## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name GWENT BEEKEEPERS CIO **members of On accounts for the year** 31[st] March 2025 **Charity no** 1174746 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 13/11/2025.
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** 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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) 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.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Signed: Date:** 13/11/2025 **Name:** Susan Steele **Relevant professional** BA (Hon) Business and Finance **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 6 Oak Street Blackwood NP12 1PY
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
N/A
2
**October 2018**
**IER**
|**Gwent Beekeepers CIO**|**Gwent Beekeepers CIO**||
|---|---|---|
|
**Actual**
**Actual**
**Actual**
**Current Budget**
**Actual**
Variance
**2021/2022**
**2022/2023**
2023/2024
2024/2025
2024/2025
**Income**
**Opening Balance**
**£24,779**
**£22,137**
**£29,655**
**£39,271**
**£39,271**
0.00
Unallocated
0.00
0.00
GBK Subscription
3,463.00
3,385.00
2,700.00
3,240.00
3,091.00
-149.00
BBKA Subscription
5,349.00
4,467.00
2,919.00
3,780.00
3,864.82
84.82
BDI Subscriptions
896.00
825.35
606.15
850.00
668.95
-181.05
Magazine Subscriptions
619.00
554.00
306.00
300.00
320.00
20.00
Donations /Fundraising
759.00
948.13
730.40
1,000.00
586.18
-413.82
Miscellaneous, Square costs
3,693.00
121.88
229.80
250.00
(171.28)
-421.28
Gift Aid
1,596.04
1,148.70
1,200.00
0.00
-1,200.00
Courses and Events/ grant
6,293.00
9,118.00
6,911.00
4,000.00
4,390.46
390.46
Prior Year
255.00
0.00
Honey sales/Equipment Hire
1,580.00
2,838.41
11,816.20
1,500.00
639.33
-860.67
Miscellaneous
155.00
12.00
567.73
100.00
0.00
-100.00
**Total Generated Income**
**£19,369**
**£23,744**
**£27,705**
16,220.00
13,389.46
-2,830.54
**Expenditure**
Moved to savings
100.00
-100.00
BBKA capitation
5,394.00
4,565.50
3,370.00
3,780.00
3,367.50
412.50
BDI capitation
924.00
826.00
665.40
850.00
418.15
431.85
Magazine Subscriptions
444.00
375.82
0.00
300.00
0.00
300.00
Apiary costs, products for
5,459.00
6,184.76
11,729.78
9,000.00
3,495.12
5,504.88
Building Running Expenses
393.00
1,218.18
858.26
1,000.00
1,243.91
-243.91
Prior Year / Gift Aid Repay
742.00
15.35
0.00
Insurance
917.00
951.53
1,025.10
1,200.00
1,837.30
-637.30
Refunds
243.57
0.00
250.00
250.00
0.00
Miscellaneous
0.00
615.72
-615.72
Course expenses & Speakers
210.00
590.61
918.05
1,842.00
2,750.27
-908.27
Show expenses/marketing
3.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
Grant Project Expenditure
657.98
0.00
Building / Grounds
3,712.00
475.00
0.00
3,500.00
0.00
3,500.00|||
|**Total Generated Income**
**£19,369**
**£23,744**
**£27,705**
16,220.00
13,389.46
**Expenditure**
Moved to savings
100.00
BBKA capitation
5,394.00
4,565.50
3,370.00
3,780.00
3,367.50
BDI capitation
924.00
826.00
665.40
850.00
418.15
Magazine Subscriptions
444.00
375.82
0.00
300.00
0.00
Apiary costs, products for
5,459.00
6,184.76
11,729.78
9,000.00
3,495.12
Building Running Expenses
393.00
1,218.18
858.26
1,000.00
1,243.91
Prior Year / Gift Aid Repay
742.00
15.35
Insurance
917.00
951.53
1,025.10
1,200.00
1,837.30
Refunds
243.57
0.00
250.00
250.00
Miscellaneous
0.00
615.72
Course expenses & Speakers
210.00
590.61
918.05
1,842.00
2,750.27
Show expenses/marketing
3.00
1,000.00
Grant Project Expenditure
657.98
Building / Grounds
3,712.00
475.00
0.00
3,500.00
0.00|||
|
**Total Expenditure**
**_£26,993_**
**£21,891**
**£16,226**
**£22,722**
**£14,078**||8,644.03
|
|
Surplus/deficit
_-£4,673_
-£2,522
£7,518
-£6,502
-£689|||
|**2025/26 Balance cfwd**
£38,582.03|||
|**Current Account**|||
|Opening Balance
income
Expenditure
Txf to savings
Net movement
Closing balance|£39,271
13,389.46
£13,978
100
-688.51
£38,582||
||||
|**Savings Account**
Opening Balance
income
Expenditure
Net movement|£0
£100
£100||
|Closing balance|||
## **Current Account**
|**Current Account**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Opening Balance|£39,271||||||
|income|13,389.46||||||
|Expenditure|£13,978||||||
|Txf to savings|100||||||
|Net movement|-688.51||||||
||||||||
|Closing balance|£38,582||||||
|**Savings Account**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Opening Balance|£0||||||
|income|£100||||||
|Expenditure|||||||
|Net movement|£100||||||
||||||||
|Closing balance|£100||||||
**Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
## **2025 Annual General Meeting Minutes**
**Detail Information Date** 29th November 2025
**Start Time** 14:00 hrs or 2pm
Holden Apiary & Study Centre, Llanover Road, Llanfair Kilgeddin **Location** ABERGAVENNY, NP7 9DY
Peter Maloney (Chaired General Business); **Chair** Dr. Nicola Bradbear MBE (Chaired Election of Trustees and Presentations)
## 1. Welcome and Apologies
The meeting was opened by the Chair, Peter Maloney, who welcomed the high number of attendees.
**Committee Present:** Peter Maloney (Chair), John Holden (Vice Chair), Dave Barrell (Acting Secretary), Dene Caple (Treasurer), Andy Leonard (Membership Secretary), Andrew Tuggey, Graham Evans, Steve Ham, Nicola Bradbear MBE, and Ceri Joyner. **Please see Appendix A for the signed register of attendees.**
**Apologies for Absence:** Andrew Tuggey, Daniel Baxter, Dave Stoneman, Eva Linde, Graham Evans, Jonathan Griffiths, Jonathan Smith, Mark English, Miriam Knight, Steve Jackson, Viv Laing, Jan Smith, and Robbie.
## 2. Report from the Chair (Peter Maloney)
- **Organizational Changes:** The Chair noted it has been a year of transition. He expressed sincere thanks to outgoing trustees Wendy York (former Treasurer and Vice Chair), Sami White (former Secretary), and Eva Linde (Beginners Course/Taster Coordinator). He welcomed Dene Caple as the new Treasurer and Steve Ham as Secretary.
- **Obituaries:** The Association recorded with sadness the passing of Pip Carter, who was instrumental in school visits and a valued volunteer.
- **Achievements:** Major highlights included the resurfacing of the apiary for accessibility and winning 2nd prize for the "Best Commercial Stand" at the Usk Show.
- **Future Strategy:** The trustees are conducting a review of skills to strengthen the charity and ensure the advancement of beekeeping.
- **Special recognition** was given to beekeepers celebrating milestone birthdays: Ken Key (100) and John Holden (90).
## 3. Report from the Treasurer (Dene Caple)
- **Financial Summary:** The accounts for the year ending 30th September 2025 were examined and approved by Susan Steele.
Page **1** of **6**
**Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
- **Financial Standing:**
- **Opening Balance:** £39,271.
- **Closing Balance:** £38,582.
- **Net Movement:** A deficit of £689 for the year.
- **Income/Expenditure:** Income from subscriptions and courses totalled approximately £12,400, while major costs included apiary maintenance (£3,495), building/insurance (£3,000), and course expenses (£2,750).
- **Further Details available in Appendix B**
## 4. Apiary and Education Report (Ceri Joyner)
- **Apiary Management:** The apiary team manages approximately 11 colonies, all of which have been treated for Varroa and prepared for winter. Ceri Joyner thanked the dedicated apiary team for their support during a challenging year.
- **Education:** 20 individuals registered for the beginners' course. Active study groups for BBKA modules and basic certifications have seen high success rates this year.
## 5. Report from Membership (Andy Leonard)
- **Membership Figures:** The Association has **208–209 subscribed members** . This is a slight decrease from previous years, reflecting a wider UK trend.
- **Breakdown:** 178 Full BBKA members, 25 Local members, 5 Country members, and 1 Honorary member.
- **Engagement:** Membership growth has been targeted through local shows (Monmouth Bee Festival, Usk Open Gardens, Llanthony Show) and school talks in Abergavenny and Cross Ash.
## 6. Yellow-Legged Hornet (YLH) Update
- **UK Sightings:** As of 21st November 2025, there have been 544 sightings and **161 confirmed nests** destroyed in the UK.
- **Ireland:** Sightings were verified in Cork and Dublin (36 sightings, 2 nests), with the first confirmed sighting in Northern Ireland occurring on 10th October 2025. Members were urged to remain vigilant and use the reporting app.
## 7. Election of Trustees
Chaired by Dr Nicola Bradbear MBE, the following trustees were standing down: John Holden, Vivian Laing, and Eva Linde.
## **Elected Committee for 2025–2026:**
- **Chair:** Peter Maloney
- **Vice Chair/Secretary:** Steve Ham
- **Treasurer:** Dene Caple
- **Apiary Manager/Education:** Ceri Joyner
- **IT/Website:** Dave Barrell
Page **2** of **6**
**Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
- **Membership Secretary:** Andy Leonard
- **Marketing:** Cyrene Dominguez
- **Grounds:** Graham Evans
- **Trustee:** Andrew Tuggey.
The committee was confirmed en bloc by the membership.
## 8. Proposals for the AGM
- **Subscription Fees:** It was proposed that the **£2 increase** from the BBKA be passed on to members, while the Gwent Beekeepers' portion of the fee remains unchanged.
- **Resolution:** Proposed by Wendy York, seconded by Rachel; the motion was carried.
## 9. Presentations and Awards
- **Education Achievements:**
- **Basic Certificate:** Sam Marshall, Gary Connell, Roberta Skybova, Dave Stoneman, Loui Estanthiou, Lorri Ciccione, Sam Marshall, and Jess Jones.
- **BBKA Modules:** Sam Marshall (Mod 1), Joanne Pullen (Mod 3), Brinley Williams (Mod 5), and Wendy York (Mod 5).
- **Microscopy:** Dave Barrell (the first person to sit this exam in Gwent).
- **Major Awards:**
- **June James Award** : “The Apiary Team”, Jo Pullen, Lorri Ciccione, Gary Connell, Roberta Skybova, Kathy Hague, Dai Stoneman, Dave Barrell
- **Chirnside Challenge Cup (Usk Show Points):** Daniel Baxter
- **Beginners Awards:** Steve Ham, Dai Stoneman, Das
- **Beginners Cup:** Kathy Hague
## 10. Any Other Business (AOB)
- **Tribute to John Holden:** The Association offered a special thanks to John Holden, who has served since 1992. He was praised as a "guiding force," educator, and expert bee inspector.
- **Commemorative Planting:** To mark his service, a **Lime Tree** was provided for planting at the site.
**Meeting Closed:** 15:30 (approx.), followed by tea, cake, and the ceremonial tree planting.
Page **3** of **6**
## **Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
## **Appendix A - Attendees Register**
Page **4** of **6**
## **Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
## **Appendix B – Audited Account Sumary**
Page **5** of **6**
## **Gwent Beekeepers CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No. 1174746 (Founded 1884)**
Page **6** of **6**