16th January 2024
Huddersfield Astronomy Society
Trustees Annual Report 2022-23
The Huddersfield Astronomy Society is registered as a CIO in England. Our registration number is 1178943.
Our registered address is 14 Southlands Kirkheaton.
HAS was founded on 22[nd] November 2018 taking over the assets and responsibilities of a previous unincorporated association, the Huddersfield Astronomical & Philosophical Society [registered as a charity in the UK registration number 507817].
Trustees
The following personnel are currently registered as Trustees of HAS:
| Robert Williams | Robert Williams | President HAS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gain Lee | Observatory Director | HAS | |
| Susan Mary Wylie | Secretary HAS | ||
| Justine Brown | Digital Content administrator HAS | ||
| Dereck Tasker | HRUFC member | ||
| As some of the Trustees have now served a 3-year term since the formation of HAS as a CIO, they | |||
| are duly available for re-election as Trustees at the | 2023 AGM, which took place on 16thJanuary | ||
| 2024. |
Robert Williams offered to resign in rotation and at the AGM on 16[th] January 2024 was duly reelected as a Trustee by unanimous vote
Organisational Structure
HAS operates with a group of Trustees – as listed above – who are responsible for ensuring that HAS meets its aims and objectives.
Presently [January 2024] we operate with trustees who volunteered from within the membership of HAS. It is our intention to recruit new Trustees from outside our Organisation, in accordance with our Constitution, as we develop deeper links with partner organisations.
The current Trustees are also members of the Society's Committee.
During the period June 2022 to June 2023 HAS resumed most of its face to face meetings as COVID restrictions allowed.
In addition the Trustees agreed to set up and run a digital messaging service so that decisions requiring a quick resolution could be performed as well as a better means to communicate important activities that the organisation wished to undertake.
Since November 2019 we have continued to build partnerships with two other organisations as detailed below:
a) The Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club based a Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, HD4 6EN, who we hire a room from to provide facilities to hold meetings and from where we run a Introductory Astronomy Course at least one per year. We have made a commitment to this organisation to continue to utilise their premises for our Meetings for the next 12 months at the minimum.
b) YWT Stirley, Hall Bower, Huddersfield, HD4 6RP, who we are starting to develop and observing site with, in partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. In the past twelve months HAS has been part of a number of joint events at the YWT Stirley site and has begun a significant project to install a dedicated observing facility at the site which we hope will be a long term project coming months.
Aims and Objectives
HAS has a defined set of aims and objectives:
-
a) To help facilitate the observing of the objects of the night and daytime sky using
-
suitable equipment obtained by grant funds supplied by outside organisations
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b) To promote the understanding and observation of the night sky by the people of
-
Kirklees
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c) To help cultivate links to community and educational organisations in Kirklees who have an interest in learning about the Night Sky
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d) To promote the aims of objectives of our umbrella organisation the Federation of Astronomy Societies, of which HAS is a full member
We remain committed to these aims and objectives
Achievements and Performance
During 2022-2023, the Astronomy Society made changes to its development plan as outlined in the Trustees Annual Report for 2021-2022.
We have resumed face-to-face meetings and continue to see enquiries about our activities
grow.
We have also undertaken a small number of outreach activities with youth organisations and this remains an important facet of our Aims and Objectives as described above.
We completed an Introductory Astronomy Course in Autumn 2023 and are planning to start a further Course in February 2024 – if there is sufficient demand for it.
This has been key to improving our cash flow over recent months and will be essential to continue our recovery during the months ahead.
The completion of a significant phase of building and installations works at YWT Stirley in the past few months, including a substantial financial commitment by HAS, will – the Trustees hope – have a transformative effect on our organisation as well as The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Stirley in the near future.
HAS has begun a program of joint events with YWT Stirley in recent months, which have significantly raised our profile and we hope to continue and build on those foundations in the months and years to come.
Financial Review
Mr Rob Wylie remains in the role of Treasurer of HAS.
Mr R Wylie has full control of all financial affairs of HAS, including liaising with our financial accountants and as a signatory on the HAS bank account.
We have completed the application to Inland Revenue to be accredited for Gift Aid which is now fully integrated into our accounting system.
We have also broadened our financial acumen embracing digital methods of gathering payments.
Since we restarted Membership fees in Spring 2021 the Trustees are encouraged by the retention of established members as well as an influx of new members from course retentions and interested parties new to the organisation.
We hope that this will help us continue to expand our membership There are no funds held by a custodian trustee.
Huddersfield Astronomy Society Accounts for year end 30th June 2023 Income and Expenditure
| Income Donations Membership subscriptions Lectures, Course fees & demonstrations Refreshments Bank interest Sale of equipment Other income Expenditure Rent Course running Equipment purchase Lecture expenses Public Liability Insurance Refreshments Office costs Accountancy Legal fees Website costs Maintenance Utilities Observation site building costs Deficit /Surplus for the Year Balance Sheet Assets Bank account Cash in hand Tangible assets reduced 10% p.a. Rent prepaid Liabilities Creditors Net Current Assets Club Reserves Federation of Astronomical Soc |
2023 2022 £190.21 £1,000.00 £879.70 £890.30 £2,091.00 £1,736.00 £948.25 £385.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 |
|---|---|
| £4,109.16 £4,011.30 £2,400.00 £2,400.00 £58.60 £8.00 £0.00 £1,224.00 £62.00 £112.00 £30.00 £30.00 £32.00 £28.00 £808.21 £164.10 £0.00 £296.32 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £336.00 £321.92 £1.59 £100.00 £0.00 £0.00 £2,597.76 £0.00 |
|
| £6,326.16 £4,684.34 |
|
| -£2,217.00 -£673.04 |
|
| £13,655.49 £16,177.23 £583.81 £279.07 £1,368.00 £1,520.00 £1,893.00 £1,893.00 |
|
| £17,500.30 £19,869.30 £0.00 £0.00 |
|
| £17,500.30 £19,869.30 |
|
| £17,500.30 £19,869.30 |
Approved by Board of Trustees
Signature:…............................................
Name:….................................................
Date:…..................
Rent
| Prepaid 2020 Paid in Year Less: Creditor 2020 Less: Prepaid 2021 2021 charge s/be Utilities Paid 2021 Less: Creditor 2020 2021 charge s/be |
£1,800.00 £1,520.00 -£325.00 -£1,200.00 £1,795.00?? 124.97 Was the £124.97 included in the I & E 2020? -124.97 £0.00 |
|---|---|
Bank & Cash
| Bank & Cash | |
|---|---|
| Bank b/f Cash b/f Deficit for year Bank c/f Cash c/f |
£18,847.91 £99.00 -£1,817.57 |
| £17,129.34 | |
| £16,923.14 £206.20 |
|
| £17,129.34 |