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2024-09-30-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024 OF TRUSTEES FOR BOURNEMOUTH NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY

1. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS

2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Society was formed in 1903. A new Constitution and Rules for the CIO were agreed at the AGM held on 5 December 2015. The Charitable Incorporated Organisation was registered on 9th March 2016. Financial and related matters are overseen by the trustees who this year have met in person monthly. The trustees are also responsible for the appointment of those officers of the Society who have responsibility for substantial assets of the Society. The trustee body is elected annually by secret ballot by members present at the Annual General Meeting. Up to nine trustees may be elected. Of these two are ex officio, the treasurer and secretary. A chairman is elected at the first meeting of the new trustee body each year.

The Assembly of the Society is open to all members, who can raise any matter of overall interest. The Assembly usually meets roughly quarterly. The first meeting was held following the AGM on 9 December 2023 to elect the Section Chairs. That meeting and those on 26 March and 25[th] June were ‘hybrid’ i.e., took place both in person and remotely via Zoom. The hybrid meeting scheduled for 24 September 2024 was cancelled due to the lack of a Chair of Assembly.

The activities of the Society are run by a small number of committees. An ad hoc Programme Committee (consisting of those Section Chairs who can attend meetings by Zoom) continues to be responsible for the lecture programme. A number of field trips were organised from spring to autumn 2024. The Museum Committee has met twice and the Library Committee once.

3. FINANCE

3.1 BNSS Financial Report 2023-24

In 2023-24, BNSS maintained financial stability while delivering on its wider mission to educate members, the local community and general public in sciences & natural history. Membership revenues, donations and sales have all shown healthy increases, assisted by the contributions from the Spring & Autumn open weekends and the increased visitor engagement throughout the year. The trustees invested in upgrading the men’s washroom facilities and wash basin heaters and general maintenance and repairs to ensure the building is a safe home for the collections. In addition, comprehensive electrical safety work was undertaken in line with statutory requirements for a public building. Utility costs have contributed to increased outgoings.

Financial Review Financial Review 2023-24 2022-23
Total Revenue £59.8k £55.3k
Including: Membership contributions £12.1k £10.7k
Donations £12.7k £8.1k
Sales £6.2k £4.8k
Lettings £9.9k £10.7k
Young Explorers £1.4k £0.7k
Total Expenses £61.8k £50.6k
Including: Admin and legal costs £3.9k £2.4k
Lecture costs £1.2k £0.7k
Facility maintenance, insurance and utilities £47.0k £27.5k
Salary (caretaker) £4.5k £10.6k
Garden expense £1.7k £1.5k
Net Total for FY 2023-24 -£2.1k

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November 2024

Next year’s budget includes some capital expenditure items:
Electrical upgrade light fittings Est £30k
Improved in-cabinet display lighting Est £3k
Suitable high quality display case for the recently restored orrery. Est £5k
House exterior maintenance Est £10k
Basement flat refurbishment Est £15k
Re-locate new commercial boiler, reroute gas pipes, apply zone control Est £10k

3.2 Reserves

BNSS’s reserves policy is set to manage unforeseen financial events. The level of unrestricted reserves required is set by reference to a situation in which the Society has zero income for 2 years, i.e. without access to the building, an inability to generate revenue and zero grants being available. This currently equates to around £110k. Accessible cash reserves remain at approx. £150k with long-term Charity Investment Funds £55k. Given the planned capital expenditure levels for 2025, the decrease in lettings income, the outlook for energy costs and the increase in the living wage, the current level of reserves conforms with Reserves Policy.

3.3 Conclusion

Our continued progress this year would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the generous support of our members. As a volunteer-based organization, we rely heavily on these contributions to keep our doors open and provide meaningful programmes for all who wish to access them. In particular thanks to the Independent Examiner, Louise Tonkin of Fisherton Consulting, who reviews the accounts as required by the Charity Commission, Mary Tiller, the Assistant Treasurer, who manages all cash including Gift Aid and to the Membership Secretary, Sally Grant, who keeps the records required by HMRC for Gift Aid eligibility.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership was 251 on 1st October 2023 and 243 on 30th September 2024. During the year, there were 20 new members, 22 resignations and 6 deaths. Whilst numbers are down, we were pleased to welcome a new member who signed up for 10 years and two couples who renewed their existing 10-year membership, bringing a welcome boost to membership fees.

5. PUBLIC BENEFIT

The museum has been open on Tuesdays throughout the year and on some Saturdays. During August 2024 the museum was open additionally on Wednesdays and two Saturdays with very good attendances. There were also seven additional Saturday openings in other months. Throughout the year weekly lectures via Zoom were made available to the public who requested a link. Lectures were advertised on the BNSS Facebook page as well as the BNSS website. All activities were free to enter but were also supported by members explaining the importance of donations to keep our activities going and to support maintenance of the old Victorian building. BNSS once again hosted the Arts University Bournemouth Spring display by second-year students. The Young Explorers programme for 7–12-year-olds continues and has had a successful year with attendance at most meetings being in the high teens and low twenties. We hosted 15 visits from local organisations including 11 local schools and language schools and scout groups. Five external visits were made to schools taking demonstration materials. In total our Education Officer organised activities and engaged with 645 children and young adults. The museum is often visited by parents with home-educated children and support workers for special needs children and young adults to provide a learning and entertaining experience. A researcher with the British Antarctic Survey visited in September to examine our plesiosaur fossils. Members of the public often bring in rocks and fossils, if these cannot be identified immediately they are referred to other sources.

6. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

6.1 Programme

A total of 66 lectures were held. Of these 34 were on Zoom only, 21 were a hybrid talk on Zoom and inhouse, and 11 were in-house only. Average attendance was 25. The programme committee no longer has an astronomy chair but has gained a zoology chair. The programme committee has filled every Tuesday evening with a Zoom or hybrid talk, and a fortnightly Saturday afternoon in-house or hybrid talk. Three quizzes were held in the year.

Six botany field trips were held during the spring and summer months and one mycology field trip. A photographic competition was held and prizes awarded. Subsequently the winning photos were displayed upstairs in the Wallace room and a book of entries printed and sold. There was a coach trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew attended by 35 people. A joint meeting with the Quekett Microscopical Club was

BNSS Annual Report 2023-24

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November 2024

held on 15 June 2024, with displays and good attendance, with the rest of the museum open. A wellattended Garden Party was held in late June, with refreshments, plant sales and a garden tour led by Mark Spencer. BNSS members participated in the Family Nature Day at Upton Country Park. On the same day there was also a BNSS entomology and reptile display at Avon Heath.

6.2 Forward Plan

A draft Forward Plan was circulated for discussion by members in 2023 and has had some revisions. A detailed action plan was produced but costings are still required before a Forward Plan for 2025-2028 can be approved by the trustees and used when the Society applies to renew its accredited museum status.

6.3 Museum Curation

Sadly Ray Chapman, the Society’s Curator since 2011, died early in 2024 and a replacement has not yet been found. Members of the Museum Committee have taken on extra responsibilities and this report represents their collective view. The general curation of the collections has continued with low levels of pest infestation and pyrite decay. New pest prevention products for the entomology specimens have been used. No serious damage has been observed thus far. The building in general has remained in reasonable condition with no current problems. New lighting has been fitted to the conchology cabinet in the Inner Hall which improves the visibility and appearance of the specimens. Since no tenant has yet been found for the top floor rooms these are currently being used for display and storage purposes. Storage in general is a problem and serious consideration has been given as to how improve the situation. A basement room has been marked for storage. It is still necessary to address the problems associated with the general environment of the building together with the electrical power requirements.

6.4 Museum Public Openings and Exhibitions

As is normal the museum was open to the public on Tuesdays throughout the year. In addition, we opened for three days between Christmas and New Year and for two extra days each week (Saturdays and Wednesdays) during August 2024. Our usual twice-a-year open weekends were also arranged in October 2023 and April 2024. We were fortunate that sufficient volunteers were available to cover those additional days particularly those in December. Tours of the building were arranged in Architectural Heritage Week in September 2024.

6.5 Publicity

Work continues on updating the content of the BNSS website, with a view to re-designing the site over the coming year. Volunteers have been successful in improving the visibility of BNSS on social media, with a steady increase in “followers” over the last year. Content of online tourist-based websites have been updated and improved, and the Museum has also been included in two guidebooks.

7. PREMISES

Our caretaker Steven Moult retired at the end of Feb 2024. Since then, our maintenance man has been cleaning, opening/closing the building and looking after those renting the rooms. The good news is that the whole building including the Lantern is now watertight and no further leaks have been found so we are now completely dry! The Lantern has been repainted. Much work was done to rectify the damp walls in the men’s toilets and install new urinals. The women’s toilets have been refurbished and new hot water supplies installed in the toilets and kitchen. We are on our third year of an insurance package for the building, the insurers have agreed to another 3-year package starting in late 2024. Contracts have been set up with the electricity and gas suppliers to get the best price and we are monitoring the supply and price. A new heating boiler has been tendered and will be installed early November 2024; we hope this will improve the building in the winter months. Numerous maintenance jobs have been completed from refreshing paint and high-level cleaning and this will continue to be done. The Caretaker’s flat will need extensive renovation before it can be re-occupied.

8. LIBRARY

The library was busier this year with numerous donations of which 51 were brought into our own stock, 24 of these were books on Palaeontology and Archaeology from Robert Schdeuke. We purchased two new books: Ants - a guide to Britain and Europe and Grasshoppers of Europe , both Bloomsbury wildlife guides. All reference books have now been moved into the library where they can be studied by members but not removed from the room. We have a volunteer working in the library cataloguing the Society’s archive.

9. HEALTH & SAFETY

We continue to monitor and ensure the house meets the statutory requirements for health & safety. We have updated the fire panel and intruder alarm so that they are remotely monitored when the building is not in use. Emergency lighting, PAT Testing, fire extinguishers and water testing continue to be completed and monitored. A new consumer unit was installed for the house. Moss has been removed from the car park and paths as the buildup was becoming a hazard to visitors to the building.

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November 2024

10. VOLUNTEERS

The trustees are extremely grateful to those members of the Society who act as volunteers and also to members of the public who have given their services as volunteers. Without them, we would have been unable to open the museum as often as we did in 2023-24. As stated in previous reports, our aim to open the museum more frequently remains in place but at present, with our current volunteer numbers, that is not a practical proposition. Once again, we would ask that any member who does not currently volunteer but is interested in doing so should either get in touch via contact@bnss.org.uk or call into the museum on a Tuesday.

11. COLLABORATIONS

We had a joint meeting with the Quekett Microscopical Club with whom we hold an affiliate membership. Our patron Jane Goodall has continued to use our premises to hold recordings of her interviews with a number of organisations for which we are grateful. The trustees were pleased to open the building during Dorset Architectural Heritage week to show visitors the renovated lantern roof and the architecture and history of the building. We continued our association with the Arts University Bournemouth with artworks on display in the museum and garden. BNSS has also collaborated with Upton Country Park at their Family Nature Day events, at the Bournemouth Bug Show and the Avon Valley Heath Country Park, where insects raised by members and volunteers, were offered in exchange for donations.

12. THANKS

As in previous years we are indebted to our members for keeping us running through their subscriptions. From the other sections of the report, you will be aware of the many contributions from trustees, officers, members and volunteers without which the Society would cease to function. Our website and social media continue to be important for communication with members and the public. We are grateful for another year of free ‘charity hosting’ for the website from 34SP.

The Trustees, November 2024

BNSS Annual Report 2023-24

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November 2024

CHARln COMMISSION FOR ENfjLAND ANO WAiE5 Bournemouth Natural Sclenc• Soclety 11619SI Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a For th• p•rfod 01110r2023 To 30109r2024 Section A Receipts arid payments Unr•8trlcted fvnd• Regtdcted fvn Endowment nd• Total lund• t y•ar A1 R•c•l i• Subscri t￿n6 & Oonalons Lantern Roof Oonation L•nt•m Grants HLF & Can10￿ Env acies LettiD A￿l¥rtI•8 In¢ T•a$ Ircom• trom In￿stMentS Saks Recei Ygun Gfft Ald 11015. 3JO. 10738.21 3J22.OQ 7155.V 4no.24 7.8 •248.2 1177. 1Y2. 3184.91 9248.2 1ITI.90 1)12.th) J414.91 r•rs Tts Rtht• Museum iThcome inco Extom•l Gront$ RHLGF Z275.3J Sub tot•l(Gn)ss income forAR) n¥•• T￿.1 •tsbl•. s￿￿7.1 Accom0dat￿jD & Servt 18rl6$ & T mini8lrnth)n Inc 46972.93 4539.85 3870.74 1073.20 1434.43 1171. 1MO.25 3Z9.65 279.44 OA) 72.gj 4839.88 70.74 1173.20 27338.$4 10SS8.46 2396.21 1892.110 3776.97 Mus8￿) o. 1171. IMO.28 J29. 9.44 Gard You 1131.97 391.08 1949.98 01110.4 aThl Frttin OA) OMJ Sub total 81810.47 61860.4 fj0499.70 N•1 of r•c•lpts/(p•ym•ntsJ AS Tr•n•lern between fvnd• A8 C••h funds last y•r C*h funds th1$ wr•nd -2103.3 -2103.3 4768.67 0.00 150720.3 150720.3 143134. CQKX Rl8cU￿ts ISS

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Independent Examinerfs Report on the Accounts Report to the Management Comnittee {tNsteesl of BournenMyJth Natyral Soence Sc(iety on the amnts for the year end&J 31st. March 2024. Re$pecdve responslbilftles of the Managtmenl C)mmittee and Ex•mln•r The manageffnl ¢))mmittee. as the charity's Iruslees. are res[x)ns$b￿ for the prepara￿n ofthe acujunts. The Management Commrttee fThsNJer that an audit is nol required for this ￿aT (under sedion 4312) cl th8 Charitss Act1993 (the actll an(1 that an iThJyndenl examinalK￿ is n8edwJ. As the Inde￿￿￿ent Examiner, it is my reSFonsi￿.[ty to examine the accounls lundef section 43131{al of Ihe Act); folh)w IIE procedures laMI down rtr the General Dsreclions gven by the Chaflty Commiswiners (under sethon 4317llbl of the Act), and stale whelher mattels ha￿ CATh lo my attenlim. Baili ol Indepfrndent Examlne¢s Statement My examinats'on was camed ￿t in atcordanc the G4￿ra1 Dire(kns gr4en by the Charty Commi5SK•ners. An exarninatton indudes a Tevthv ofthe a(£ounb'ng reths kept by the tharty and a comparison of the a¢4)wnts presented ￿ tr￿se records.11 also inckKles (}￿deratiOn of any unusual items Of disdosufes in the accounts and seeking explanail¢yB from the man&3ement ￿llYn[ttee conc£mirvJ any such matters. The PFocedu￿$ uThJwtsken (k) not provide all the ewdenc4 thal Y)uld be reouKecl in a fvll aLal, end consequenlty I do nol express an audit opinwjn C￿ the acL￿nts. Ind•p•ndent Examin•fs Statement In connethon with my examinadon, rK) Maile￿ have lo my att8nb.on 1. wh￿h gives me reasonatle cause io bekeve Ihal in any matend res￿3 lh& requirements lo keep ￿c￿nting reojrds lo prepare ac￿nts which with these accounlry have not been mel; 2. to whi¢h. in my 0￿.￿on, atteniKJn shtyjkl be dra￿ in order to enable a proper underslanding of tho a¢cDunts lo be ￿athed. Signod Name". Lwise Tonkin Dale. 27111r2024 Relevant Prolessi¢yM5 QUa1￿Cab)n. MA4T Address.. S AlbM)n R￿id. HaFWire SP6 1EL