## **BISHOP AUCKLAND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY** ## **CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1172061** ## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ending 31stMarch 2022** B.A.A.S. Trustees are pleased to present our Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] March 2022. The charitable organisation was registered with the Charity Commission on 15[th] March 2017 and officially commenced activities on the 1[st] April 2017. The charitable organisation replaced, and has continued the work of the unregistered organisation ‘Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society’. All assets and liabilities were transferred to the registered charitable organisation on that date. ## **Structure Governance and Management:** The society is set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), using the foundation model constitution as the basis for its governing document. The CIO employs no staff, the trustees do all of the work of the organisation and are unpaid, as are our volunteer society members. ## **Summary of objectives:** The objectives of the CIO are: To bring astronomy to people of all ages and abilities, primarily in and around the Bishop Auckland and Weardale areas; To host monthly meetings with speakers; to organise and conduct astronomical observing events; and to give astronomy/space themed talks to the general public, schools and other organisations, including those with special needs. We now also provide Solar observing sessions with specialised equipment, primarily for schools and other youth groups. ## **Activities undertaken for Public Benefit:** The trustees have complied with their duty in section 4 of the 2006 act to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the charity commission. Since the general re-opening after the national lockdowns: The charity: Can again hold “Moonwatch” events which will be open to the general public. Helps scout groups to acquire their “Space” badges. Expand our Solar observing sessions for schools and youth groups, via the recent acquisition of Solar telescopes with highly specialised solar filters, which we have now commenced to roll out to school groups. Give educational talks to many groups, which included The W.I. and Salvation Army youth groups. Helped a number of schools in fun and educational ways with ‘Space Camp’ events, in conjunction with the Stephen Hawking Foundation. ## **Achievements and performance:** After the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the charity has been able to re-commence our usual outreach/educational activities, as well as our monthly meetings, as mentioned above. We continue to support the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales’ (AONB) “Dark Sky Initiative” program, and the National Nature Reserves in England (NNR) with regard to future dark sky events on their properties. ## **Financial Reserves Policy:** The charity intends to hold sufficient funds to purchase future equipment as determined by the Trustees from time to time and to have enough funds to sustain the society in its activities for twelve months. Trustees regularly devise plans to generate the necessary funds, often holding ‘tombola’ events at public shows, while showing filtered telescope views of the Sun to members of the public. At the year end, the charity holds £1,750. ## **Future Plans:** We plan to use our funded specialist Solar telescopes to continue our Solar observing sessions for those that cannot observe the sky during the night, particularly schools and other youth groups. Now that social distancing rules have been relaxed, the society will continue our usual outreach activities and monthly meetings. ## **Society Details:** **Registered Address;** 11 Wykes Close, Sedgefield, TS21 2DY **Accountant:** S M Lowery -. Certified Accountant and Registered Auditor, Great Lumley, Co Durham. **Bank:** Lloyds Bank plc. Spennymoor, Co Durham. ## **Trustees of the Charity:** Mr. Duane Cox (Chair) - Mr. Karl Jennings (Vice-chair) Mrs. Lynda Cox (Treasurer) - Ms. Maureen Parkin-Magson (Secretary) Persons entitled to appoint new trustees: Current Trustees, by unanimous vote only. Signed on behalf of the Trustees: 23rd June, 2022 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND A14D WALES Bishop Authand Astronorrrical Society 11￿￿1 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the pefiod 01hM12021 3110312022 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcttd Yunds Rest￿¢t¢d funds Endowment funds Totsl funtts L•¥t y￿r A1 R*¢elpts 110 Sub total(Gross inGcNne for AR) 872 120 A2 Asset and Investment sales. (see tsblel. Sub total 872 872 120 ent$ Cost of E￿￿1 241 75 241 75 30 265 120 120 Sub total 572 535 A4 Asset and investment urchases. See table Sub total 572 53$ Net of reC￿p￿{payments) A5 Translers betsveen funds A6 Cash lund5 last year end Cash fund$ thls year end 300 415 t,570 1,870 1.570 1.870 415 CCXX R1 accwnts ISSI 1211[￿022 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Llnrestricted lund5 Restricted fvnd$ Endowment funds to n•arestÉ tr* n•&rest£ B1 Cash funds Cash at Bank 1,801 Ca*h in Hand Total cash fvnds 1.870 wK(sll Unrestrictsd funds Restricted fijnds to nearest£ Endowrnent funds to noare8t£ Details FLrttr**thith Cwr•nt¥alu Fuknd to whlth CurY¢nt¥alu• Details 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use lTh•n d Deta￿.,$ B5 Uabllltl•s 120 Signed by one orl*v Iru5tees behalf of all the Iru*ees nature Print Name Date of roval Karf J•nftlngs 2￿-10-ll -io.IL Duane Cox CCXX R2 ac¢tsJnts Is51 1211012022