2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 01 2024 31 12 2024

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To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Durham Bird Club

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1176232

Charity's principal address Rose Cottage,

Old Quarrington Durham Postcode DH6 5NN

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Neil Parker	Chair (27 Aug to 31 Dec)
	Mark Harper	Treasurer
	David Sowerbutts
	Peter Bell
	Jackie Hamer
	Richard Cowen	Secretary
	Veronica Howard		11 Sept to 31 Dec
	Andrew Kinghorn	Chair	1 Jan to 16 July
	Tom Middleton		1 Jan to 27 Aug
	Michael Murphy		1 Jan to 27 Aug

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Constitution (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted CIO (eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods Elected at AGM by members (eg. appointed by, elected by) Veronica Howard was co-opted by the Trustees on 11 September 2024

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

The Grants Policy mentioned in our 2023 Report was adopted

• policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;

• the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;

• relationship with any related parties;

• trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

(i) To advance the study of ornithology and public education in ornithology and related matters, in particular, working within the geographic area covered by Durham Bird Club, that is primarily the area Summary of the objects of the of the historic county of Durham, bounded by the Rivers Tees and Tyne, charity set out in its together with the former Startforth Rural District of the North Riding of governing document Yorkshire. (ii) In furtherance of this, to - initiate research on the birds of the area and to publish the results of such research, to hold meetings for the readings of papers,

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• showing of films, discussion of records and similar matters and to co-operate in national ornithological enquiries.

• • educate members of the Club and of the public about birds by means of talks, outings, fieldwork and similar activities and to encourage public participation in the study of birds.

• promote the conservation of birds and their habitats.

• • work with other organisations sharing similar aims.

During 2024, the Trustees have, in accordance with the statutory declaration, had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and

• 1) Three issues of The Lek were published and circulated to members. The Lek is also available for non-members, who are asked to make a donation.

• 2) Continued support was given to the Castle Lake Conservation Group to carry out conservation works at that site

• 3) Wrote letters where appropriate in respect of Planning issues

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

• 4) Maintained records for its area and produced the Annual Ornithological Report

• 5) Where possible, conducted surveys, mainly but not exclusively in conjunction with the British Trust for Ornithology

• 6) made active use of X/Twitter to disseminate information. It also has maintained two well-used WhatsApp groups and a Facebook Group, open, subject to approval, to non-members of the Club on application. The Club's website also provides a route for members of the public to seek and receive information.

• 7) Particularly through the Facebook Group, has engaged in a number of activities to enhance habitats and nesting facilities for many species of birds.

• 8) Led walks in conjunction with other organisations, in particular a Dawn Chorus walk with Natural England

• 9) Taken steps to erect an Osprey Platform which it is anticipated will be erected on a suitable site during 2025

• 10) Taken steps to celebrate its 50[th] anniversary during 2025

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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The Trustees are grateful to the efforts of Susan Grey in producing The Lek and to Peter Bell and Neil Parker for producing the Annual Ornithological Report and to members who contributed articles or reports for both publications.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

In addition, the Trustees are grateful to John Olley for continuing to carry out Conservation work particularly at Castle Lake and finding a suitable site for an Osprey platform. The Club is also grateful to members who have contributed to Social Media accounts.

• policy on grantmaking;

• policy programme related investment;

• contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The Charity has achieved a high standard with its publications of The Lek and the Annual Ornithological Report. Its work to seek to protect habitats, particularly in relation to planning issues, has continued to be recognised by RSPB.

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The Trustees remain concerned that, while the Club’s reserves are currently healthy, expenditure exceeds income. In order to help save costs, the number of issues of The Lek per year has stayed at 3 and members are encouraged to accept electronic versions. However, at this stage the matter is being kept under review and no further reductions in benefits are proposed.

Details of any funds materially

in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

• the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

• how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

• investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

[R Cowen ]

Full name(s) Richard Saywood Cowen Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Secretary etc) Date 6 October 2025

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Treasurer Annual Report 2024

The Club recorded a surplus in 2024 of £443 on total income of £5,667. This compares to a deficit of £87 in 2023.

The annual income from membership subscriptions decreased by £71 to £4,261. Although gift aid on membership fees and donations increased by £22 to £302.

Income from the sale of the Birds of Durham increased from £20 to £210, principally due 20 copies being sold to Durham Wildlife Trust. The income from sale of other publications was £165 less than in 2023, which was higher than normal due to a sale of second-hand books.

Donations of £298 were received in the year, which was £298 lower than in 2023 when an individual donation of £500 was received.

Interest on bank savings increased by £297 to £506 as a result of improved interest rates on the savings account. Other sources of income were broadly comparable with 2023.

Total expenditure for the year was £5,224 which was £641 less than in 2023. The main reason for this difference was administration costs, which were £752 less in 2024, this was a result of the 2023 accounts including postage for both the 2021 and 2022 Annual Reports, whereas the 2023 report was not posted out until 2025.

Maintenance costs of £146 were incurred at Castle Lake during 2024, there was no equivalent cost for 2023.

The majority of other expenditure was broadly in line with 2023.