**Company No. 5322294** ## **SHROPSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2005 DIRECTORS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020** The Directors of Shropshire Ornithological Society 2005 (Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5322294 Registered Charity No.1108166) present their Report together with the Accounts (Pages 1 to 4 attached) for the year ended 31st December 2020 ## **Registered Office** Cherries, 6, Sytche Close, Much Wenlock, TF13 6JJ. **Directors acting during the year** Chairman John Arnfield Company Secretary Brian Andrews Hugh Blofield Chris Whittles Susan Brealey Helen J. Griffiths Graham Walker Jim Almond Peter Deans Ann Andrews Jean Rickard Tim Devanney William Watkins **Principal Object** To encourage the study and protection of birds in Shropshire and co-operate in such matters with national and local bodies, education authorities and others. ## **Public Benefit** The Company is active in the advancement of: a. Heritage and environmental protection b. Environmental improvement c. Animal welfare d. Education in connection with the above matters ## **Activities** The Company held a programme of lectures and field visits until March 2020 at which date activities had to cease due to the pandemic. The Company carried out a programme of management at its land holdings with a view to developing the biodiversity of the sites. Members also took part in national and local bird population surveys. ## **Results for the year** The Results for the year are contained in the Accounts attached to this Report. The Directors consider them to be satisfactory ## **Policy on Reserves** The General Reserve will: i. Cover any short term deficit in the operation of the Company ii. Retain funds appropriate to support future educational activities and initiatives. iii. Retain funds to support the Conservation Fund in carrying out future projects and land acquisition The Conservation Fund will: i. Cover any short term deficit in the conservation projects carried out by the Company. ii. Accumulate funds to enable the Company to develop its existing land holdings. iii. Accumulate funds to enable the Company to acquire and develop additional land holdings. ## **Risk Management** The Directors of the Company who are also the Charity's Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for reviewing the risks to which the Company is exposed including financial, operational and reputation risks and for establishing procedures to monitor and control these risks. B. Andrews Company Secretary 27th January 2021 ## **SHROPSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2005 Page 4. Company No. 5322294 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020** ## **1 Accounting Policies** The Accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with relevant standards Turnover The Company does not carry out any trading activities. Heritage Assets The Company owns and occupies freehold land at Crosshouses, Church Stretton and Bushmoor which it operates for public benefit as nature reserves. The land at Crosshouses and Church Stretton was acquired on the formation of the Company by transfer from Shropshire Ornithological Society (Reg. Charity 514487). Details of the cost or value are not available as the original parcels of land were gifted to the Society and subsequent purchases (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) were not capitalised. The land at Bushmoor was acquired during 2015 as a gift from Shropshire Wildlife Trust and has not been capitalised. It is considered by the Directors that the cost of valuation would not be warranted. Depreciation of Heritage Assets The Company charges all asset purchases to Income & Expenditure Account in the year of purchase. Stock The Company values stock at cost or market value whichever is the less. ## **2 Investments** The Investment Policy is to invest in funds maintained as available to charities (Charities Official Investment Funds - COIF). The Funds are administered by the CCLA (Churches, Charities and Local Authorities) Funds. |The investments held during the year, the|The investments held during the year, the|movements on those investments and the|movements on those investments and the|movements on those investments and the|movements on those investments and the|market value|(at mid-market price) were as follows:|(at mid-market price) were as follows:|(at mid-market price) were as follows:| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Cost||Market Value||Sales|Realised|Cost|Market Value|Unrealised| ||B/Fwd||B/Fwd|Purchases|Proceeds|Profit|C/Fwd|C/Fwd|Profit/Loss| ||2020||2020|2020|2020|on Sales|2020|2020|2020| ||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |COIF Global Equities Fund|54,652||78,310|35,000|-|-|89,652|137,646|24,336| |COIF Investment Fund|125,000||159,926|15,000|-|-|140,000|185,244|10,318| ||179,652||238,236|50,000|-|-|229,652|322,890|34,654| ## **3 Creditors** The Creditors all fall due within one year. There are not any Creditors falling due after one year. ## **4 Transactions with Directors** Except for the reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the Company there were no transactions in which the Directors of the Company had an interest. **5 Capital Commitments as at 31st December 2020** Approved but not Committed - Nil Approved and Committed - Nil ## **6 Directors' Indemnity** The Company has entered into an Indemnity Insurance at a cost of £328 (2019 £322) to cover liabilities incurred by the Directors in the conduct of the Company's affairs. ## **7 Company Limited by Guarante** e The Company is a company limited by guarantee and does not therefore have a Share Capital. The members each undertake to subscribe £1.00 in the event of the Company becoming insolvent on a winding up. ## **8 Bequests in process of Administration** The Company was informed in October 2019 of an entitlement in the Estate of J.R. Wynne deceased. An interim payment of £17,500 has been received subsequent to the year end. The administration of the Estate is ongoing and information regarding the final settlement is awaited. ## **9 Charitable Status** The Company is a Registered Charity - No. 1108166. ## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Shropshire Ornithological Society** I report on the accounts of Shropshire Ornithological Society for the year ended 31st December 2020, which are set out on the attached page 1. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Act; - follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity - Commissioners under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and - state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Name: James Baillie Relevant professional qualification or body: ACCA Address: Churchway, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6DJ. Date: 24[th] March 2021