**NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 01/10/2023 Period start date** **To 30/09/2024 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Nottingham Astronomical Society** ## **Charity registration number:1174745** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**To advance public interest and education**
**in the science of astronomy and related**
**subjects, to further the knowledge of its**
**members, to promote and conduct**
**research and observations, and to**
**provide facilities for active participation**
**in astronomical observation.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**The society provides venues for its**
**members to attend lectures, undertake**
**activities and work with the public on a**
**range of outreach activities.**
**Meetings are advertised to the public,**
**and various outreach activities**
**undertaken e.g. Support for school**
**courses on Astronomy, events with**
**‘Beavers’ groups in the area.**| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**The Trustees are aware of the Charity**
**Commissions guidance on Public**
**Benefit and in relation to the activities of**
**the society, we consider public**
**engagement, and publicise our events;**
**plus have consideration re risks when**
**undertaking these.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**There is no formal policy on grant**
**making as these do not form part of the**
**operation of the society activities or**
**considerations. No requests have been**
**received.**| **Page of 1 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**No requirement for such policy.**| |---|---|---| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**Members of the society regularly assist**
**with meetings, presenting on topics,**
**support, management and development**
**of the ‘observatory’ site etc.**| |Other||**N/A**| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**The society has held regular public**
**events each month (excluding August)**
**when speakers are arranged to give**
**presentations on various topics across**
**the wide field of astronomy and space**
**exploration etc. These are attended by a**
**good proportion of the membership of**
**the society and there has been an**
**increase in the number of visitors**
**(general public) attending these events.**
**In addition we also hold Monthly, more**
**informal meetings, to support members**
**(and visitors) with a more generalist**
**‘feel’ than the more formal presentation**
**meeting cycle.**
**Various events held at the society**
**observatory site for members.**
**We have a provided support to sessions**
**on astronomy/telescopes at various**
**Beaver club events etc., and whilst**
**previously supported Emmanuel School**
**in West Bridgford in support of their A**
**level Astronomy course, this was not**
**required in 2024.**| **Page of 2 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|**Other than adherence to the meeting**
**schedules and speaker arrangements,**
**including observatory management, re**
**its use and for planned events, no other**
**objectives tracked.**| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**Not applicable/non set as funds are**
**subscription and donations based.**| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**Not applicable other than bank interest.**| |Other||**N/A**| **Page of 3 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The Treasurer provides a yearly update**
**to members and in year updates to the**
**Society committee/trustees.**
**The year ending September 2024 saw**
**revenue drop due to lower membership**
**income etc., but was offset partly by an**
**increase in bank interest receipts.**
**Expenses remained about the same but**
**saw increases in meeting costs and**
**observatory development items but**
**again offset by lower admin and**
**insurance cost items. There was**
**however still a year on year of**
**contribution available to balances.**
**In general the society holds sufficient**
**cash reserves and income (subscription**
**and donations) to maintain normal level**
**of activities and although costs are**
**rising, in 2024 the membership rates**
**remained as is, these are however being**
**modified for 2025.**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**Reserves’ - which in our case relates to**
**all our ‘cash’ balances at the bank, is**
**maintained to facilitate Observatory**
**development, accommodate impacts of**
**increased costs for events etc., subject**
**to impacts on yearly membership**
**numbers/rates applied.**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£15328**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**None**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**In the 2023/24 year funding majority of**
**funding provided by:**
**Subscriptions 50%**
**Donations 25%**
**Gift Aid 15%**
**Other 10% (Visitors, Interest etc.)**| |---|---|---| **Page of 4 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**No ‘investments’ are held, other than**
**simply interest bearing bank accounts,**
**for which interest recorded and used in**
**balances for day to day activites. These**
**are split between an Instant Access**
**account and a short term Notice**
**account.**| |---|---|---| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**There are no specific, identifiable,**
**immediate risks being considered but we**
**are always aware of the following:**
**Membership Numbers:- whilst accepting**
**that there will be always some drop out**
**from some membership cohorts, but we**
**are not seeing majorchanges year on**
**year.**
**Inflation: - again whilst aware of price**
**rises the most impacting on our**
**activities are room hire rates at venues**
**etc. These are considered at renewal**
**times etc. and options considered by the**
**Trustees if needed.**| |Other||**N/A**| **Page of 5 10** ## **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution - as part of the CIO**
**registration, and defines the Society**
**Objects, Powers, Trustees, Membership,**
**Meeting and other areas of its operation.**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**CIO Registration 20th September 2017**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Trustees are selected by vote at AGM**
**(December) for next year (all trustees/**
**positions are elected/re-elected every**
**year) and some specific appointed to**
**hold various positions e.g. Chair,**
**Treasurer, Secretary etc., and who also**
**form the Executive Committee of the**
**society.**
**The various functions, duties and**
**eligibility, number of, appointment,**
**meetings etc. are all covered in the**
**Constitution.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|**The Constitution advises on information**
**to be supplied to new trustees (it should**
**be noted that Trustees are usually long**
**serving). In addition Charity Commission**
**documents are advised for review.**| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**There is an Executive Committee of**
**Trustees, and these hold positions of:**
**Chair (and Vice Chair)**
**Secretary**
**Treasurer**
**and other operational aspect roles e.g.**
**Membership Secretary**
**Observatory Director**
**IT/Webmaster**
**Journal Editor**
**Other generalist Committee/Trustee**
**members.**
**There are no other specific wider**
**‘working’ networks.**
**ALL Trustees are unpaid**| **Page of 6 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|**The Society is a member of:**
**Federation of Astronomical Societies**
**(FAS), although this is not engaged with**
**the management of the society, simply a**
**support organisation for -**
*** Access to Public Liability Insurance for**
**societies**
*** Resource Centre containing**
**documents providing a common**
**framework for astronomical societies**
**and their outreach activities.**
***Newsletter where societies can feature**
**their events and information.**
**British Astronomical Association(BAA)**
**again not involved with management of**
**society and we are simply an affiliated**
**member as closely associated aims such**
**as scientific observation, a mutual help**
**relationship - many of our society**
**members/trustees are are also BAA**
**individual members.**| |---|---|---| |Other||**Observatory site is leased from Severn**
**Trent Water plc, and we have a long**
**standing relationship from 1980’s when**
**site acquired (99 year lease) - again no**
**impact with society management other**
**than terms of lease re site maintenance**
**and use etc.**| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|**Nottingham Astronomical Society**| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|**N/A**| |Registered charity number|**1174745**| |Charity’s principal address|**c/o**
**23 Grange Park**
**West Bridgford**
**Nottingham**
**NG2 6HW**| ||| **Page of 7 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted**
**if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Julian Paul**
**Onions**|**Chair**||| ||**Christine**
**Margaret**
**Sneddon**|**Secretary**||| ||**Andrew Charles**
**Green**|**Treasurer**|Until
19/12/24|| ||**Richard Thomas**
**Severn**|**Treasurer/**
**Membership**
**Secretary**|Treasurer
From
19/12/24|| ||**James Dawson**|**Vice Chair/**
**Observatory Director**|Vice Chair
From
19/12/24|| ||**Leigh Edward**
**Blake**|**Webmaster**||| ||**William Roy**
**Gretton**|**Journal Editor**||| ||**- vacant -**|||| ||**- vacant -**|||| ||**- vacant -**|||| ||**- vacant -**|||| ||**- vacant -**|||| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved > **Director name NONE** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |**No land/property titles**||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| **Page of 8 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** |Description of the assets
held in this capacity|**N/A**| |---|---| |Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|**N/A**| |Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|**N/A**| ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser None** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **None** ## **Other optional information** **None** **Page of 9 10** **NAS Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Julian Paul Onions Richard Thomas Severn **Position (eg** Chair Treasurer **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 31 December 2024 **Page 10 of 10** NOTTINGHAM ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Reg5gtTrr•d Inco¥poTrled Otgani54tion Ng." 1174745 In 1946 ftyi £bli vlBr#¥led ID aslr(>Tromy- Allilk4reo iotne Brrftsh *4S0e￿IlOts. i.iÈmDeroiiThe Feoerd1ion ofAS1roThoiTrltal Soc**8. Supwrtorofthe Comm&sion lthr Dark SkiB NAS INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2024 Chon 202212023 es om 202212023 202312024 I INCOME Membership subscriptions Donations Grft Aid Visitor5 Business Reserve Isavingsj Interest Liquidity Manaser 35 day (Savings) Interest Other income TOTAL INCOME 2,390.00, 1,047.00,, 686.50.. 141.00 7.61 0.00 55% 24% 16% 2.055.(K) 1.035.(K) 630.(K) 99.(K) 172.25 -14% -1% 25% 15% -30% 2163% loo% 52% 0% 48.10 52.44 79.59 4,324.55 100% 4.118.94 100% EXPENDITURE '. MEETING COSTS Room hire Speakers, expenses Meetin8$ & AGM refreshments 1,266.00 117.03 1,180.80 378.74 188.14 187.64 1,571.17 36% 1.747.18 42% 11% OBSERVATORY COSTS Observatory maintenance Observatory development ,BBQ expenses 60.75 287.12 23.00 549.90 63.25 86.71 411.12, 10% 659.61 16% ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER COSTS Website and internet Accountant's fees Subscriptions 3nd insurance Stationery Mistellaneou5 216.(K). IOD.00 555.98 195.14 100.00 471.10 29.98 310.26 1.212.22 28% 766.24 19% -37% TOTAL EXPENDITURE 3,194.51 74% 3.173.03 77% EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE 1.130.04 26% 945.91 23% -16% Notes.. 11 Negative monetary values are shown in biackets throughout NOTE ON CASH MOVEMENTS FOR THEYEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2024 This notÈ does not form part of theAccounts Cash in Current Acc Bank at 1st October 2023 C3sh in Savings Acc Bank at 1st October 2023 Cash in Hand 8t 1st Ottober 2023 2,955.89 11,507.61 24.(X) Excess ol Intome over Expenditure 945.91 CASH ADJUSTMENTS 202312024 Add back.. TBA Add back.. TBA Cash in Current Acc Bank at 30th September 2024 Cash in Reserve Acc sank at 30th September 2024 Cash in Liquidity Acc Bank at 30th September 2024 Cash in Hand at 30th September 202 1,076.45 6,679.86 7.548.10 24.(N) Cash movements from 202212023 Balance Sheet: Subtr3ct amount paid to Burnside Memorial H311 Subtract 8mount paid to Emmanuel School 33.(K) 72.(K) IncreasellDecreèsel in Cash 840.91 Cash movement 840.91 1111