ROSLISTON ASTRONOMY GROUP
(Reg. Charity Number 1175118)
TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT
for the period - 1st January, 2023 to 31st December. 2023
Alm8 and Purposes
Rosliston Astronomy Group, abbreV￿tsd to RAG for ease of reference, is an amateur
Astronomy Group with a membership of around seventy fve, and with a small. but very
enthusiasts'c and active, Junior Members, section. Although RAG is a relatively new Charity,
having been granted status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in October
2017, as a Club the group has been in existence since October 1999. Throughout this time
we have been commffted to delivering an 'outreach' programme for all age ranges of the
General Public, promoting the advancement of education in both the theory and practice of
Astronomy.
Our regular Meetings are based at Rosliston Forestry Centre. in South Derbyshire, on the
border wrth stsff0rdshl￿, and our membership and the members of Ihe public attending our
regular Meetings and one off events are mainly drawn frorn the surrounding areas of South
Derbyshire. Staffordshire, Leicestershire and adjacent sections of West Midlands, with
occasional visrtors from wider ar￿Id.
Objectlves and AthIU88
As a CIO our objectives are twofold:
i) promoting, in general. scientific topics, by providing facilities for active parb'cipation
particularly. but not exdusively, in astronomical observation. and
(li) assisting Rosliston Foresty Centre in their educational programme for members
of the general public. by provKling guidance, practical activities, and infomation
on all matters relating to astronomy in ts many aspec
RAG continues to be committed to enabling as many people as possible to experience the
'Wow' factor when they observe the w<)nders of the night sky, a galaxy, a solar flare or
sunspot, at first hand. We believe in encouraging lrfelong leaming, and helping everyone to
appreciate the value of having a knowledge of Astronomy. to whatever level. and its place
in the world around them.
This year RAG has been able to continue our support assisting Rosliston Foresty Centre in
their weekend scien￿ Days, provKling the Astronomy element, including Solar observation.
active radio astronomy, and examples and explanations of deep sky astrophotography. Our
members have also voluntarily provided the Astronomy èlemènt at Ro81iston Fore8ty
Centre's two 'Night Watch, Events.
Every 'outreach' event offered by RAG involves a number of Members, providing a range of
activities for members of the public to take part in. These activities are free, and accessible
to everyone. Members are 'on hand.. both inside and out, to provide guidan￿,
encouragement, further explanation. provide bad(ground knowledge. and extend the public
awareness of the wonders of Astronomy generally.

In addition, during the year, R4G's 'outreach' support for specffic community groups was
also able to continue. RAG engaged wrth two Beaver Groups. two Cub-scout groups and a
Scout Group to facilitate them beirKJ able to achieve their AStrOn￿nY Badges. RAG also
continued to work with an Explorer Scout Group. Members of RAG gave evening
presentstions to one Wl Group. and in October two Members presented an Astronomy
theme to Home Educaled children during Rosliston Environment Education Team's
'Schools' scien￿ Week,. The year conduded with. at the beginning of November, four
Members providing an Astronomy evening for sixty Year FNe primary children from a school
in Nottinghamshire. This was the second event for this school during 2023, the first being in
February. and both being rebooked events following their successful visrt in 2022.
In addition to our 'on&off outreach events, RAG holds a regular series of general M￿lIngS
through the year, twice every month. Mid-month and End of Month. These meetings are
open to everyone, members and non-members. and are publicised on the RAG website
Calendar, Fa￿boOk, by Rosliston Forestry Centre's Environmental Education Team, the
Rosliston Forestry Centre's website and Centre Infomiation booklets, SP8cific Leaflets at the
Centre, and in the Local 'Whafs On,.
Achlov•m?nts and Perfomiance
The Trustees have continued to assess the effectiveness and range of FIAG'S 'Outreach'
Programme for specffic and general publte events involving the whole age range. Our
Programme is well established, and well receNed. and has again reached in excess of 1000
members of the general public dunng the year.
Having due regard to the Charity Commission's documents on 'public benefft,. Trustees
have continued to spend time analysing and discussing future events and activities,
monitoring the effects of the pandemic on the work of th8 Charrty. and with particular
emphasis on ￿entffYIng effeth've evaluation and added value, and what the impact 18 of
holding all our Meetings as 'hybrid', being 'in person, in the room, and 'online'.
The dats protection element has continued to be maintsined by all meetings being instigated
by the Membership Secretsry, as a single source ft)r personal details.
In more detail - the Trustees are extremely proud of the way RAG has functioned throughout
2023. The positive approach taken by the Trustees in 2020 and 2021 ensured RAG'S
programme of meetings were maintained, and. irKJeed, built on by the introduction of the
Astrophotography Special Interest Group (SIG). This was achieved by the intr(xJuction of
holding 'online' meetings via Microsoft Teams.
This has been built on and increased in 2023 with all meetings being both 'online' and held
'in person, at RFC. This includes all General meetings menkn'oned above. and the
Astrophotography Special Interest Group meetings that are held monthly.
The introduction of the new website in 2021 has been a great success, and RAG has
received a major increase in interest, and contacl from the general public and potential new
members.
Trustees re￿[ve regular updates on website usage at their meetTngs.
In practice, Membership this year has increased s￿nIfiCant1y, building on the trend Set in
2022.
The Trustees a￿ proud to report that there have been a number of specific achievements
this year. Some of these are detailed in other parts of this Report, but are itemised here to
report their overall significance.
During 2023 we have achieved following:

January - the continuation of the the provision of bespoke 'Stargazing EXperIen￿S, _
private events for specific groups of the public. begun in October 2021.
ongoing and available throughout the year.
April
- held a Su￿ssful 'Obser¥atory Open Day and general Obserrfing event,
supporting Rosliston Forestry Centre's scien￿ Discovery Day. This included
staging an 'Exhibition' of Astrophotography Images 'donated by members in
the Astrophotography SIG, wth a twofold purpose:
- to publicise the work of RAG
- to create a potential 'sales' outlec to contribute to the Phase 2 fundraising
for the bank of telescopes.
July
held a successful 'Astronomy Evening, as part of Rosliston Foreslry Centre's
Night World Event. This included visual observing opportunities for the general
public facilitated by RAG volunteers, and Iwo sessions offering a Talk about
Astronomy in gener81.
September - celebrated achievement of our youngest JUn￿r Member, being
shortlisted in the intemats'onal Junior Astrophotographer of the Year Competition
2023 - and his image of the Crescent Moon being part of the Astrophotographer
of the Year ExhIb￿On at the Royal Obsep4atory, Greenwich, and included in its
2023 Year Book. Over 5,000 entries from 64 countries took part in whote
cornpetrtion.
October - held a succossfvl 'Observatory Open Day. and general Obser4ing evenl,
supporting Rosliston Foresty Centre's Science Discovery Day.
The completion of the build in its ents'rety in 2020 marked the complekn'on of Phase One of
the Observatory Project. Wrth storage faalrties now available, Phase Two 18 to fund and
purchase a bank of Telescopes plus accessories, to be used as *raining' Scopes, both on
and off site, to facilitate 'hands on, practical experience for Ihe various communty groups.
During 2023 Bids have b88n submrtted to vanous grant awarding bodies. To date these
have proved unsuccessful.
Following the pandemic many of these grant awarding bodies adapted Iheir eligibility criteria
to encompass supporting the various communty inth'ats'ves for recovery post pandemic. As
extemal funding is currently drfficult to obtain. the Trustees have supported the suggestion
by the Astrophotography SIG, to use some of their images lo create a source of 'sales' to
contribute to the Phase Two fundraising for the bank of Telescopes. This is a long temi
project that will raise money, with all sales going to the Phase Two fund once the initial
monetary outlay for printing and mounting has been repaid. Sales this year have totalled
£100.
Monies have been received from other extemal sour￿. namely £425 from the sale of okl
equipment, and £410 comprising donations from various 'outreath' groups and from
bespoke 'Stargazing Experiences,.
Voluntsers

The Trustees woukj like to thank all the rnembers of Rosliston Astronomy Group for the level
of commitment they have continued to demonstrate this year. Every event that RAG holds
for the public benefft depends on members. voluntsry attendan￿. and willingness lo share
their knowledge, expertj'se as an astronomer. and their personal equipment with members
of the Public of all ages. Their support has a￿ayS readity been available.
In addition, the Trustees woukl like to thank the Members for their continued support for the
fundraising actrvrties undertaken by RAG to help fund the Observatory Project. Their
willingness to make small donalions on a regular basis during Club Meetiros also plays an
important part in maintsining the Observatory Fund. This year these small donations totslled
£155.04.
Flnancial Rovlow
A detailed analysis of the financial transactions carried out during the year can be found in
the Financial Statement and its accompanying Notes.
This year, the focus of financial a%Yareness to support the key objecttves of the Charity, for
the public benefft, namely by
ii) maintaining the ongoing functions and activities of the Chaiity. and
iii) investing in the future outcome of a su¢¢essful build
has been activety maintained.
Consequently there has been increased activty in the Community Account, wTrth the majority
of spend being directly related to the Observatory, and annual background expendrture e.g.
Buildings Insurance for the ObseNatory, and Public Liabilty Insurance.
A significant financial outlay in 2023 has been the purchase of an EQ8 Mount for the
Observatory Dome. This is a major athievement for RAG, as previousty Trustees have been
appreciative of the generosity of a Mernber loaning a suitable Mount while fund8 were
accumulatsd to enable such a purchase.
RAG uses two Accounts - a Business Communty Account and an Acts've Saver Account.
The Business Communty Account holds predominantly unrestricted funds catering for the
day to day transactions. This year unrestricted receipts totalled £3359.50 and unrestricted
expendrture £1309.58.
The Active Saver Account holds monies accumulated from successful bids to various Grant
Awarding bodies, and fonnal Donations made by extemal SoU￿s. All the funds held in this
Account are designated monies. Previousty. scxne Grants, and donats'ons have been
re￿iVed with 'open' targets but still within the capital build requiremen( and others have
been for specific stsges of the build or btems of equipment.
This year, as was the case last year. although applEd for, no Grants have been received -
see above regarding Phase Two.
This year designated receipts totalled £1280.04. Designated expenditure totalled £1670.06.
This Account also includes identified monies'ring-fenced. for use as the 'Observatory Fund,.
These are raised in small amounts, sourced by the on-going donab'ons at Meetings, and
fundraising actiVTties. by Members. This year this amount totalled £345.04 donated
specffically by Members. The remaining amount included sales of Astrophotography
images. and the sale of old equipment.

This yeafs reduced expenditu￿ in the Active Saver Account was expected as the majority
of the monies have been held in this Account for the spectfic purpose of funding the
construction of. and equipping, the Observatory. As the build has progressed and reached
completion monies have b&n released accordingty. Activty in the Account in 2021 was
reduced even more as restrictions for mosl of the year prevented any working parties
meeting at the Obsep4atory with the resultant lack of expendrture on materials, etc. Working
Parties resumed in 2022, and have continued in 2023. with Ihe emphasis on extemal ground
rna1ntenan￿, weeding and grass (X￿Ing. etc. and work on the Observatory Dome focussing
on improving the shutter functions. Consequently, as the wort( has been labour intensive
with little or no cost for materials, then the AS Account has not been very active.
The Business Cc#nmunty Account had also had a significant reduction in activity during the
period of restrictions caused by the pandemic. This led the Trustees, as part of their strategic
duties, to review this situation in I￿ht of the potential for 'online' meetings to continue in the
future, and the decision was taken in 2021 that should this be the case 'online' meetings
woukl carry an entrance fee. as for attendance at 'indoorf meetings.
This decision has required all those takir¥J part in meetings 'online', to use bank transfer to
pay for each meeting attended.
This was implemented in January 2022, and has con1lnu￿j through 2023.
R•sorvo8 Pollcy
RAG has a policy for the unrestricted element of the Business Communty Account,
whenever possible, to maintain a balance of £500, as a mininum. This is to cover
emergencies should they arise from time to time. This year this was achieved throughout
the year.
There is no such expectation in the ActNe Saver Account as the monies held in this Account
have been sourced from various grants, awards and identified donations to fund specific
aspects of the Observatory Project and its maintenance, and, therefore, 1000h of these
monies are for designated tsrgets.
Structure, Gov•manc• and Manag•m•nt
Rosliston Astronomy Group is a 'micro' Charty. managed by six Trustees drawn from, and
elected by. the RAG Mernbership. RAG is a Charitable Incorporated Organisats'on (CIO) that
gained Charty status on 11th October. 2017. and is govemed by a Constitution, which is
reviewed annually at the AGM in March.
Prior to them taking up their roles, and during the first few months in office, new Trustees
take note of various guidance documents produced by the Charrty Commission, setting out
their roles and responsibilities, namely guidan￿ on overall duties (CC3), financial
management (CC8. CC12), fundraising (CC20). guidance on Safeguarding. and documents
setting out guidance on understanding the Public Benefit requirement. This is not a finite list,
and Trustee 'training' is ongoing.
The Trustees form the overarching tier of management. Howevèr, as described at the outset
of this Report, although RAG has been a Charity Sin￿ October 2017. we have existed as
an amateur Astronomy Group (Club) for twenty four years. Consequently, the original Club
element has an established Committee that manages the day to day actions of the Group.
This Commtttee comprises a Chair and VK*£hair, a Secretary, Treasurer, Equipment
Manager, Technical Manager, Membership Secretsry, Events Ctrordinator, Welfare Officer

(that incorporates Safeguarding), a Website Manager. a Training offi￿r, and an
Observatory Manager.
As reported in previous Annual Reports, to enable this Committee to continue to manage
the day to day running, and the individual post holders to cary out their roles efficiently, they
refer to a Trustees, document first pr(Kluced in 2017. This is a 'Delegation of Powers,
document setting out the roles and responsibilrties delegated to the Committee by the
Charity Trustees. One of these delegated powers refers to the Commrttee being able to take
decisions on the sale or purchase of items up to the value of £100. Amounts above £100
need to be referred to the Trustees for agreement.
The RAG Committee reports to the Trustees. Meetings a￿ minuted. and a￿ then received
by the Trustees at Iheir next Meeting. The Committ88 holds thr88 Meetings a year. For
administrative reasons each of these ts scheduled to be held one month in advance of a
Trustees, Meeting.
This year has required the Trustees lo hold one meeting 'online' via Microsoft Teams, with
specific agenda items, and two 'in person, meetings held at Rosliston Foresty Centre. The
Treasurer reports both to the Committee and to the Trnslees at each Meeting.
For continuty purposes, the Constrtution stales that, wherever possible, two of the Trustees
should also be members of the RAG Commtttee. This year this has been complied with, by
both Mr Mann and Mr Holden holding elected roles on the Committee.
Admlnl8trallv• Inforniallon
Rosli8ton A8tronomy Group hold their Meetings at Rosliston Forestry Centre, Burton Road.
Rosliston, South Derbyshire, DE12 8JX. However. RAG has no strategic 'base' at the
Centre. The Corresponden￿ address for the Group is Cedar House, Burton Road,
Streethay, Lichfield, Staffs, WS13 8LS.
During the period of Govemment restriction on public gatherlngs due to Covid-19. from
March 2020 through 2021. meetings were held 'online' via Microsoft Teams. SineA
September 2021 when meeb'ngs held indoors were reinststed - all RAG meetings have been
'hybrid' in fomiat, being held in person in the room at RFC, as well as 'online' via Microsoft
Teams.
The Chartty is managed by six Trustees.
The Constitution sets out the Te￿S of Office for each of the Trustees on a rolling
programme, with two Trustees being required to stand do￿ each year al the AGM.
The 2023 AGM was held both in the room and 'online' via Microsoft Teams, and took place
on 31 st March, 2023. At the M￿tIng the two TrUSt￿S stepping down from offi￿ were Mr.
Rob Leonard and Mr. Steve Holden. Both had been nominated to stsnd again, arKI had
indicated a willingness to do so. As there were no other nominations Mr Leonard and Mr
Holden were re-elected unopposed for a further temi of offi￿.
The names of the Trustees WI￿ have managed the Charty for the period covered by the
Annual Report, are:
Mr Edwin Mann - Chair
Mr Adam Cheetham
Mr Geoff Dryland
Mr Stephen Holden

Mr Robert Leonard
Mi Nicholas Rufo
The Trustees have approved this Annual RepoTL
Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees for Rosliston Astronomy Group. by:
Signature:
Signature".
Name:
Position..
Mr Edwin Mann
Chair of Trustees
Name..
Posilion:
Mr Stephen Holden
Trustee
Date:

Ll
fA
Number 11
PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS ACCOUNTS:
£ 6293.18
Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds
1569.50
1790.(KI
RECEIPTS:
Monthly Meetings IEntr8rtel
Annua] Memberships
Internal Donations - Meetings(Obsy Fund)
Inlernal Donations - IndivKluatSlObsy FLWNJI
Major Grants
Fundraising
External l Outreach donations
Miscellaneous
Sale of Old Equiprnent
155.04
190.00
100.00
410.00 Iind.Scw￿e Fest.)
425.00
1280.
Total Recelpts:
EXPENDITURE:
Speakers
Zurich {Charities} Ins (ctwPUI
Obs8rvatory Build Ilntamall
Website I Wi-Fi
Refreshments
Stalionerylprintingletc.
Other
Miscellaneous
185.IXI
221.63
570.06 11rK￿. Lease)
302.56
259.62
139.78
100.00
100.99
111x1.00 (EQ81
Total Expendiiure:
Total Receipts
Total Expenditure
4639.54
2979.60
din
31
Represented by:
1) Bank Wc Business Communlty.
2) Bank Al¢ Active Saver
3) Plus: Active Saver Interest
4) Cash in Hand (a)
Cash In Hand (b)
Balance at 31n2r2022
Profft for the Year
Interest
Balance at 31n2r2023
6293.18
1659.94
4054.05
884.53
8.43
264.54
2750.00
J61.55
111) Obseryatory Building
FOR 2023
Approved by the Trust88s of Rosllston Astronomy Group.
They have been slgned on behall of the Trustees, and the RAG Plemborshlp, by:
Slgnalure(1)
Slgnature(2)
Mr Ed Mann- Chair of TnMItss
Mr Stephen Holden. Trustee

ROSLISTON ASTRONOMY GROUP
(Registered Charity Number 1175118)
Financial Statement for the Year ended 31sL December. 2023
The financial statement has been prepared uslng the Recelpts & Payments
fonnat. Rosliston Astronomy Group (RAG) is a small Charity, and is below the
Charities Act's audit threshold.
RAG us8S two Accounts, a Bug'ness Communrty Aco)unt, and an Active
Saver Account.
The Business Community Acc¢)unt, functions like a Current Account, holding
monies that are predominantly Unrestric￿ and. therefore, cater for RAG'S
day to day transactions.
There is on8 amount of monies Klentified within this Account that is 'rlng
fenced, to fom the Observatory Fund. Th8S8 monies are accumulated on a
day to day basis from small amounts g￿ned through Members, donations at
Meetlngs and M8mb8rs' fundralsing activities.
b)
The Active Sav8r A¢(￿Unt holds mni8s that are b8ing accumulated from
successful bids to Grant Awardlng bodies that have been awarded for speclflc
pury)ose8. and larger donations made by external sources. The larg8St
amount was for lh8 capital build in general. and this reduced considerably In
2019 as the construction and the fttting out of the ObseNatory progr8ssed.
During the overall fundr￿SIng olher smaller grants have been for specific
aspects within the build e.g. purchase of the interactive screen. These can
only be used for those purposes identified in the Grant and have been held
until that stage in the ￿ns1￿CtIon has been reached and compleled. These
have now been u8ed for the approprlate ttem8.
Although applled for, lor Sla9e 2 the purchase of a 'bank' of mobi18
telescopes for our Outreach work, no grants were receNed durlng 2023. Thus
stsge 2 has not yet been achieved.
The Obsep4atory Fund represents accumulated small donatlons and
fundraising actiwties. carried out within RAG. and currently identlfied and held
wilhin the Business Community Account.
Now the main constnKtrJn is complete it Is the purpose of these monies to
forni a basis to fund the malntenance of the building. and for which further
grants for sp8crfic issues. and rtems ot 8quipment. will be applied for, and
added. Such granls will be hekl in the Active Saver Account, and th8 intemal
donations also Ylill be transferred from the Business Communty Account to
th8 AS Account.
3.a)
Cu￿ently. RAG has a small amount of equipment as assets.
In addilion, for the public tEnefft. RAG'S intentions have been realised - to
build an Observatory with an attached Warm Room in which to present
courses and meetings for varlous Community Groups, schools, scoutslguides.
etc." and the provision of storage faalities to be able to build up a bank of
training equipment for 'hands on, experiènce.

RAG hosted the Grand Opening of The Peter Bolas Observatory on 14th
March, 2020. This marf(ed the culmination of a n￿lOr fundraising inttialive thal
began in 2014.
b)
Stage one fundraising targets were achleved. and Contractors began
construction of the Observatory in November 2018. RAG took possession of
the building on schedule in late SpriThJ 2019
12th April, 2019. Since
'handover of the 'shell', RAG Members have given a significant amounl of
voluntary hours. carrylng out various external works, and fitting out the internal
areas compnsing t)ome, Wann RcM)m. and storage facilities. Following the
prolonged shutdown. once COVKI restridions were eased. in the latter quarter
of 2021, and throughout 2022. more volunteer hours were spent worklng on
the shutter and camera set-ups. Maintenance work has continued in 2023,
carried out by Members in a voluntary Capacty.
RAG agreod a contract wlth the Contractor for payment for the build to be on
a Stage Payment basis. This was o)mpleted in Apn'l 2019. At this time Ihe
remaining lunding was rK>t sufficient to purchase a suitable Mount to be
instslled in the Dome to cary Ihè two telescop8s. RAG relied on an EQ6
Mount on k)an from one of its Members.
This year, 2023, RAG has raised sufficient funding io purchase a more robust
Ea8 Mount for £1.100 that, although secondhand, had not been prewously
used by the original owner. This purchase 18 recorded under 'Other' In
Designated Expendrture.
d)
RAG has an agreed Lease with South Derbyshiro District Council {SDDCI for
the land on which the building stands. This is being paid annually at a
peppercom rale of £1. The fifth payment to SDDC was made in October 2023.
4.a)
Assets, recognised but not valued irMIMdualty in Ihe Statement of Accounts,
have an approximale vdue of £2.5CK).
b)
Th888 comprfse Items ol SeCAJndharKI equlpm8nL namety various types of
telescope and a sele¢lion of other smaller ft8ms of equipment that go with
these telescopes. The items vary in corKlition and age. They have been
acquired, 'ad hr￿., over the period of Iwenty four years the Club has been in
existence, donated by Club members or their relatives. and by the General
Publlc.
Currenlly, these Items are belrKJ 'stored' by named members of the
Commlttee, manly by the Equlpment Manager, who hokls the definttlve Ilst,
and within the Observatory.
d}
As th888 items have not been '8el&X8d' regardirs their suitabilty lor Training
purposes, for use to Pfovide 'hands on, &xp8rience in publlc groups. or as
items suitably easy to set up to enatAe them to be used as 'Loan' ttems for
members new to Astror￿my- in 2018 th8 Trustees. having due regard to the
public benerc and to rationalise the situation. agreed the following:
to mandate the Equipment Manager to carry out an audit lo identrfy items
that are either to b8 retained. or that are surplus to requirement and need
to be disposed of. and to receive the resuts of this audit al a future
Twstees, MeetirvJ. The results of this Audtt W8ra recerved by the Trustees
at their Meeting in February 2019.

to agree the disposal of the idenlTfied it8ms, with due regard to RAG'S
Equipment Developmerrt Plan. folk)wing the financid pr(￿edureS as
set out in the 'Delegation of Powers, for the FIAG Committee i.e. delegated
responsibilities for saWpurchas8s of iteffls £100 and bak)w.
to receive a Draft 'Policy for the Accepiance of ftems of Equipment that are
Offered as a Donab'on or Option to Purchase.. This Policy was rece￿ed
accepted. and fomialised at their MeetirKJ in February 2019.
Sales of un8uilable items identified in th8 Audit have laken place in 2023 -
idenlrfied as 'Sale of Okl Equipment..
RAG TAR 2023