Annual Report for 2023
LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR TO 31st NOVEMBER 2023
The Leicestershire & Rutland Beekeepers Association was founded in 1882 and was registered as an unincorporated charity number 510687 on 11 November 1980. On the first of January 2016 the activities of the charity were transferred to the incorporated charity 1163520 which was registered with the charity commission on 11th September 2015.
The charity revised the constitution at the 2022 AGM to take more account of the use of electronic communications
The registered address of the charity is Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeepers Association 1890 Melton Road Rearsby Leicester LE7 4YS
Notice of the AGM to be held on April 4 2023 was sent to all members.
The Trustees (Jay Anderson, Caroline Beardsmore, Craig Turner, Paul Crookes, Mike Petty, John Randall, Nigel Collier, Christopher Heath, Emma Mussom, Andy Stuart, Perpetua O’Sullivan) continued to manage the Charity.
Our object is to preserve the honeybee, by promoting the craft of beekeeping and educating the public about the benefit of bees in the environment.
The Association had 385 members at 31/12/23 - (vs. 396 prior year). Full members constitute 91% of the membership (vs. 90%), 33% of whom are female (vs. 35%).
Take-up of training courses was strong. 40 members attended the Theory training, with 26 going on to participate in the practical courses. 15 members joined the improvers sessions at Brooksby. One taster day was run in 2023 with 14 attendees. In addition to these regular training activities an additional event; open to the public to attend; was run by Nigel Collier on the specific subject of Nosema disease with 19 attendees.
We again attended county shows with our revised bee tent experience, a reflection of the times and dwindling volunteer numbers, yet still managing to interact with the public.
To ensure that the historical written records of the Association were better protected and capable of being accessed by members and the general public, where appropriate, the Trustees arranged for all paper based minutes and annual reports, starting with the first recorded meeting of the Association in 1882 to be electronically scanned. The files of the scanned documents were uploaded to the LRBKA Sharepoint system with the original paper documents placed in storage in waterproof and fireproof boxes.
Thanks must go, once again, to all those who have donated their time and/ or money to help the charity, without whom we would be unable to operate.
The above statement complies with the S 162 of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Accounts & Report Regulations 2008
LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
| RECEIPTS | 2023 | 2022 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Fees | 10,188 | 13,494 | 1 |
| Training Course Fees | 2,890 | 3,340 | |
| Sale of Beekeeping Equipment | 10,520 | 9,536 | |
| Swarm Collector Fees | 160 | - | |
| Sale of Honey / Wax | - | 125 | |
| Sale of Sundry Items | - | 728 | 2 |
| Equipment Hire Fees | 80 | 120 | |
| Event Registration Fees | 1,150 | 540 | 3 |
| Sundry Event Income (Teas, Rafes etc.) | 164 | 404 | |
| Donations Received | 420 | 1,128 | 2 |
| Commissions Received | - | 223 | 4 |
| Gift Aid Rebate | 3,146 | 2,708 | |
| Bank Interest Received | 1,812 | 608 | |
| Other Income | 60 | 302 | |
| Total Receipts | 30,590 | 33,256 | |
| PAYMENTS | |||
| Direct Costs | |||
| Purchase of Equipment for Resale | 7,360 | 11,682 | 5 |
| Apiary Running Costs | 2,044 | 3,268 | 6 |
| Capital Items | 1,893 | 20,244 | 7 |
| Event-specifc Costs | 59 | 154 | |
| Venue Hire | 114 | 107 | |
| Payment Platform Fees | 451 | 497 | |
| Swarm Collection Platform Fees | 144 | - | |
| Membership Insurance Cover | 1,740 | 1,507 | |
| Speaker Fees | 220 | 490 | 8 |
| Incidental Operating Costs (Memorials, Prizes etc.) | 273 | 48 | 9 |
| Subtotal | 14,298 | 37,997 | |
| Overheads | |||
| Web Hosting and Computer Software | 149 | 167 | |
| Computer Hardware (non capital) | - | 60 | |
| Internet and Telephone | - | 55 | |
| Postage and Stationery | 46 | 117 | |
| Bank/Finance Charges | 45 | 81 | |
| Association General Insurances | - | 540 | 10 |
| Sundry overheads | 305 | 88 | 11 |
| Total Payments | 14,843 | 39,105 | |
| Year’s Surplus / (Defcit) | 15,747 | -5,849 | |
| Funds Brought Forward | 138,249 | 144,098 | |
| Funds Carried Forward | 153,996 | 138,249 |
Registered Charity No. 1163520
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LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31[ST] DECEMBER 2023
| BANK ACCOUNTS AND CASH | BANK ACCOUNTS AND CASH | 2023 | 2022 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natwest Bank - Current Account | 12,837 | 9,759 | ||
| Charities Aid Foundation | - Current Account | - | 5,964 | 12 |
| Market Harborough Building Society * | 120,500 | 120,500 | ||
| Loughborough Building Society | 20,000 | - | 13 | |
| PayPal | 659 | 88 | ||
| Cash in Hand | - | 158 | ||
| Cash in Transit (PayPal to Natwest) | - | 1,780 | ||
| Total Liquid Funds | 153,996 | 138,249 | ||
| * of which restricted: | 7,038 | 7,582 | 14 | |
| OTHER ASSETS / LIABILITIES | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Other Current Assets | ||||
| Stock | Jars and Lids | 5,414 | 5,750 | |
| Frames | 2,190 | 1,000 | ||
| Foundation | 385 | 200 | ||
| Other | 0 | 375 | ||
| Total Other Current Assets | 7,989 | 7,325 | 15 | |
| Current Liabilities | ||||
| Creditors due within one | year | (179) | (268) | 16 |
| Summary schedule of Non-Current Assets | retained for the charity’s own use | 17 | ||
| Land and Buildings | Land at Kilworth Rd, Walton | |||
| Removable apiary buildings | ||||
| Fixtures and Fittings | (Various) | |||
| IT Equipment | PA System | |||
| Projector | ||||
| Beekeeping Equipment | Hives and Hive Parts | |||
| Extractors | ||||
| Sundry | ||||
| Apiary Tools / Machinery | Mowers (sit-on x1 / scythe | x1) | ||
| Power Tools | ||||
| Generators | ||||
| Sundry | ||||
| Educational / Public Engagement Assets | Bee Tent Trailer | |||
| Tents / Gazebos | ||||
| Bee Suits | ||||
| Professional-grade microscopes (x2) | ||||
| Sundry | ||||
| Regalia | Chains of Ofce | |||
| Cups and Trophies |
Registered Charity No. 1163520
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LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts:
-
The Association had 385 members at 31/12/23 - (vs. 396 prior year). Full members constitute 91% of the membership (vs. 90%), 33% of whom are female (vs. 35%). The drop in revenue is mainly driven by timing differences arising from the numbers of members making timely renewals for the following membership year (252 in FY22, dropping to 220 in FY23). Membership revenues for the Membership Year 2023 were £11,031, with receipts spanning both FY22 and FY23.
-
Drops in Sundry Income and Sundry Event Income are due to exceptional sales in FY22 (Brooksby auction and library book sales) not repeated in FY23.
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Event registrations were boosted by a successful Nosema Day in April, hosting 19 fee-paying delegates, including 7 beekeepers from neighbouring associations.
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The cessation of the original “Simon the Beekeeper” operation has led to the Association no longer earning commissions on related sales to members. An alternative discount scheme with Bee Equipment has since been put in place.
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The Association experienced ongoing significant demand for jars, frames and foundation (reflected in the sales (up 10%)). The material fall in stock replenishment outgoings is attributable to high stocks (notably of jars) going into 2023.
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The fall in Apiary Running Costs is attributable to higher than normal spend during FY22 as the Walton apiary underwent an initial ‘ramp-up’. This has now levelled-off.
-
Capital Expenditure in FY23 comprised only the following items. This is expected to increase significantly in FY24 as a result of the planned development of the Walton site.
| FY23 Additions (£) | |
|---|---|
| Ongoing enabling works - Walton | 648 |
| New Hive Parts - Walton | 600 |
| Varrox Eddy - for internal use / member hire | 360 |
| Gazebo for reconfgured Bee Tent | 285 |
| Total | 1,893 |
-
Speaker Fees fell in FY23 as a result of several speakers appearing gratis.
-
Incidental Operating Costs include the purchase of a Copyright Licence, which the Association intends to maintain annually, as a risk mitigation - especially in relation to the reuse of published materials for educational purposes and similar membership engagements.
-
Association General Insurances fell to zero, as a result of Trustees Liability Insurance now being incorporated into the Combined Commercial policy which now covers all member and officer risks, and which represents better value-for-money.
-
Sundry Overheads include one-off spend in relation to the physical archiving of LRBKA’s historical documents, and valuation fees in relation to the LRBKA regalia.
Registered Charity No. 1163520
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LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
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The Charities Aid Foundation current account was closed in FY23. This was a non-interest-bearing account, which incurred a monthly account fee.
-
A savings account (60-Day Notice) was opened with the Loughborough BS. This has market-leading interest rates, and will serve to better protect the Association from inflation. It will allow funds to be spread in FY24 - specifically from the Market Harborough BS account - to ensure all the Association’s deposits are covered by the FSCS guarantee.
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Restricted Funds are those ringfenced specifically for the construction of a new building at the Walton apiary. The Charity has a reserves policy. Restricted Funds movements are as follows:
| follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Opening Balance | 7,582 | |
| Capital Expenditure | (648) | Access and groundworks |
| Interest Earned | 104 | (prorated) |
| Closing Balance | 7,038 |
-
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, in line with UK GAAP. ‘Other’ stock (comprising branded merchandise, and small amounts of honey and sundry beekeeping kit) is recorded at zero value, as a result of its low materiality (£375 at 31/12/22) and questionable saleability.
-
Creditors comprise refunds due to members (£60) and expenses due to apiary managers in relation to routine expenditure on consumables (£119)
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In a departure from previous practice, and both in line with what is permitted by the Charity Commission (per notice CC16b), and with accepted conventions for accounts produced on a receipts and payments basis, the Association will no longer be publishing either a valuation of its fixed assets nor - as a consequence - a full balance sheet. This change has been undertaken with the full support of the independent examiners, and is a decision taken as a consequence of the subjective nature of any related valuations. During 2024, it is the intention to rewrite existing policies and procedures in relation to the recording of non-current assets, and to implement a new asset register. This will include all assets above a nominated value threshold (and valued on ‘relevant, reliable and understandable’ bases), irrespective of whether these were purchased by the Association, or donated. Asset registers are, and will continue to be available for review by members on request.
Registered Charity No. 1163520
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LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis, in line with Charity Commission guidelines (publication CC16b). They are in accordance with section 133 of the Charities Act 2011, the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.
As required by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, we report:
| a) particulars of any guarantee given by the CIO, where any potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities. |
None apply |
|---|---|
| b) particulars of any debt outstanding at the date the statement of assets and liabilities which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the CIO. |
None apply |
At current levels of turnover, an independent examination of the accounts is required (under sections 144 and 145 of the Charities Act 2011); the LRBKA Constitution also requires this.
None of the Trustees received any remuneration or honorarium.
Craig Turner ACMA - Treasurer and Trustee
On behalf of the LRBKA Board of Trustees, 22/03/2024
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS
We report to the Trustees on the examination of the accounts of the Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeepers Association (the Association) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Trustees of the Association are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
We report in respect of our examination of the Association accounts set out on pages 1 to 4. We have completed our examination.
We confirm that no material matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Association as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records.
We 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.
Stephen Boyd, 22/03/2024
Alison Hercock, 22/03/2024
Registered Charity No. 1163520
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