## **ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
Charity Numbers: 1159867 (England and Wales) SC045732 (Scotland)
**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
|**CONTENTS**|**PAGE**|
|---|---|
|General information|2|
|Trustees’ Annual Report|3-4|
|Responsibilities of the Trustees|5|
|Independent Examiner’s report to the members|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Notes to the financial statements|10-14|
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **GENERAL INFORMATION**
Registered charity name Ecosystems Knowledge Network Charity number 1159867 (England and Wales) SC045732 (Scotland) Principal & registered office address Isis Innovation Centre Howbery Park Wallingford OX10 8BA Trustees Chris Fry Jonathan Porter Susan Christie Lyndsey Dodds Sarah Chimbwandira (Chairperson) Accountants SPX Oxford Ltd Peace House 19 Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LD Independent examiner Surinder Singh AAT| BSc. Honours Bankers Co-operative Bank Ltd.
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of general information on Page 2 of the financial statements.
## **THE TRUSTEES**
The trustees who served the charity during the year are shown on Page 2. There were no changes to the Board.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The charity has been managed and operated in accordance with the Constitution for the Ecosystems Knowledge Network as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, dated 30[th] October 2014. The constitution has been subject to one amendment, namely to the addition of paragraph 15 (4) (d), dated 30[th] September 2015, which specifies that a telephone conference will constitute a properly convened meeting.
During the reporting period, there were no changes in the composition of the Board of Trustees. The Network staff team grew during the reporting year from 1.8 Full Time Equivalents to 3.3.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
Ecosystems Knowledge Network has reported a surplus of £8,134 for the financial year 2022 to 2023. The charity holds £51,088 in unrestricted reserves, £38,000 of which is in a contingency reserve in accordance with the charity’s policy of holding three months of operating costs.
The Ecosystems Knowledge Network has continued to provide a range of knowledge sharing opportunities in accordance with its charitable purpose and its revised Five-Year Strategy (2022 to 2027). The core services of the Network are the provision of e-news and webinars, together with conferences and training on cutting edge topics that bring together professions in new ways. Feedback from the annual member survey highlighted the difference that the Network’s services make to the day-to-day work of its beneficiaries. Membership of the Network remains free and open to all.
Due to the diversity of the membership in terms of location and professional background, the Ecosystems Knowledge Network possesses unique capability to harness the value of the natural environment for greater wellbeing and prosperity for everyone. Events and commissioned work are an integral part of the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability. During the reporting year, the Network gained the skills and capability to produce e-Learning courses. This included a commission by the Environment Agency to draft an e-Learning course for its staff.
During the reporting year, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation continued funding for a two-year programme of work to catalyse nature-based finance in the UK, as well to build the core capabilities of the organisation to fulfil its mission. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funding enabled the external experts to work with staff to produce a Communications Audit and Communications Strategy for the organisation.
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT**
In exercising their powers or duties, Charity trusties have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charities Commission for England and Wales.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under charity law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the income and expenditure of the charity for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable incorporated organisation and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION**
The nominated independent examiner will be considered by trustees for re-appointment for the ensuing year.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Chris Fry, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Date: 18[th] December 2023
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out in pages 8- 15
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of
A] Scottish legislation:
the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation [10(1) (a) to (c)] of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
B] England and Wales regulations:
The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under charity law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
A] Scotland
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. B] England and Wales
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission.
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 seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
SPX Oxford Limited provides bookkeeping services to Ecosystems Knowledge Network and I am an employee of this company. In order to maintain independence, I confirm that I have not been involved in provision of the bookkeeping service.
I also confirm that as a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, I am subject to the provisions of the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard (2016). This standard has been applied throughout this independent examination.
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 that in any material respect:
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## **ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: a] Scotland
- to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation [8][2] / [9][3] of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;
b] England and Wales
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act 2006
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.
Surinder Singh AAT | BSc. Honours |
Date………19 December 2023……………………
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
|**Notes**
**Income from:**
Charitable activities
3
Investments
Other income
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
4
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / -expenditure**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of**
**funds:**
Total funds carried forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
343,067
333
33
343,433
335,299
335,299
8,134
-
8,134
42,954
51,088|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
186,928
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||186,928|
|||169,050|
|||169,050|
|||17,878
-|
|||17,878|
|||25,076|
|||42,954|
All funds are unrestricted.
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.
All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities. All of the above amounts also relate to unrestricted income funds.
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023**
|**Note**
**s**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible Assets
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
7
Cash at bank
**CREDITORS:**Amounts falling
due within one year
8
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
**INCOME FUNDS**
Unrestricted Income funds
9
Restricted Income funds
10
**TOTAL INCOME FUNDS**|**2023**
**£**
**£**
-
41,274
74,922
116,196
65,108
51,088
51,088
51,088
-
51,088|**2022**
**£**
**£**
-
35,669
110,085
145,754
102,800
42,954
42,954
42,954
-
42,954|**2022**
**£**
**£**
-
35,669
110,085
145,754
102,800
42,954
42,954
42,954
-
42,954|
|---|---|---|---|
||||42,954|
||||42,954
-|
||||42,954|
For the year ended 31 March 2023 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.
Trustees responsibilities:
- The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 145; and
- The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee and authorised for issue on 18[th] December 2023 and are signed on their behalf by:
Chris Fry, Chair of the Board of Trustees
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **1. ORGANISATION STATUS**
Ecosystems Knowledge Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of accounting**
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014, as updated by Update Bulletin 1 issued on 2 February 2016, with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention 2015 (SORP 2015), ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’, issued by the Charities Commission.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
## **Income**
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
## **Fixed assets**
Fixed assets (excluding investments) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The costs of minor additions or those costing below £1,000 are not capitalised.
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Office equipment – 25% straight line Computer equipment – 33% straight line
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure represents amounts invoiced, including value added tax.
## **Taxation**
The Charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|Grants and project income
Events and training|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
260,521
82,546
343,067|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
150,759
36,169|
|---|---|---|
|||186,928|
## **4. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|
**Administrative expenses**
Salaries
Employer's NI
Pension contributions
Subcontracts
Professional fees – operations
Office rent
Advertising and marketing
Accountancy fees
Bank charges
External event fees
Information technology
Insurance
Office management
Printing and publicity
Room hire and catering
Staff training
Subscriptions
Telephone, internet and postage
Travel and subsistence
Governance
Total charitable activities|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
117,993
5,660
8,571
41,212
29,151
3,921
14,422
2,914
780
12,399
17,138
629
2,185
18,233
48,835
57
771
533
9,595
300
335,299|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
62,569
-
3,324
22,566
8,610
4,030
8,660
3,320
596
11,179
27,659
535
1,374
10,941
-
-
88
639
2,660
300|
|---|---|---|
|||169,050|
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **5. GOVERNANCE COSTS**
|Independent Examination fee
**. STAFF COSTS**
Wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
300
300
**2023**
**£**
117,993
5,660
8,571
132,224|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
300|
|---|---|---|
|||300|
|||**2022**
**£**
62,569
-
3,324|
|||65,893|
## **6. STAFF COSTS**
The average number of staff employed during the year was four. No employee received any pay or benefits in excess of £60,000 in either year.
## **7. DEBTORS**
|Accounts receivable
Other debtors
Prepayments|**2023**
**£**
27,837
9,437
4,000
41,274|**2022**
**£**
34,562
-
1,107|
|---|---|---|
|||35,669|
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**ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **8. CREDITORS**
|Taxation and social security
Wages payable
Income received in advance
Refunds for cancelled events
Other creditors
Accruals
Loan|**2023**
**£**
3,127
-
30,507
-
17,974
13,500
-
65,108|**2022**
**£**
-
1,919
68,468
- 5,000
16,738
20,476
199|
|---|---|---|
|||102,800|
## **9. UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS**
|General funds
Designated funds – contingency
reserve|**Balance at**
**1 Apr 2022**
**£**
42,954
-
42,954|**Income**
**£**
343,433
-
343,433|**Expenditure**
**£**
- 335,299
-
- 335,299|**Transfers**
**£**
- 38,000
38,000
-|**Balance**
**as at 31**
**March**
**2023**
**£**
13,088
38,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||51,088|
## **10. RESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS**
There were no restricted income funds during the year.
## **11. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION & RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**
No member of the board of trustees received any remuneration for their trustee role during the year. There were no related party transactions during the year.
## **12. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL**
The key management personnel of Ecosystems Knowledge Network are the Trustees and the Director. The Trustees receive no remuneration. Including the employer’s pension contribution, The Director’s remuneration totalled £38,209 during the year (2022: £32,832).
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