2023-12-31-accounts - The European Society For Neurochemistry

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The European Society for Neurochemistry

Charity number 1098662

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

Contents	Page
Trustees' report	2 to 7
Examiner's report	8
Receipts and payments account	9
Statement of assets and liabilities	10
Notes to the accounts	11 to 12

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 December 2023

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates

Name Position Dates Marcus Rattray Company Secretary Johannes Hirrlinger Past-President Natalia Nalivaeva Anthony Turner Illana Gozes President Carlos Duarte Treasurer Dimitra Mangoura Secretary Appointed 11 August 2023 Charity number 1098662 Registered in England and Wales Registered and principal address Bankers University of Bradford Co-operative Bank plc Sparkasse Nienburg Richmond Road P.O. box 101 Goetheplatz 4 Bradford 1 Balloon Street 31582 Nienburg BD7 1DP Manchester Germany M60 4EP

Independent examiner

E J Beverley FCCA West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Structure, governance and management

The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 3 June 2003 and amended 25 May 2021 and 10 August 2023.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The preferred practice of the Society is to appoint the Secretary and the Treasurer in rotation as the President. In accordance with this practice, each of the Secretary and the Treasurer is elected by ballot for a four-year-term and the appointments are staggered so that the Treasurer is appointed two years after the appointment of the then Secretary.

Having served for four years the Secretary or the Treasurer as appropriate shall be appointed by the Council as the President.

The President is appointed for a two-year-term. All such appointments shall take effect from the Business Meeting.

If this practice cannot be followed in any particular case the Council shall be empowered to implement alternative arrangements until new arrangements have been approved by the Ordinary Members and are fully implemented.

The European Society

for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Until 2023 trustees were appointed by ESN council on an ad-hoc basis from the members elected to the ESN Scientific Council. The constitution now defines the number of trustees and their selection.

No less than 5 and no more than 7 members of the Council shall be appointed by Council as named ESN trustees including current officers, a past president, company secretary and some UK based ESN members in good standing. The trustees have specific responsibilities associated with this role. The board of trustees reports to ESN Council and shall keep minutes of trustee meetings.

The Charity’s overall governance is by a board of trustees. Day to day operations of ESN are determined by the ESN officers: President, Secretary and Treasurer who are advised by the ESN council.

The terms of appointment for officers and council as well as the role of the Company Secretary is defined in the ESN constitution.

We note that currently four ex-officio (co-opted) roles on ESN council:

Company Secretary: role defined in constitution.

ESN Past-President: On the Council meeting 2017 in Paris, France, it was decided to establish the position of the Past-President, to maintain the experience of the former president within the leadership of the society for two more years. When stepping back from the position as President after the two years term, the President becomes the Past-President. The Past-President is an appointed member of ESN Council ex officio. (Ex Presidents, are former Presidents of ESN, an unofficial position).

ESN Historian: An ESN Historian is appointed by ESN Council and becomes an appointed member of ESN Council ex officio.

Chair of ESN Young Scientist Steering Committee (YSSC): The ESN Young Scientist Steering Committee (YSSC) is a group of early career scientists within ESN, who are actively engaged in ESN activities. The Chair of the YSSC is appointed by ESN Council and becomes an appointed member of ESN Council ex officio.

New trustees are introduced to their duties by the other trustees.

As specified above, ESN has a very close relation with its sister society ISN, based on the MoU and common interests in advancing research in Neurochemistry and supporting early career researchers in Neurochemistry.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

The advancement of the science of Neurochemistry for the public benefit.

According to the Society’s constitution, the Society shall endeavour to:

i Aim to promote the development of Neurochemistry in Europe and to facilitate exchange of ideas and interests amongst its members. [Europe is defined as including those countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.]
ii Foster the interaction between clinical and basic Neurochemistry.
iii It should be open to all who are interested in Neurochemistry and allied subjects. No one should be excluded from membership of the Society or from attendance at its meetings on grounds of race, religion or nationality.
iv It should seek to be represented on the appropriate advisory and consultative bodies that might impinge upon Neurochemistry, and should seek close relationships with related professional bodies of disciplines interested in Neurobiology.
v Promote general scientific meetings for the discussion and dissemination of research findings in Neurochemistry
vi Arrange and provide for exhibitions, lectures, and training courses.
vii Publish leaflets, pamphlets, journals and books upon the science of Neurochemistry.
viii Collect, tabulate and distribute information on all matters relating to Neurochemistry.
ix Promote, organise and support research relating to Neurochemistry.
x Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or organisation by way of subscription or donation, provided that the Society shall not undertake any trading activities in raising funds for the said objectives.

The charity's main activities

The major activities of ESN in 2023 were 1] the ESN Meeting in Porto, Portugal, 2] the ESN Advanced Neurochemistry School in Faro, Portugal, 3] four “Neurochemistry Initiative Meeting Support” namely BRAYN, SINS 2023, Georgia Symposium, and ENCODS 2023, 4] four 2 Mobility Scholarships to Alexander Schwartz, Heriberto Coatl-Cuaya, Marta Chierichetti & Alexander Trofimov.

1] The ESN Meeting in Porto August 2023 (Portugal) in association with the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) had about 600 participants. ISN covered the majority of expenses directly, while ESN paid for scholarships (conference expenses and travel) for selected speakers as follows. Two Young Scientist Lectureship Award (YSLA) namely Dr Giuseppe Gangarossa, University of Paris, France and Dr Boaz Barak, Tel Aviv University, Israel and The Bachelard Lecture awardee Professor Juan P. Bolanos (Spain). We supported Young Member Symposia (YMS) awardees (11) included as speakers in two sessions, mechanisms and translational neurochemistry as follows. Rita Abrunhosa Soares (Portugal), Diogo M. Lourenço (Portugal), Charikleia (Charoula) Peta (Greece), Nadine Denker (Germany), Ismail Gbadamosi (Poland), Milorad Dragic (Serbia), Olayemi K. Ijomone (Germany), Katarina Milićević (Serbia), Maria Francesca Palmas (Italy), Maram Ganaiem (Israel), Marialuisa de Ceglia (Spain). These special lectures and symposia were chaired by ESN Officers and Charity Trustees. Further ESN activities included: Young Scientists’ Steering Committee (YSSC) Lounge throughout the meeting, encompassing workshops on CV writing (Natalia Nalivaeva, Ex-President, ESN) and career choice, Dimitra Mangoura (Secretary, ESN) and Illana Gozes (President, ESN).

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

The charity's main activities (continued)

2] The Second ESN Advanced Neurochemistry School. The ESN/ISN Neurochemistry School entitled “Targeting molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration: focus on advanced therapies” took place in Faro, Portugal, October 29 – November 4, 2023. The local organizing committee headed by Prof. Clevio Nobrega arranged an exciting program which included lectures by experienced scientists, poster presentations by the early career participants as well as hands on laboratory training in state-of-the-art technologies. Most of the funding for this school was from ESN using a grant provided by ISN, with the local organisers also gaining funding from IBRO and Portuguese Neuroscience Society. The University of Algarve, the School of Medicine and the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute provided the rooms and laboratories, while the Algarve Biomedical Center provided the staff and management platform. From the fully sponsored 30 students that attended the school, 25 were from abroad and 5 from Portugal, and 19 of them were women. The countries represented were Germany, Poland, Italy, Israel, Serbia, Sweden, Portugal, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Netherlands, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Greece. 7 attendees were postdocs, 22 PhD students and one a Masters student. 29 faculty (from Portugal, Sweden, Israel, Spain, and Germany) provided lectures, workshops, and technical lectures. Finally, 10 laboratory activities were offered for selection by the students and were carried on during the week. The school paid for all the expenses of the students and faculty, including travel, accommodation, transfers, and meals. The final feedback from the attendees was excellent!
3] Neurochemistry Initiatives ESN has a long-standing funding scheme entitled “Neurochemistry Initiative”. This funding scheme aims at supporting scientific events that promote the development of Neurochemistry. Funding is provided following an open call for applications and evaluation by ESN Council, deciding on the funding. In 2023, a call was issued, and four activities were funded by this scheme: (A) BraYn (Brainstorming Research Assembly for Young Neuroscientists) in Naples, Italy; 27-29, September 2023. BraYn2023 had about 350 participants and 160 presented abstracts. ESN support (1000 €) was used to fund 5 scholarships for young researchers: Fionä Caratis, Gdansk, Poland, Cassandra Margotta, Milan, Italy, Pablo Blanco Carlón, Madrid, Spain, Giada Pessina, Genoa, Italy and Arianna Giani, Milan, Italy. (B) The Symposium “Beyond motor neurons: skeletal muscle contribution in motor neuron diseases” held in Torino, Italy; September 14th to 17th, 2023 as part of the 20th National Congress of the Italian Society for Neuroscience (SINS) was funded by ESN (1000 €). The SINS meeting included a wide spectrum of advanced research topics and include overall 65 Symposia, 295 Posters, 6 Plenary Sessions and 2 Round Tables. (C) 3 International Symposium on “Advances in Unravelling Molecular and Neurochemical Pathways in Neurodegeneration: Implications for Therapeutic Strategies” held in Tbilisi, Georgia 20-22 October 2023. The ESN funded symposium (1000 €) was held as part of the International Neuroscience Conference (NEURO 2023) organised by the International Center for Neuroscience Research in partnership with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian Neuroscience Association. There were over 100 participants and amongst the conference outputs were planning for joint research projects, organizing joint events with other organizations, and exchanging professors and students between neuroscience institutions. (D) ESN supported a best poster award (200 €) for The European Neuroscience Conference by Doctoral Students (ENCODS) held in Algarve, Portugal, 1-2 May 2023. This is an initiative started by graduate students at the Neurocampus Bordeaux in 2013, to offer early-career neuroscientists a context for scientific exchange.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

The charity's main activities (continued)

4] Mobility Scholarships. We had a call for these applications in 2022 with 10 applications of which 4 were funded to allow early career researchers to spend a period of study in another country, hosted by an ESN member. The recipients were Alexander Schwarz, Mentor: C. Duarte, Portugal (ESN Treasurer), Heriberto Coatl-Cuaya, A. Rodriguez- Moreno, Spain (ESN Council Member), Marta Chierichetti, C. Rinaldi, UK and Alexander Trofimov, A.L. Carvalho, Portugal.

In addition, during 2023 the ESN website (https://neurochemsoc.eu/) was redeveloped to make it more accessible, clearer and user friendly. In 2023 as part of a review of governance, and ensure sustainability, ESN formalised a reserve policy and updated its constitution.

Public benefit statement

ESN Trustees are aware of the definition of public benefit and take this into account in their decision making. There has been no departure from this guidance.

Contribution made by volunteers

ESN is a Society fully run on a volunteer basis. Neither ESN officers, Council members nor members are paid for their work done for the Society (the only payments are reimbursement for, e.g., travel costs).

Achievements and performance

The main achievements of ESN in 2023 to advance neurochemistry relate to scientific meetings, education and supporting individual scientists in mobility. These are delineated in the section above, namely, four main topics, highlighted by 1] the major event of the ESN conference in Porto, Portugal, 2] the ESN Advanced Neurochemistry School in Faro, Portugal, as well as 3] several Neurochemistry Initiative Meeting Support and 4] Mobility Scholarships. As well as supporting events which engaged hundreds of people, a number of individual awards were made for travel to conferences, schools or for laboratory visits for an extended time. A major focus of ESN is on education of students and early career scientists that contribute to the development of them as individuals to develop independent scientific lines of research and their scientific careers. This individual development is expected to have a wider public benefit through the production of new knowledge in neurochemistry that contributes to society, including but not limited to, a better understanding of neurological and psychiatric illnesses and their treatment. ESN activities in 2023 covered all Europe and adjacent countries, and included a broad international exposure at the ESN-ISN meeting in Porto.

The sustainability of ESN, and therefore the contribution that ESN can make to the public good is dependent on membership and bringing in new members, particularly early career scientists. Membership of ESN in January 2024 was 389, compared to 277 on December 31st , 2022. Membership is from ~48 countries. ESN is very pleased with the increase in Membership, without membership fee structure changes (25 Euro/year/member). ESN has improved its communication with members and the advertisement of our ‘offer’. In 2023 the website was redeveloped to make it more accessible, clearer and user friendly, so that information about ESN and opportunities to apply for awards is easier to find. During the year, members received regular email bulletins from the council about the opportunities available to apply for awards.

Financially ESN's position at the end of 2023 (with renewal of MOU with ISN) is sufficient to plan for activities in 2024 and 2025 that aim to advance Neurochemistry. These include an ESN-ISN School in Athens 2024, an ESN satellite meeting at the Federation of the European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) meeting (Vienna, June 2024) as well as webinars and other activities to promote ESN, particularly to younger scientists. We are also planning our ESN biannual meeting to be in Naxos, Greece in 2025 and mark the 50th anniversary of ESN.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Financial review

The net payments for the year were £12,602, including net payments of £6,543 on unrestricted funds and net payments of £6,059 on restricted funds.

The main sources of income of the Charity are the following:

1) Members subscriptions. The membership of ESN in January 2024 was 389, compared to 277 on December 31st, 2022. The income from member subscriptions is stable.
2) Support from the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN). ISN is organized for charitable and educational purposes and provides financial support to its sister societies including ESN. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed on by ISN and ESN in Nov 2018, which is the basis of this unrestricted financial support. The MoU runs until Dec 31, 2023. A new MOU was signed on October 2023 and is effective until December 2025. The MOU provides $30,000 per year.

We note that ESN received ISN support for 2022 in April 2023 that had been delayed, along with the 2023 funding. The Charity is in a good financial position on Dec 31, 2023, with the main sources of income stable, and plans until 2025 that are in budget.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £85,443.

ESN’s policy adopted in August 2023 is as follows:

The Council shall decide annually what financial reserve should be held by ESN. The reserve held should be a contingency fund sufficient for no less than 1 and no more than 2 years of regular ESN business without additional income e.g. to allow for payment in advance for meetings that have been approved for funding and/or to accommodate interruptions or lack of budgeted funding from external bodies. Use of reserves is defined in the ESN Policy on use of reserves.

In August 2023 the Council decided the reserve (end of year balance) should be 80,000 € in 2023.

Going concern

Membership

ESN relies on its members and a constant or increasing number of members. In the recent years membership steadily increased, but this cannot be guaranteed for the coming year(s). To mitigate this, ESN officers and Council members continue to develop ways to increase membership. All events supported by ESN are obliged to inform about ESN and advertise the advantages of being and ESN member. Therefore, the number of members in the future is an uncertain but we consider it a relatively small risk for the Charity.

Financial support by ISN

An MoU was signed with ISN in October 2023 securing the main income of ESN for two more years.

The trustees are confident with the current bank balance and funding until 2024, and the known commitments, including the biennial ESN meeting in 2024 to be able to continue its activities at the current level until at least 2025/2026.

Approved by the board of trustees on 26/09/2024

Illana Gozes (Trustee)

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The European Society

for Neurochemistry

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 9 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I 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:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

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 accounts to be reached.

E J Beverley FCCA

02/10/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes 2023 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants (2) 47,693 Subscriptions 6,491 Conference fees - Total receipts 54,184 Payments Conference costs 2,742 Virtual conference costs - Accounts and independent examination 378 Membership fees 670 Bank charges 363 Website hosting 231 Funding of the Neurochemistry Initiative scheme - Scholarships and bursaries given out 50,591 Trustee and Council expenses 3,846 Website development 1,741 Office expenses 165 Total payments 60,727 Net receipts / (payments) (6,543) Exchange difference 1,320 Fund balances brought forward 90,666 Fund balances carried forward (4) 85,443	2023 Restricted funds £ 26,358 - - 26,358 32,417 - - - - - - - - - - 32,417 (6,059) - - (6,059)	2023 Total funds £ 74,051 6,491 - 80,542 35,159 - 378 670 363 231 - 50,591 3,846 1,741 165 93,144 (12,602) 1,320 90,666 79,384	2022 Total funds £ 6,764 6,742 512 14,018 4,461 - 360 426 126 150 13,270 3,667 236 - - 22,696 (8,678) (609) 99,953 90,666

The European Society for Neurochemistry Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 December 2023 2023 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 85,443 Total cash funds 85,443 Debtors and prepayments Accrued grant income Liabilities Accruals	2023 Restricted £ (6,059) (6,059)	2023 Total £ 79,384 79,384 2023 £ 6,589 6,589 2023 £ 495 495	2022 Total £ 90,666 90,666

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 26/09/2024

Illana Gozes (Trustee)

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.

No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.

Taxation

As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Grants and donations The International Society of Neurochemistry (ISN)	2023 Unrestricted funds £ 47,693 47,693	2023 Restricted funds £ 26,358 26,358	2023 Total funds £ 74,051 74,051	2022 Total funds £ 6,764 6,764

2 Grants and donations

3 Exchange difference

The European Society of Neurochemistry has a euro bank account and PayPal account. The transactions through this account have been converted to sterling at the average exchange rate for the year. The exchange difference relates to the difference between the closing bank balance at 31 December 2022 using the average 2022 rate and the opening balance at 1 January 2023 using the average 2023 rate.

4 Restricted funds ESN-ISN Faro School 2023	Balance b/f £ - -	Incoming £ 26,358 26,358	Outgoing £ 32,417 32,417	Transfers £ - -	Balance c/f £ (6,059) (6,059)

Fund name

Purpose of restriction

ESN-ISN Faro School 2023 For the second of a series of EN-ISN Advanced Schools - this one held in Faro.

The deficit on this fund relates to the last 20% of funding which was applied for and received after the year end.

5 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

During the year 1 trustee was paid a total of £1,036 in respect of travel (previous year: 1 trustee and £100).

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Charity number 1098662

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

Contents	Page
Trustees' report	2 to 7
Examiner's report	8
Receipts and payments account	9
Statement of assets and liabilities	10
Notes to the accounts	11 to 12

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 December 2023

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates

Independent examiner

E J Beverley FCCA West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Structure, governance and management

The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 3 June 2003 and amended 25 May 2021 and 10 August 2023.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

Having served for four years the Secretary or the Treasurer as appropriate shall be appointed by the Council as the President.

The President is appointed for a two-year-term. All such appointments shall take effect from the Business Meeting.

The European Society

for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Until 2023 trustees were appointed by ESN council on an ad-hoc basis from the members elected to the ESN Scientific Council. The constitution now defines the number of trustees and their selection.

The Charity’s overall governance is by a board of trustees. Day to day operations of ESN are determined by the ESN officers: President, Secretary and Treasurer who are advised by the ESN council.

The terms of appointment for officers and council as well as the role of the Company Secretary is defined in the ESN constitution.

We note that currently four ex-officio (co-opted) roles on ESN council:

Company Secretary: role defined in constitution.

ESN Historian: An ESN Historian is appointed by ESN Council and becomes an appointed member of ESN Council ex officio.

New trustees are introduced to their duties by the other trustees.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

The advancement of the science of Neurochemistry for the public benefit.

According to the Society’s constitution, the Society shall endeavour to:

i Aim to promote the development of Neurochemistry in Europe and to facilitate exchange of ideas and interests amongst its members. [Europe is defined as including those countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.]
ii Foster the interaction between clinical and basic Neurochemistry.
iii It should be open to all who are interested in Neurochemistry and allied subjects. No one should be excluded from membership of the Society or from attendance at its meetings on grounds of race, religion or nationality.
iv It should seek to be represented on the appropriate advisory and consultative bodies that might impinge upon Neurochemistry, and should seek close relationships with related professional bodies of disciplines interested in Neurobiology.
v Promote general scientific meetings for the discussion and dissemination of research findings in Neurochemistry
vi Arrange and provide for exhibitions, lectures, and training courses.
vii Publish leaflets, pamphlets, journals and books upon the science of Neurochemistry.
viii Collect, tabulate and distribute information on all matters relating to Neurochemistry.
ix Promote, organise and support research relating to Neurochemistry.
x Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or organisation by way of subscription or donation, provided that the Society shall not undertake any trading activities in raising funds for the said objectives.

The charity's main activities

1] The ESN Meeting in Porto August 2023 (Portugal) in association with the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) had about 600 participants. ISN covered the majority of expenses directly, while ESN paid for scholarships (conference expenses and travel) for selected speakers as follows. Two Young Scientist Lectureship Award (YSLA) namely Dr Giuseppe Gangarossa, University of Paris, France and Dr Boaz Barak, Tel Aviv University, Israel and The Bachelard Lecture awardee Professor Juan P. Bolanos (Spain). We supported Young Member Symposia (YMS) awardees (11) included as speakers in two sessions, mechanisms and translational neurochemistry as follows. Rita Abrunhosa Soares (Portugal), Diogo M. Lourenço (Portugal), Charikleia (Charoula) Peta (Greece), Nadine Denker (Germany), Ismail Gbadamosi (Poland), Milorad Dragic (Serbia), Olayemi K. Ijomone (Germany), Katarina Milićević (Serbia), Maria Francesca Palmas (Italy), Maram Ganaiem (Israel), Marialuisa de Ceglia (Spain). These special lectures and symposia were chaired by ESN Officers and Charity Trustees. Further ESN activities included: Young Scientists’ Steering Committee (YSSC) Lounge throughout the meeting, encompassing workshops on CV writing (Natalia Nalivaeva, Ex-President, ESN) and career choice, Dimitra Mangoura (Secretary, ESN) and Illana Gozes (President, ESN).

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

The charity's main activities (continued)

2] The Second ESN Advanced Neurochemistry School. The ESN/ISN Neurochemistry School entitled “Targeting molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration: focus on advanced therapies” took place in Faro, Portugal, October 29 – November 4, 2023. The local organizing committee headed by Prof. Clevio Nobrega arranged an exciting program which included lectures by experienced scientists, poster presentations by the early career participants as well as hands on laboratory training in state-of-the-art technologies. Most of the funding for this school was from ESN using a grant provided by ISN, with the local organisers also gaining funding from IBRO and Portuguese Neuroscience Society. The University of Algarve, the School of Medicine and the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute provided the rooms and laboratories, while the Algarve Biomedical Center provided the staff and management platform. From the fully sponsored 30 students that attended the school, 25 were from abroad and 5 from Portugal, and 19 of them were women. The countries represented were Germany, Poland, Italy, Israel, Serbia, Sweden, Portugal, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Netherlands, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Greece. 7 attendees were postdocs, 22 PhD students and one a Masters student. 29 faculty (from Portugal, Sweden, Israel, Spain, and Germany) provided lectures, workshops, and technical lectures. Finally, 10 laboratory activities were offered for selection by the students and were carried on during the week. The school paid for all the expenses of the students and faculty, including travel, accommodation, transfers, and meals. The final feedback from the attendees was excellent!
3] Neurochemistry Initiatives ESN has a long-standing funding scheme entitled “Neurochemistry Initiative”. This funding scheme aims at supporting scientific events that promote the development of Neurochemistry. Funding is provided following an open call for applications and evaluation by ESN Council, deciding on the funding. In 2023, a call was issued, and four activities were funded by this scheme: (A) BraYn (Brainstorming Research Assembly for Young Neuroscientists) in Naples, Italy; 27-29, September 2023. BraYn2023 had about 350 participants and 160 presented abstracts. ESN support (1000 €) was used to fund 5 scholarships for young researchers: Fionä Caratis, Gdansk, Poland, Cassandra Margotta, Milan, Italy, Pablo Blanco Carlón, Madrid, Spain, Giada Pessina, Genoa, Italy and Arianna Giani, Milan, Italy. (B) The Symposium “Beyond motor neurons: skeletal muscle contribution in motor neuron diseases” held in Torino, Italy; September 14th to 17th, 2023 as part of the 20th National Congress of the Italian Society for Neuroscience (SINS) was funded by ESN (1000 €). The SINS meeting included a wide spectrum of advanced research topics and include overall 65 Symposia, 295 Posters, 6 Plenary Sessions and 2 Round Tables. (C) 3 International Symposium on “Advances in Unravelling Molecular and Neurochemical Pathways in Neurodegeneration: Implications for Therapeutic Strategies” held in Tbilisi, Georgia 20-22 October 2023. The ESN funded symposium (1000 €) was held as part of the International Neuroscience Conference (NEURO 2023) organised by the International Center for Neuroscience Research in partnership with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Georgian Neuroscience Association. There were over 100 participants and amongst the conference outputs were planning for joint research projects, organizing joint events with other organizations, and exchanging professors and students between neuroscience institutions. (D) ESN supported a best poster award (200 €) for The European Neuroscience Conference by Doctoral Students (ENCODS) held in Algarve, Portugal, 1-2 May 2023. This is an initiative started by graduate students at the Neurocampus Bordeaux in 2013, to offer early-career neuroscientists a context for scientific exchange.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

The charity's main activities (continued)

4] Mobility Scholarships. We had a call for these applications in 2022 with 10 applications of which 4 were funded to allow early career researchers to spend a period of study in another country, hosted by an ESN member. The recipients were Alexander Schwarz, Mentor: C. Duarte, Portugal (ESN Treasurer), Heriberto Coatl-Cuaya, A. Rodriguez- Moreno, Spain (ESN Council Member), Marta Chierichetti, C. Rinaldi, UK and Alexander Trofimov, A.L. Carvalho, Portugal.

Public benefit statement

ESN Trustees are aware of the definition of public benefit and take this into account in their decision making. There has been no departure from this guidance.

Contribution made by volunteers

Achievements and performance

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Financial review

The net payments for the year were £12,602, including net payments of £6,543 on unrestricted funds and net payments of £6,059 on restricted funds.

The main sources of income of the Charity are the following:

1) Members subscriptions. The membership of ESN in January 2024 was 389, compared to 277 on December 31st, 2022. The income from member subscriptions is stable.
2) Support from the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN). ISN is organized for charitable and educational purposes and provides financial support to its sister societies including ESN. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed on by ISN and ESN in Nov 2018, which is the basis of this unrestricted financial support. The MoU runs until Dec 31, 2023. A new MOU was signed on October 2023 and is effective until December 2025. The MOU provides $30,000 per year.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £85,443.

ESN’s policy adopted in August 2023 is as follows:

In August 2023 the Council decided the reserve (end of year balance) should be 80,000 € in 2023.

Going concern

Membership

Financial support by ISN

An MoU was signed with ISN in October 2023 securing the main income of ESN for two more years.

Approved by the board of trustees on 26/09/2024

Illana Gozes (Trustee)

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The European Society

for Neurochemistry

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 9 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I 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:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

E J Beverley FCCA

02/10/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes 2023 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants (2) 47,693 Subscriptions 6,491 Conference fees - Total receipts 54,184 Payments Conference costs 2,742 Virtual conference costs - Accounts and independent examination 378 Membership fees 670 Bank charges 363 Website hosting 231 Funding of the Neurochemistry Initiative scheme - Scholarships and bursaries given out 50,591 Trustee and Council expenses 3,846 Website development 1,741 Office expenses 165 Total payments 60,727 Net receipts / (payments) (6,543) Exchange difference 1,320 Fund balances brought forward 90,666 Fund balances carried forward (4) 85,443	2023 Restricted funds £ 26,358 - - 26,358 32,417 - - - - - - - - - - 32,417 (6,059) - - (6,059)	2023 Total funds £ 74,051 6,491 - 80,542 35,159 - 378 670 363 231 - 50,591 3,846 1,741 165 93,144 (12,602) 1,320 90,666 79,384	2022 Total funds £ 6,764 6,742 512 14,018 4,461 - 360 426 126 150 13,270 3,667 236 - - 22,696 (8,678) (609) 99,953 90,666

The European Society for Neurochemistry Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 December 2023 2023 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 85,443 Total cash funds 85,443 Debtors and prepayments Accrued grant income Liabilities Accruals	2023 Restricted £ (6,059) (6,059)	2023 Total £ 79,384 79,384 2023 £ 6,589 6,589 2023 £ 495 495	2022 Total £ 90,666 90,666

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 26/09/2024

Illana Gozes (Trustee)

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.

No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.

Taxation

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Grants and donations The International Society of Neurochemistry (ISN)	2023 Unrestricted funds £ 47,693 47,693	2023 Restricted funds £ 26,358 26,358	2023 Total funds £ 74,051 74,051	2022 Total funds £ 6,764 6,764

2 Grants and donations

3 Exchange difference

4 Restricted funds ESN-ISN Faro School 2023	Balance b/f £ - -	Incoming £ 26,358 26,358	Outgoing £ 32,417 32,417	Transfers £ - -	Balance c/f £ (6,059) (6,059)

Fund name

Purpose of restriction

ESN-ISN Faro School 2023 For the second of a series of EN-ISN Advanced Schools - this one held in Faro.

The deficit on this fund relates to the last 20% of funding which was applied for and received after the year end.

5 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

During the year 1 trustee was paid a total of £1,036 in respect of travel (previous year: 1 trustee and £100).

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

The European Society for Neurochemistry

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The European Society

for Neurochemistry

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 5 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I 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:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

Signed: …………………………………… Name: E J Beverley FCCA

02/10/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW