Trustees’ Annual Report 2023-24
Newcastle Philosophy Society (NPS)
Reporting period: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
Please note that this report was produced after the reporting period by a board of trustees who were not involved as trustees during the reporting period. No report was submitted by previous boards of trustees for this reporting period. We have largely drawn upon archived material including email communication, social media advertisement, and minutes of meetings.
Objectives and activities
The objective of the NPS is “to advance the education of the general public in the North of England in the field of philosophy”, as noted in its Constitution. It does this through running and promoting public philosophy events.
The following discussion groups were active during at least some part of the reporting period: Tuesday Night Discussion (later known as Dramatic Discussions ) (weekly), Deep Dive (bi-monthly), Film Discussion (one-off).
In addition, the NPS staged a panel discussion at the Great North Night event (Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne), with NPS members as panellists.
Achievements and performance
In addition to the above groups and panel discussion event, an Annual General Meeting was held in June 2023. At this the NPS Chair noted the “conflicts and difficulties” that had occurred within the Society over previous years, and called for a “peaceful way forward for all”. A plan was made for a mechanism for the election of new trustees, with an Extraordinary General Meeting planned for September 2023. However, this meeting did not occur during the reporting period. Moreover, for the second year running no funding was obtained.
Financial review
There was no income during the reporting period. Expenditure was £360.48, and accounted for by subscriptions to Zoom and Meetup. The total amount of money in the NPS bank account was £4,893.71 at the start of the reporting period and £4,533.23 at the end of it.
Structure, governance and management
The NPS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a board of trustees. Trustees are appointed either at a General Meeting following a vote of members present or co-opted by the existing trustees.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name: Newcastle Philosophy Society
Charity Number: 1180305
Persons identified as serving as trustees during the reporting period: Donald Forbes, Georgiana Varna, Chandra Vemury.
Exemptions from disclosure: not applicable.
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others: not applicable.
Signed by Michael Boggon on behalf of the trustees, 24/02/2025