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← Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society

2024-08-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number 1153570

KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ending 31 August 2024

KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

As the Board of Trustees, we present our report and financial statements for the year to 31 August 2024.

Registered Charity Number 1153570

Registered Office Unit C, Bewick, Prestwick Park, Prestwick, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 9SJ

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Documents

Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (KOAS) was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 29 August 2013. As a CIO, it is governed by its constitution. This was amended in April 2020 and is in a form specified by the Charity Commission for a Foundation CIO whose only voting members are its Trustees.

Charitable Purpose

KOAS’s charitable objects are:

Structure and Governance

The charity currently has a board of eight non-executive Trustees.

Board of Trustees

The Trustees of KOAS during the period and to the date of signing this report were as follows:

Mr Peter Standfield (Chair) Mr Trevor Robinson (Treasurer) Ms Charlotte Emmett Mr Tom Grieveson Mr Cassian Harrison Mrs Catherine Hindle Mr William MacLeod Resigned 11 February 2025 Dr Nigel Metcalfe Appointed 14 October 2024 Chief Executive Officer Leigh Venus (from 1 December 2023)

Independent Examiner Pete O’Hara FCA, Chartered Accountant, 26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF

Legal Advisers Muckle LLP, Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4BF

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Board Meetings

The Board meets a minimum of four times per year in person or online. It also conducts some business via email and aims to have at least one awayday session each year for strategic planning, teambuilding, and organisational development.

The agenda and written Board reports are prepared by the Chief Executive and Officers of the Board, as appropriate, and circulated in advance of each meeting. The Trustees exercise their duties and responsibilities with appropriate care and diligence.

Recruitment and Appointment of Board of Trustees

The charity may have up to 12 Trustees. New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment, the Trustees aim to ensure that the Board has the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.

Trustees are appointed for a three-year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms. After this, they must step down for at least one year before being eligible for reappointment.

Trustee Induction and Training

New Trustees are inducted by the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and are provided with a range of resources to support their understanding of KOAS activities.

Management

Day-to-day operation of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer within the constraints of the annual budget approved by the Trustees. The staff team during the period and to the date of signing this report were as follows:

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have reviewed the charity's reserves requirements in accordance with Charity Commission guidance. The Trustees aim to maintain a level of unrestricted reserves that would cover the charity’s liabilities if KOAS could no longer operate. The current estimated amount needed for this is approximately £125,000.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Reserves Policy (Cont.)

The Trustees also aim to hold an additional £25,000 in unrestricted reserves, allowing the charity to respond flexibly to unexpected issues, one-off financial needs, or new initiatives that fall outside the scope of the annual budget.

Therefore, the targeted minimum level of reserves is £150,000.

The charity’s total Unrestricted Reserves shown in the Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024 are £136,865 (2023: £165,035). Of these reserves, £26,047 were represented by Fixed Assets (2023: £39,332), leaving £110,818 available as Unrestricted Free Reserves (2023: £125,703).

The charity remains committed to rebuilding its reserves and is reviewing options to return to a growth position, with the aim of reaching the optimum reserves level within two years, subject to financial performance.

This reserves policy is reviewed annually by the Trustees as part of the charity’s budgeting process.

Grant Making Policy

The charity does not currently engage in grant-making activity.

The Contribution of Volunteers

The charity benefits from a dedicated group of volunteers who generously give their time to help run events. Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds but share a passion for astronomy. Recruitment is always open, with regular open days at the Observatory for those interested.

To maintain high standards of quality and safety at events, all volunteers undergo training. This starts with an induction that covers the basic operations of the Observatory, supported by a handbook outlining the charity’s policies and procedures. New volunteers are mentored by experienced team members during their first events. As their confidence grows, they take on more responsibilities—such as setting up and closing down events, leading telescope tours, finding celestial objects, and assisting visitors—under supervision.

During the reporting period, KOAS had 49 registered volunteers. One volunteer has transitioned into a full-time staff role following open recruitment, continuing a strong tradition at the Observatory of staff members starting as volunteers before becoming employees.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Aims & Objectives

The charity exists to:

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Aims & Objectives (Cont.)

At the start of the last financial year, we published a new strategy based on a thorough analysis of emerging trends and the outcomes KOAS aims to achieve, identifying key market opportunities.

The development of the strategy and supporting business plan strengthened our commitment to our mission of infinite inspiration, clearly aligning it to impacts, outcomes, and priorities.

Kielder Observatory’s core offer is an inspirational experience which we describe as the Kielder moment . Our primary activity is public outreach, inspiring people with our love of the night sky. Our strapline is Infinite Inspiration .

Our mission is:

To create opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to experience moments of inspiration, revelation, wonder and hope through observing the cosmos.

Our strategic outcomes are as follows:

  1. People: Everyone feels represented, welcomed, enriched and inspired, enabling equality of access to opportunities in science, whether as a one-off engagement, participation in study (formal or informal), and/or a career.

  2. Place: We consistently inspire more people of all backgrounds and abilities to reflect upon their place in the universe and the fragility of the Earth and catalyse individual and collective action in response to the need to protect our dark skies, and wider natural heritage.

  3. Organisation: We welcome the uncertainty of fresh challenges and continuously improve our offer as opportunities emerge from new technologies, new audiences and evolving practice.

Our business planning process revealed four emerging opportunities:

  1. Creating a flexible, agile programme of face-to-face public experiences for delivery anywhere, including on site, around Kielder, and remote access.

  2. Enhancing the quality of our STEM curriculum enrichment, to offer a golden thread of support from primary through to GCSE astronomy (and beyond), CPD for teachers, and pathways to careers.

  3. Creating a coherent digital offer that underpins the experience and education delivery, including publishing distinctive, high-quality content that anyone can access from anywhere.

  4. Taking a clearly defined leadership position for dark sky experiences aligned with responsible tourism.

Our new CEO and Trustees are actively delivering on the current strategy and have already begun work on the 2026-2030 strategy.

Within this financial year, staff performance appraisals have been closely aligned with one or more of our strategic priorities through clearly defined Key Performance Measures. This alignment has been introduced to improve staff understanding of, and engagement with, the strategy, ensuring better delivery of both the current and future strategic priorities.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Aims & Objectives (Cont.)

Our strategic priorities are:

1. To strengthen our organisation:

We are continuing to deliver on our CPD policy for the team, enabling them to attend conferences and events, and pursue self-directed learning to further their professional development. A prime example of this was Ellie Macdonald’s trip to Texas, where she live-streamed the solar eclipse while recreating the Eddington experiment; an observational test of general relativity, organised by the British astronomers Frank Watson Dyson and Arthur Stanley Eddington.

Last year, we published our first Inclusion and Representation Impact Assessment and undertook a B-Corp-style assessment to understand our social and environmental impact. While these have not been updated during the period of this report, we remain committed to tracking progress in these areas and identifying the most meaningful ways to assess and act in the years ahead.

2. To maintain excellence in delivery:

Following our second annual visitor survey, we organised a focus group meeting with several selfselected respondents who expressed interest in providing further feedback. We are continuing to engage with this group, and they will form the foundation of our new customer panel. This panel will play a key role in helping us ensure continuous improvement by providing ongoing insights and feedback on visitor experiences.

To maintain excellence in delivery, we recently undertook a significant maintenance week, which included refurbishing the Observatory to enhance the visitor experience. While this required closing the Observatory to public events, resulting in a financial loss, it was an urgent, necessary step to bring the site up to the standards our visitors expect, repair equipment essential to delivering our services, and tackle maintenance issues proactively in order to avoid future issues and reduce the likelihood of unplanned closures.

To minimise impact, we scheduled the closure during the summer solstice, the lightest and least busy time of year. In addition to the refurbishment, we introduced new staff training to further enhance the quality of our events and ensure a consistently high standard for visitors.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Aims & Objectives (Cont.)

We have maintained event capacity at 36 guests per session, rather than returning to the prepandemic level of 41. While this decision has a financial impact, it significantly improves the experience for both visitors and staff our events continue to sell out well in advance. We view this as an investment in long-term visitor satisfaction and future growth.

Building on the success of previous initiatives, our From STEM to Stars programme entered Phase 3 with a focus on satellites and sustainability. This phase has engaged 50 schools and established 50 after-school Space Clubs, reaching 10,000 pupils. Through a series of 12 weekly workshops, students formed engineering teams to build rockets, satellites, and rovers, gaining hands-on experience with real-world engineering processes.

Each school had an inspirational visit from our inflatable planetarium, recreating Kielder’s dark skies, and all participating groups visited the Observatory. The programme also provided opportunities for students to engage with industry experts, further expanding their understanding of the UK’s space sector. As we move forward, standout students will become Kielder Ambassadors, and we continue to see promising growth in the programme’s impact on local education.

3. To extend the reach of our public events:

Our Kielder PopUps brought informal astronomy experiences directly into communities, with interactive events at Sunderland’s Bridges shopping centre during school holidays, immersive planetarium shows at Newcastle’s Eldon Square, and tailored outreach sessions in Hexham. These PopUps have reached hundreds of participants in urban settings, offering a taste of the Kielder experience in more accessible locations.

At the Deer Shed Festival in North Yorkshire, we delivered interactive space-themed activities, including solar observing, planetarium shows, and rocket workshops, exposing our work to over 10,000 attendees as part of the festival's "Retro Futures" theme.

We partnered with The Alnwick Garden—one of the UK’s leading visitor attractions—to host a soldout stargazing event, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park. The evening featured talks alongside hands-on activities, outdoor telescope viewing, and an astrophotography primer.

A major highlight of the year was the successful delivery of the Mindsets and Missions project. This initiative connected over 1,000 students from eight North East schools and 60 participants from the West End Refugee Service (WERS) with the art and science of astrophotography. Activities included school-based planetarium sessions, hands-on astrophotography workshops, and trips to Kielder Observatory for stargazing under Europe’s largest protected dark skies. Participants also accessed a remote observatory in Spain, enabling exploration of deep sky imaging, and engaged in research projects led by academic partners.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Aims & Objectives (Cont.)

The programme culminated in the Capturing the Cosmos showcase at the Gillian Dickinson Astroimaging Academy, featuring images and creative works from participants. This exhibition, available to thousands of visitors annually, celebrates the creativity and technical skills developed through the project, showcasing the project to thousands of visitors annually.

4. To develop programmes with high impact:

We sustained our long-standing tradition of offering astrophotography introduction events, which remain a cornerstone of our engagement with new and existing audiences. These events provide accessible entry points into the art and science of astrophotography, inspiring creativity and curiosity in participants of all ages and backgrounds. The renovation and improvement of the Gillian Dickinson Astroimaging Academy provided an enhanced environment for participants to explore astroimaging in greater depth.

While our capacity for further digital development has been limited this year, we made a significant step forward by launching Kielder.space as a back-of-house platform for staff training. This platform is being developed in anticipation of a public launch next year, ensuring it is robust, well-integrated, and ready to deliver an exceptional learning experience.

We engaged with external advisors to explore the potential of emerging augmented reality (AR) technologies. This collaboration has provided valuable insights into how AR could transform our visitor experience, offering innovative ways to connect audiences with our work.

Kielder Observatory has enhanced its public engagement by providing access to a remote observatory in Spain, located in the Atacama Desert. This facility offers clear, dark skies ideal for astronomical observations. Through this remote access, participants can control telescopes and capture images of celestial objects in real-time, regardless of weather conditions in the UK. Originally piloted as part of the Mindsets and Missions project, this initiative has been integrated into public events, allowing attendees to experience live observations and engage in astrophotography sessions, thereby enriching their understanding of the universe.

Ensuring our Work Delivers our Aims

We review our aims, objectives, and activities annually. This process evaluates our achievements and outcomes from the previous 12 months, assessing the success of each key activity and the impact it has had on the people we are here to support. By doing this, we ensure that our aims, objectives, and activities remain aligned with our charitable purposes and continue to deliver meaningful benefits to our target groups.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Public Benefit

The Trustees understand and have discussed the implications of the Charities Act 2006, which requires all charities to demonstrate that they are established for public benefit. They have also considered the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The Trustees are confident that the charity meets both key principles of public benefit.

Principle 1: There must be an identifiable benefit, or benefits

KOAS’s primary benefit is outlined in its charitable objects: to promote public interest in astronomy, facilitate education in the science of astronomy, and maintain an astronomical observatory in Kielder Forest to support these objectives.

The Observatory is central to achieving our charitable aims. From this base, we offer a diverse programme of events, ranging from premium late-night sessions to family-friendly and introductory events. Our programme is designed to cater to different interests, offering activities such as children's workshops, talks on topics like the Aurora, and specialist classes in astrophotography. KOAS also provides concessionary tickets, with event pricing structured to accommodate different income levels. Ticket sales represent the charity’s primary source of income.

All activities undergo a rigorous process of risk management and benefit analysis to ensure the public benefit outweighs any potential harm. We evaluate and analyse all events, collecting data through audience surveys, social media, project participants, media, and peer feedback, ensuring a clear and measurable public benefit is delivered.

Principle 2: Benefit must be to the public, or a section of the public

All our events at the Observatory are designed for participants with no prior knowledge. Feedback consistently shows that we deliver complex information in an enlightening and exciting way, without condescension or patronising language. In recent years, we have increasingly focused on reaching members of the public who face barriers to attending the Observatory, developing activities that help overcome these obstacles.

Recognising the financial and cultural barriers some people face in visiting the Observatory, we created our STEM enrichment programme to replicate the inspirational Kielder experience in schools. This programme has now reached hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of students. We extended its impact through the STEM to Stars initiative, establishing regular observing groups in schools with links to STEM careers.

Additionally, we launched cultural programmes aimed at engaging imprisoned people, excluded children, urban community groups, and sanctuary seekers. The learning from these initiatives will be carried forward into continued work with traditionally marginalised and underrepresented audiences in the coming years.

Our Kielder PopUps, where staff bring telescopes to public spaces, are free to attend. We also offer an active volunteer programme, regularly host work placements from schools and universities, and provide opportunities for artists to develop their creative work.

We regularly welcome visits from organisations looking to establish their own observatory or dark sky initiatives, offering free advice and sharing best practices. We see other observatories and stargazing groups as friends, not competitors, united in opening up astronomy for all.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Public Benefit (Cont.)

While Kielder Observatory is a physical location, it is increasingly a beacon of connection and inspiration. Building on last year’s co-creation work through the Mindsets and Missions project, we continue to work with community groups, breaking down barriers to participation in innovation, research, and the natural heritage of dark skies.

Risk Management

The Trustees regularly review the major governance, operational, and financial risks facing the charity as part of the annual business planning process and confirm that systems are in place to mitigate these risks. KOAS has a comprehensive risk management strategy, which includes:

At time of writing, the major perceived risks to KOAS are:

We are engaged with our landlord, Forestry England, to progress parallel programmes of work addressing immediate essential repairs caused by storm damage, as well as renovations, renewal, and planned preventative maintenance. The building is approaching its 20th anniversary and continues to be used far more intensively than originally intended, an outcome of success which makes delivery of these works essential to ensure the Observatory continues to meet visitor needs and support our charitable objects.

The impacts of climate change have already been experienced in the North East and Northumberland and pose significant risks to Kielder Observatory, including damage to infrastructure from extreme weather events like storms and flooding, disrupted operations, increased maintenance costs and a reduction in the number of clear nights for stargazing. To mitigate these risks, we are considering long-term sustainability strategies, including strengthening infrastructure, adjusting operations to account for extreme weather, and reducing its environmental footprint.

The Trustees are confident that appropriate financial systems and controls are in place, along with sound employment policies and practices. The staff handbook, financial policies, and health and safety handbook are reviewed annually, with staff training supported by additional assessments.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Risk Management (Cont.)

To manage financial risks, the Trustees ensure that:

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Summary of the Charity’s Main Achievements During the Year

Financial Review

The outturn for the year is an unrestricted deficit of £(28,170) (2023: surplus of £51,647). The deficit will be deducted from Unrestricted Reserves, leaving a balance on Unrestricted Funds at 31 August 2024 of £136,865 (2023: £165,035).

Financial policies are reviewed annually, and the Finance and Risk Committee reviews performance against agreed budgets every two months. The executive team monitors operational performance against financial controls regularly.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FUTURE PLANS

The Trustees and team reviewed the business plan and strategy while preparing the budget for the 2024/25 financial year. They concluded that it remains an accurate and valuable guide for the organisation’s development, growth, and impact.

The mission, outcomes, and areas of opportunity (see above) will remain in place to drive our organisation while the 2026-2030 strategy is being developed.

The priorities for the next 12 months are:

Audience and Organisation

Experience and Outreach

Digital

Dark Skies

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for managing the business of the charity and may exercise all the powers of the charity unless restricted by the Charities Act or the constitution of the charity.

The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year.

In preparation of the financial statements the Trustees should follow best practice and:

  1. Select suitable accounting policies and apply them.

  2. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

  3. Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue on that basis.

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity.

The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

DECLARATIONS

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005 by the Charities Commission England and Wales).

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 17 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Peter Standfield Trustee and Chair

Trevor Robinson Trustee and Treasurer

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

I hereby report to the Trustees/Members of Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (Charity Registration Number 1153570) on the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 15 to 26.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited under charity law and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 130 of the 2011 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods or principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102)).

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.

Pete O’Hara, FCA, Chartered Accountant

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF

7 April 2025

KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2024

Note
Income
Income from Investments
2
Income from Charitable Activities
3
Income from Grants, Donations &
Legacies
4
Other Income
5
Total Income
Expenditure
Expenditure on Raising Funds
6
Expenditure on Charitable Activities
7
Total Expenditure
Net Income/(Expenditure)
8
Balance brought forward at 1 Sept
Balance carried forward at 31
August
18		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
Total
2023
£
£
£
£
3,394
-
3,394
1,691
578,005
-
578,005
565,784
109,318
103,200
212,518
336,260
5,560
-
5,560
-
696,277
103,200
799,477
903,735
26,540
-
26,540
21,942
697,907
93,830
791,737
795,480
724,447
93,830
818,277
817,422
(28,170)
9,370
(18,800)
86,313
165,035
307,980
473,015
386,702
£136,865
£317,350
£454,215
£473,015

The notes on pages 17 to 26 form part of the financial statements

There are no recognised gains and losses during the year other than as shown above.

All the activities for the year are continuing activities.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION/BALANCE SHEET At 31 AUGUST 2024

2024 2023
Notes £ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets 11 244,504 268,012
Fixed Asset Investments 12 10 10
244,514 268,022
Current Assets
Stock 13 12,045 8,906
Debtors 14 42,327 115,914
Cash at Bank and In Hand 328,844 313,548
383,216 438,368
Creditors:
Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year 15 (160,182) (210,042)
Net Current Assets 223,034 228,326
Creditors:
Amounts Falling Due After > 1 Year 16 (13,333) (23,333)
Total Net Assets 17 £454,215 £473,015
Represented By:
Unrestricted Funds 18 136,865 165,035
Restricted Funds 18 317,350 307,980
£454,215 £473,015

The notes on pages 17 to 26 form part of the financial statements

The financial statements were approved by the Board, and authorized for issue, on 17 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Peter Standfield Trustee and Chair

Trevor Robinson

Trustee and Treasurer

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

1. Accounting Policies

Charity Information

Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The registered office is Unit C, Bewick, Prestwick Park, Prestwick, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 9SJ.

The charity is a public benefit entity.

Basis of Accounting

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 – 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' ('FRS 102'), and with the Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value.

Advantage has been taken of the provisions in the SORP for Charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a statement of cashflows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.

Income

All income, including grant income, is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA), net of VAT, 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.

Such income is only deferred when the donor or funder has specified that the grant or donation can only be used in future accounting periods or where the donor or funder has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.

Income from Investments

Interest receivable on fixed interest securities and bank deposits is included on an accruals basis.

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised when a liability is incurred.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont.)

Expenditure (Cont.)

Irrecoverable VAT

All resources expended are classified under activity headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.

Operating Leases

The charity classifies the lease of certain printing equipment as operating leases as the title to the equipment remains with the lessor. Rental charges are charged against income on a straightline basis over the period of the lease.

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Depreciation is provided on the fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the assets over their remaining useful lives as follows:

Office & ICT Equipment – between 3 and 5 years Observatory Equipment – between 5 and 15 years New Observatory – over 25 years

A full year’s depreciation charge is applied in the year of acquisition and no charge is made in the year of disposal.

Impairment of Fixed Assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other shortterm liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Fund Accounting

The charity has a number of restricted income funds to account for situations in which a funder requires that a grant must be spent on a particular purpose or where funds have been raised for a specific purpose. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in Note 18 to the financial statements.

All other funds are considered Unrestricted Funds and are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont.)

Pensions

KOAS contributes to a defined contribution pension scheme. For the defined contribution scheme, the amount charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in respect of pension costs is the contributions payable in the year. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments in the balance sheet. Further details can be found in Note 10.

Taxation

KOAS is a registered charity and, as such, is not liable to taxation on its income in the current year.

Foreign Currencies

Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the date of the transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the surplus/deficit.

Financial Instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues’ of FRS102 to all its financial instruments.

The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

2. Income from Investments

Interest on cash deposits Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
3,394
-
3,394
1,691
£3,394
£-
£3,394
£1,691

The 2023 total of £1,691 was wholly attributable to Unrestricted Funds.

3. Income from Charitable Activities

Ticket & Event Sales
Merchandising Sales		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
527,852
-
527,852
517,958
50,153
-
50,153
47,826
£578,005
£-
£578,005
£565,784

The 2023 total of £565,784 was wholly attributable to Unrestricted Funds.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

4. Income from Grants, Donations & Legacies

Donations & Legacies
Donations & Memberships
Gift Aid
Corporate Sponsorship
Grant Income
Arts Council England
Association for Science &
Discovery Centres
Creative England
Crichton/Tanlaw Foundation
Institute of Physics
Museums Association
North of Tyne Combined Authority
Northumberland Business Services
Northumberland CC /
Northumberland National Park
Authority
Reece Foundation		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
1,764
-
1,764
18,695
77,554
-
77,554
86,940
30,000
-
30,000
15,000
-
-
-
13,400
-
-
-
24,500
-
-
-
5,000
-
-
-
7,500
-
-
-
3,000
-
200
200
76,500
-
-
-
45,357
-
-
-
2,868
-
3,000
3,000
-
-
100,000
100,000
37,500
£109,318
£103,200
£209,518
£336,260

Of the 2023 total of £336,260, £90,602 was attributable to Unrestricted Funds and £245,658 to Restricted Funds.

5. Other Income

Other Income Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
5,560
-
5,560
-
£5,560
£-
£5,560
£-

20

KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

6. Expenditure on Raising Funds

Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Merchandising Costs 26,540 - 26,540 21,942
£26,540 £- £26,540 £21,942
The 2023 total of £21,942 was wholly attributable to Unrestricted Funds.
7. Expenditure on Charitable Activities
Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Direct Costs
Arts Programme Costs - 32,876 32,876 19,804
Consultancy Fees - - - 1,349
Dark Skies Outreach Costs 500 - 500 2,400
Digital Development Costs - - - 600
Education Outreach Costs - - - 44,181
Frank’s Fellowship Bursary - - - 1,000
Salaries & On Costs 480,824 41,135 521,959 499,077
Speakers’ Fees & Event Costs 10,704 2,790 13,494 9,897
Staff, Speakers’ and Volunteers’
Expenses		 20,821 - 20,821 17,669
Support Costs
Advertising & Marketing 13,273 - 13,273 12,100
Bank & Credit Card Charges 11,261 - 11,261 11,385
Depreciation 15,346 16,829 32,175 30,498
Legal & Professional Fees 8,989 - 8,989 23,096
Loan Interest 800 - 800 969
Other Overhead Costs 32,316 200 32,516 33,711
Premises & Insurance 75,460 - 75,460 55,519
Repairs & Maintenance 9,870 - 9,870 16,623
Telephone, ICT & Website Costs 11,757 - 11,757 8,938
Governance Costs
Accountancy & Payroll Fees 4,899 - 4,899 5,203
Trustee Travel & Meeting Costs 1,087 - 1,087 1,461
£697,907 £93,830 £791,737 £795,480

Of the 2023 total of £795,480 £584,488 was attributable to Unrestricted Funds and £210,992 to Restricted Funds.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

8. Net Income/(Expenditure)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
Independent Examiner’s Fees
Depreciation of Owned Fixed Assets
9.
Staff Costs
Gross Salary Costs
Social Security Costs
Employer’s Pension Contributions –
Defined Contribution Scheme
The average monthly number of staff employed during the year, was
as follows:
Education & Learning Programmes		 2024
2023
£
£
2,160
2,160
32,175
30,498
2024
2023
£
£
468,252
452,177
41,927
38,497
11,780
8,403
£521,959
£499,077
2024
No.
2023
No.
15
14

The number of the above staff expressed as full-time equivalents was 13.5 (2023: 12.5).

No employees received remuneration in excess of £60,000 in the year.

No remuneration was paid to or waived by Trustees/Directors in the year (2023: £Nil).

£403 (2023: £491) was reimbursed to 1 (2023: 1) Trustee in respect of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in carrying out their duties.

10. Pension Scheme

Pension benefits are provided through a Group Personal Pension Scheme, which is a defined contribution scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in a separately administered fund. KOAS makes an employer's contribution of 3% of pensionable pay, provided that the employee makes a minimum contribution of 5%.

Employer’s contributions totalling £11,780 (2023: £8,403) were paid during the year into the defined contribution pension scheme operated by KOAS.

These amounts are paid over to the scheme on a monthly basis.

£2,370 in pension contributions were outstanding at 31 August 2024 (2023: £1,747).

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

11. Tangible Fixed Assets

Leasehold
Improvements
– New
Observatory
Observatory
Equipment
Office &
ICT
Equipment
Total
Fixed
Assets
Cost
£
£
£
£
At 1 September 2023
233,957
194,292
20,073
448,322
Additions
545
-
8,122
8,667
Disposals
-
-
-
-
At 31 August 2024
234,502
194,292
28,195
456,989
Depreciation
At 1 September 2023
57,825
105,437
17,048
180,310
Charge for year
11,196
15,713
5,266
32,175
Disposals
-
-
-
-
At 31 August 2024
69,021
121,150
22,314
212,485
Net Book Value
At 31 August 2024
£165,481
£73,142
£5,881
£244,504
At 1 September 2023
£176,132
£88,855
£3,025
£268,012
12.
Investments
2024
2023
£
£
Investment in Kielder Observatory Services Limited
10
10
£10
£10		 Leasehold
Improvements
– New
Observatory
Observatory
Equipment
Office &
ICT
Equipment
Total
Fixed
Assets
£
£
£
£
233,957
194,292
20,073
448,322
545
-
8,122
8,667
-
-
-
-		 Leasehold
Improvements
– New
Observatory
Observatory
Equipment
Office &
ICT
Equipment
Total
Fixed
Assets
£
£
£
£
233,957
194,292
20,073
448,322
545
-
8,122
8,667
-
-
-
-
234,502
194,292
57,825
105,437
11,196
15,713
-
-		 28,195
456,989
17,048
180,310
5,266
32,175
-
-
69,021
121,150
£165,481
£73,142		 22,314
212,485
£5,881
£244,504
£176,132
£88,855		 £3,025
£268,012
2024
2023
£
£
10
10
£10
£10

As the value of merchandise sales is well below the small trading exemption limit, the charity is currently conducting all trading directly, rather than through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kielder Observatory Services Ltd (KOSL). KOSL remains extant and the Trustees will review its continuing relevance on a regular basis.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

13.
Stock
Goods for Resale
14.
Debtors
Accrued Income - Gift Aid
Accrued Income - Other
Grant Debtors
Intercompany Debtor - Kielder Observatory Services Limited
Prepayments
Trade Debtors
15.
Creditors - Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
Accruals
Advance Ticket Sales
Bounceback Loan
Income Received in Advance
Other Creditors
PAYE & National Insurance
Pension Scheme Creditor
Trade Creditors
Unredeemed Gift Vouchers
16.
Creditors - Amounts Falling Due After One Year
Bounceback Loan		 2024
2023
£
£
12,045
8,906
£12,045
£8,906
2024
2023
£
£
8,226
7,131
8,774
6,649
9,911
90,301
1,235
375
7,286
7,556
6,895
3,902
£42,327
£115,914
2024
2023
£
£
3,768
3,452
57,481
113,087
10,000
10,000
12,369
11,029
5,848
632
10,883
9,766
2,370
1,747
6,084
13,904
51,379
46,425
£160,182
£210,042
2024
2023
£
£
13,333
23,333
£13,333
£23,333

The Bounceback Loan is repayable over 5 years, with an interest rate of 2.5% applicable after the first year.

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

17. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets 26,047 218,467 244,514 268,022
Stock 12,045 - 12,045 8,906
Debtors 32,416 9,911 42,327 115,914
Cash at Bank and In Hand 239,872 88,972 328,844 313,548
Creditors – Due Within 1 Year (160,182) - (160,182) (210,042)
Creditors – Due After 1 Year (13,333) - (13,333) (23,333)
£136,865 £317,350 £454,215 £473,015
18. Analysis of Charitable Funds
Fund at 1 Incoming Resources Fund at 31
April 2023 Resources Expended August
for Year for Year 2024
£ £ £ £
Movement on Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted General Fund 165,035 696,277 (724,447) 136,865
Movement on Restricted Funds
Arts Council England – Kielder
Narratives		 3,000 - (3,000) -
Corporate Sponsorship/Donations 30,033 - - 30,033
Museums Association - Bursary - 200 (200) -
Museums Association 54,500 (50,188) 4,312
New Observatory Fund 191,503 (11,733) 179,770
Northumberland CC / Northumberland
National Park Authority		 - 3,000 (3,000) -
Northumberland Business Services 958 (612) 346
Northumberland CC – Tanlaw Telescope 19,986 - (2,282) 17,704
Reece Foundation – Stem To Stars
Phase 1		 8,000 - - 8,000
Reece Foundation – Stem To Stars
Phase 2		 - 100,000 (22,815) 77,185
Total Restricted Funds 307,980 103,200 (93,830) 317,350
Total Funds £473,015 £799,477 £(818,277) £454,215

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KIELDER OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS At 31 AUGUST 2024

18. Analysis of Charitable Funds

Name of Restricted Fund Description, Nature & Purpose of the Restricted Fund

Arts Council England – Towards the cost of the Kielder Narratives project Kielder Narratives Corporate Towards the cost of a wind turbine Sponsorship/Donations Museums Association - Towards the costs of tickets, accommodation and travel for Bursary attending the ASDC National Conference 2023 Museums Association Towards the costs of the Missions & Mindsets project New Observatory Fund Funding received towards the cost of the new observatory building, which opened in 2018 and is now known as the Gillian Dickinson Astro-imaging Academy Northumberland CC / Contribution towards the costs of filmmakers engaged for the Northumberland National Park production of Northumberland Dark Skies 10[th] anniversary film Authority Northumberland Business Towards the cost of video equipment and editing software Services Northumberland County Towards the cost of the Tanlaw Telescope project Council Reece Foundation Towards the cost of the STEM To Stars project

19. Related Party Transactions

Details of transactions with Trustees are disclosed in Note 9.

There were no other transactions in the year with related parties, such as are required to be disclosed under the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (Effective April 2008) (2023: None).

20 Financial Commitments

No material financial commitments have been made in respect of future financial periods. (2023: None).

26