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T h e<br>C clamen<br>y<br>S o c i e t y<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


www.cyclamen.org 

## **Trustees Annual Report for the Financial and Reporting Period 1[st] July 2022 to 31[st] December 2023** 

## **Change of Financial Year** 

At their meeting on 3[rd] September 2022 the Board of Trustees of the Cyclamen Society unanimously resolved to change the financial and reporting year of the charity to end on 31[st] December each year instead of the 30[th] June, thus coinciding with the membership subscription year which runs from 1[st] January to 31[st] December. 

To effect this transition, the financial period under review therefore ran for 18 months from 1[st] July 2022 to 31[st] December 2023. 

## **Charity Name & Number** 

The Cyclamen Society.  Registered Charity Number 1172732 

## **Correspondence Address** 

14 Lower Minley Cottages, Minley Road, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey. GU17 9UD 

## **Trustees** 

|**Trustees**|||
|---|---|---|
|Mr Vic Aspland|||
|Mr David Carver|Treasurer|from 22 January 2024|
|Dr John Christopher Clennett|||
|Mr Vince Cordell|||
|Mr Martyn Denney|Secretary||
|Dr Phöbe Friar|||
|Mr Keith Fry|Treasurer|to 31 December 2023|
|Dr Maurice Jackson|||
|Mr Peter Jones||to 22 January 2024|
|Mr Melvyn Jope|President||
|Mr Arthur Nicholls||to 26 January 2023|
|Mr Roy Skidmore||to 22 January 2024|
|Mr Steve Walters|Chairman of the Board||
|Mr Paul Whitlock|||



## **Professional Advisors** 

Bankers: Lloyds Bank PLC, 

## Independent Examiner: 

Peter C. Hill, Certified Accountant, 5 Newsham Road, Goldsworth Park, Woking, Surrey. GU21 3LA 

## **Governance** 

Governing Document:  The Constitution of The Cyclamen Society (dated 27[th] May 2020) The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation Structure) 

Management:  The charity has a Board of Trustees of up to 12 persons. In exceptional circumstances up to a further 3 trustees may be appointed giving an absolute maximum of 15. There must be a minimum of 7 trustees. 

The trustees are appointed for a period of 12 months at the first General Meeting of the Board in the calendar year. 

___________________________________________ 

Registered Charity Number 1172732 



The Cyclamen Society has no temporary or permanent paid or unpaid staff. 

## **Membership** 

Membership of the charity is limited to the Trustees. Membership of the associated Cyclamen Society is open to all on payment of a subscription. There are approximately 1200 members of this society, of which about 60% are resident in the UK. There is a group of over 200 members in Japan. 

## **Objects** 

The objects are to encourage: i. the cultivation and conservation, and ii. to increase and disseminate knowledge …of the Genus _Cyclamen_ and its species, subspecies, forms and cultivars for the public benefit. 

## **Principal Activities** 

The Cyclamen Society publishes a twice-yearly journal, books, booklets and pamphlets, and runs a seed exchange for members.  The Society supplies copies of its publications, free of charge, to a selection of relevant libraries in both the UK and internationally, where they are available to members of the public. 

Four plant shows, that are open to the public, are held during the year – three at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater, and a fourth at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. During these shows experts are on hand to answer queries from the public and provide advice on cultivation. 

The Society conducts field studies that contribute data and material to a research programme carried out in co-operation with the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading. 

## **Achievements for the Benefit of the Public during the Period under Review** 

During the period the Society published three editions of its journal ‘Cyclamen’ and this was despatched to all members.  Once again the June journal contained details of the annual seed distribution that is open to all members of the society. The seed distribution aids ex-situ conservation of species and is therefore a benefit to the public. 

During the period the Society reprinted its 8 page leaflets _Cyclamen for Garden and Greenhouse – A Gardener’s Guide_ and _Growing Cyclamen from Seed_ . These leaflets are distributed to the public free of charge at lectures, cyclamen shows and garden events both in the UK and abroad. 

The Society ‘hosts’ a Facebook Group devoted to cyclamen. This is moderated but open to members of the public world-wide and promotes a lively discussion. It has approximately 5,500 members. 

With Covid 19 having receded as an impediment to field studies, in 2023 the Society carried out a field study in the Republic of Cyprus, studying _Cyclamen cyprium_ . This is part one of a 2-part programme. Part 2 - North Cyprus – is intended to be completed in 2024. Data from both studies will feed into the work being carried out at the University of Reading, and will be published in the Society’s _Journal_ in order to make it available to a wider audience. 

In October 2023 the Society started a 12-month sponsorship of a ‘Cyclamen Horticultural Trainee’ at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This traineeship was aimed at raising the level of knowledge at the gardens so that care for their National Collection of Cyclamen could be improved and displayed to the public. 

Six plant shows were held during the period under review, three at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley (Surrey), one at the RHS Garden at Harlow Carr (Yorkshire) and two at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. At all these shows plants and seed of rare varieties were sold at low prices to enthusiasts and members of the public.The engagement by the public at these shows, especially those at Wisley, was very good. 

Surplus seed was donated to botanical and horticultural gardens. 



The Board of Trustees is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance regarding Public Benefit. Public benefit is routinely considered by the Trustees. 

## **Financial Review** 

The income of the society remains healthy, as we see similar totals across our main income streams such as publication sales, seed sales, donations and monies raised at shows and events. The shows and events which the charity organise, raise funds whilst helping to promote some of the charitable aims of the society, in the knowledge and promotion of the genus. The subscription of the society continues to be the largest income to the charity. 

The expenditure, which is frequently made visible to the Board of Trustees and standing committees within the society, is monitored and reviewed to make sure money is being spent wisely and correctly.  The accounts for the period will show two current funding/ grants which have been made available, with the purpose of spending for our charitable aims. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The reserves of the Cyclamen Society exist to: 

- a) Enable the Society to continue normal activities during periods of reduced income. The value of this component of the reserves is approximately 3 years expenditure of £40,000 per year. 

- b) Provide funds for future research and development according to the Society’s objectives. This will include field studies, care and recording of collected plants, the work of the Registrar of Cultivars and scientific investigations. This will be equivalent to 3 research projects of £15,000 each. 

- c) Provide funds for the future production of publications relating to the objectives of the Society. This will amount to approximately £20,000. 

Thus the total value of reserves held within the invested funds of the society needs to be a total of at least £185,000 to enable the Society adequately to fulfil its objectives. 

Any amount held in excess of £185,000 will continue to be used to fulfil the objectives of the Society. 

Policy reviewed: 16/07/2024 Next policy review:  July 2027 

## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees** 


Martyn Hugh Denney Secretary Approved by the Trustees 27/09/2024 





## T h e 

S o c i e t y 

**Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2023** 

I certify that the accounts in this statement represent a true and accurate record of the financial affairs of The Cyclamen Society during the period stated. 

Signed 


Treasurer 31 December 2023 



## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Cyclamen Society, Registered Charity No. 1172732 On accounts for the 18 months period ended 31st December 2023 Set out on the attached pages.** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the 18 months period ended 31st December 2023. 

## **Respective responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). 

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent Examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- [  accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or] 

- [  the accounts do not accord with the accounting records] 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


## P. C. Hill 

Chartered Certified Accountant 5 Newsham Road, Goldsworth Park, Woking, Surrey GU21 3LA 

18th February 2024 


## T h e S o c i e t y 


## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 18 MONTH PERIOD ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2023** 

|T h e<br>S o c i e t y|T h e<br>S o c i e t y|T h e<br>S o c i e t y|T h e<br>S o c i e t y|T h e<br>S o c i e t y|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**<br>**18 MONTH PERIOD ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2023**|||||
||2023||_Year to 30thJune 2022_||
|**RECEIPTS from**|£|£|_£_|_£_|
|Donations|10.00||_5,359_||
|Subscriptions|23,403.14||_17,163_||
|Journal|0.00||_20_||
|Publications|3,546.93||_5,653_||
|Seeds|5,601.96||_2,480_||
|Shows,Meetings and Events|7,478.85||_5,344_||
|**Total**||**40,040.88**||**_36,019_**|
|**PAYMENTS for**|||||
|Administration|7,061.31||_3,949_||
|Journal|25,666.74||_14,676_||
|Publications|2,193.09||_10,300_||
|Research|8,441.81||_8,156_||
|Seeds|1,634.43||_615_||
|Shows,Meetings and Events|13,141.51||_7,685_||
|*Storage and BBG Cyclamen Trainee|8,487.00||_1,460_||
|**Total**||**66,625.89**||**_46,841_**|
|**INVESTMENTS**|||||
|Capitalgains/losses|11,434.31|**11,434.31**|_3,974_|**_3,974_**|
|Excess income/expenditure||**-15,150.70**||**_-6,848_**|
|**BALANCE SHEET FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2023**|||||
|**ASSETS**|||||
||31st December 2023||_30thJune 2022_||
|Current account|9,448.15||_11,033_||
|Investments|179,722.49||_193,288_||
|**Total**||**189,170.64**||**_204,321_**|
|**REPRESENTED BY**|||||
|Brought forward|204,321.34||_211,169_||
|Surplus/deficit|-15,150.70||_-6,848_||
|**Carried forward**||**189,170.64**||**_204,321_**|



*In 2023 this item consists of Storage £2250 (18 months) plus Birmingham Botanical Gardens Cyclamen Trainee £6237 (3 months) 



**Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Cyclamen Society, Registered Charity No. 1172732** 

## **On accounts for the 18 months period ended 31[st] December 2023 Set out on the attached pages.** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the 18 months period ended 31[st] December 2023. 

## **Respective responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). 

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent Examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or 

- • the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


**P. C. Hill Chartered Certified Accountant 5 Newsham Road, Goldsworth Park, Woking, Surrey GU21 3LA** 

## **18[th] February 2024**