustees on` on `my` my examination `examination` of `of the` the accounts `accounts` of `of` the `the` above `above` charity `charity ("theTrust")` (“the Trust”) for `for` the `the` year `year` ended `ended DD/ MM/YYYY.` 4 `Responsibilities` Responsibilities `and` and As `As the` the `charity's` charity's trustees, `trustees,` you `you` are `are` responsible `responsible` for `for` the `the` preparation `preparation` of `of the` the `basis` basis `of` of report `report` accounts `accounts in` in accordance `accordance` with `with` the `the` requirements `requirements` of `of` the `the` Charities `Charities` Act `Act` 2011 `2011` (“the `("the` Act’). `Act").` | `I` report `report` in `in` respect `respect` of `of` my `my` examination `examination` of `of` the `the` Trust's `Trust's` accounts `accounts` carried `carried` out `out under` under section `section` 145 `145` of `of the2011` the 2011 `Act` Act and `and` in `in` carrying `carrying` out `out` my `my` examination, `examination,` | `have` have `followed` followed all `all` the `the` applicable `applicable Directions given` Directions given by `by` the `the` Charity `Charity Commission` Commission `under` under section `section` 145(5)(b) `145(5\(b)` of `of the` the Act. `Act. Independent` Independent `[The` [The charity's `charity's gross` gross `income` income `exceeded` exceeded £250,000 `£250,000` and `arnd` | `I` am `am` qualified `qualified` to `to examiner's` examiner's statement `statement undertake` undertake the `the` examination `examination` by `by` being `being` a `a` qualified `qualified` member `member` of `of` [insert `[insert` name `name` of `of` applicable `applicable` listed `listed` body]]. `bodyl]].` Delete `Delete` [ `[]` ] if `if` not `not` applicable. `applicable.` | `Ihave` have `completed` completed my `my` examination. `examination.` | confirm `confirm` that `that` no `no` material `material` matters `matters` have `have` come `come` to `to my` my attention `attention in` in connection `connection` with `with` the `the` examination `examination` (other `(other than` than that `that` disclosed `disclosed` below `below` *) `*)` which `which` gives `gives me` me `cause` cause to `to` believe `believe` that `that` in, `in,` any `any material` material respect: `respect:` e the `the` accounting `accounting` records `records` were `were not` not kept `kept` in `in` accordance `accordance` with `with` section `section` 130 `130` of `of` the `the` Charities `Charities Act;` Act; or `or` e the `the` accounts `accounts did` did not `not` accord `accord` with `with` the `the` accounting `accounting` records; `records;` or `or` : e the `the` accounts `accounts` did `did` not `not comply` comply with `with` the `the` applicable `applicable` requirements `requirements` concerning `concerning` the `the` form `form` and `and` content `content` of `of` accounts `accounts` set `set` out `out` in `in` the `the` Charities `Charities` (Accounts `(Accounts` and `and` Reports) `Reports)` Regulations `Regulations` 2008 `2008` other `other` than `than` any `any requirement` requirement that `that` the `the` accounts `accounts` give `give` a `a` ‘true `'true` and `and` fair’ `fair` view `view which` which is `is` not `not` a `a matter` matter considered `considered` as `as` part `part` of `of` an `an` independent `independent examination.` examination. | `Ihave` have no `no concerns` concerns and `and` have `have` come `come` across `across` no `no` other `other` matters `matters` in `in` connection `connection` with `with` the `the` examination `examination to` to which `which` attention `attention` should `should` be `be drawn` drawn in `in` this `this` report `report` in `in` order `order to` to enable `enable` a `a proper` proper understanding `understanding` of `of the` the accounts `accounts` to `to be` be reached. `reached.` * `* Please` Please delete `delete` the `the` words `words` in `in the` the brackets `brackets` if `if` they `they` do `do` not `not` apply. `apply. Signed: Date:` Name:| `Name:` “SoW~m `SoHn` BLAUAS `BLAWIS` Tor `To Relevant professional` Relevant professional ACMA C Mantac Ge Aardtée ) `qualification(s)` qualification(s) or `or body` body 

IER `IER` 

1 `1` Oct `Oct 2018` 2018 

> `(if` Ca `any):` 

> `Address:` Address: | @osa Cotte 

## `Section` Section `B` B 

`Disclosure` Disclosure 

Only `Only` complete `complete` if `the` the examiner `examiner needs` needs to `to` highlight `highlight` material `material` matters `mattersof concern` of concern (see `(seeCC32,` 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 `NONe` e any `any items` items `that` that the `[the]` sbuaict tive `examinerwishes` examiner wishes `to` to 

> `disclose.` disclose. 

IER `IER` 2 `2` 

`Oct 2018` Oct 2018