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2021-09-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] October 2020 To 30[th] September 2021

Charity name: The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA)

Charity registration number: 1180875

Objectives and Activities

Objectives and Activities
SORP
reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 1. To support technical excellence in the
assessment, estimation & evaluation of
risks and associated uncertainties from land
affected by contaminants;
2. To encourage best practice in the practical
applications of risk assessment to
support decisions regarding the appropriate
management of land contamination;
3. To facilitate and widen access to the
dissemination of knowledge regarding risk
assessment which will benefit members
and the wider public;
4. To form relationships and work in a
constructive manner with other
organisations and professional bodies
involved in land contamination and
remediation, as well as the environmental
sciences in general;
5. To assist in the development of future
guidance, either through coordinated
responses to consultation documents or by
providing direct input to guidance;
6. To identify areas of future research that
would benefit the assessment of land
contamination; and
7. To co-ordinate and encourage such
research and where appropriate identify
funding/funding partnerships to support it.
Summary of the main activities
in relation to those purposes
for the public benefit, in
particular, the activities,
projects or services identified
in the accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19
Early Careers webinar series

Summer conference (online only due to
Covid restrictions)

December conference joint with Royal
Society of Chemistry (RSC) (online only
due to Covid restrictions)

Collaboration on National Land Quality
Mark Steering Group

Collaboration on National Brownfield Forum

Part of the Soil and Groundwater
Technology Association (SAGTA) Category
4 Screening Level (C4SL) Phase 2 Steering
Group

Two Accreditation windows and ratification
of newly accredited members

Continued work within the asbestos, NAPL,
ground gases, and vapour intrusion
subgroups

Creation of a new controlled waters and
climate change subgroup and development
of their Terms of Reference.
Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 Yes. the trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.
Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit
Para 1.18
Yes. the trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.		 Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit
Para 1.18
Yes. the trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.		 Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit
Para 1.18
Yes. the trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP
reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 The eligibility criteria, application process and
prioritisation criteria for bursaries and
scholarships are laid out on the SoBRA.org.uk
website.
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 There is no mechanism currently available for
social investment, other than through trustee
discussions and formal amendment to the
society financial procedures.
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 The society is run entirely by volunteers whose
activities include executive committee meetings
and conference calls, conference organisation
and subgroup work/support. The subgroups
are also comprised of society member
volunteers. Without volunteers, SoBRA would
cease to exist.
Other NA.

Achievements and Performance

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SORP
reference
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Achievements and Performance Achievements and Performance Achievements and Performance
SORP
reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a whole.		 Para 1.20 One of SoBRA’s objectives is to form
relationships and work in a collaborative manner
with other organisations and professional
bodies. The trustees confirmed SoBRA would
support the groups where SoBRA was part of
the Steering Group (National Quality Mark
Scheme, statistics, C4SL, Brownfield Land
Forum) and the trustees have attended
meetings and contributed to them. The trustees
are actively looking for and are open to
supporting other forums where appropriate.
Being part of these groups has a positive impact
and a benefit to public and society as a whole.
The trustees and SoBRA members have been
building and maintaining these relationships for
several years, creating trust and collaborative
working.
Since October 2020 SoBRA has organised the
following for the benefit of its members and the
wider industry:
Organised a successful summer workshop (held
virtually on 16th June):“Juggling the emerging

contaminant time bomb–understanding the risks” for which we sold 138 tickets Held two accreditation scheme application windows (January and August) – there are now a total of 82 accredited (either RSoBRA or ASoBRA) risk assessors Organised the December 2020 conference jointly with the RSC Toxicology Group and the AGM Represented SoBRA at the National Brownfield Forum, C4SL steering group and NQMS steering group meetings Maintained collaborative working with other industry organisations by submitting an article on asbestos in soil risk assessment for the AGS Magazine (published in July issue), presenting SoBRA’s work on asbestos in soil risk assessment at a CIRIA LACL event in April. The early careers sub-group (formed during 2021) has held five early careers webinars so far in 2021 in association with Ground & Water who has kindly provided their Zoom platform for the delivery of these webinars. These have been on human health risk assessment, controlled waters risk assessment, ground gas risk assessment, vapour intrusion risk assessment, and asbestos in soil risk assessment. Two more webinars are planned before the end of 2021, one on NAPL, and one on the accrediation scheme. The webinars are free to members and non-members and the recordings of these webinars are freely available on the SoBRA website https://sobra.org.uk/resources/early-careerswebinars/. SoBRA currently has the highest number of subgroups in our history (six), two of which formed during 2021.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 The trustees set a number of specific objectives
this year, most of which have been achieved or
were not achievable due to the coronavirus
pandemic.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set		 Para 1.41 Funds are generated through membership fees
and conference fees. SoBRA has a carefully
considered bursary and scholarship system
with which to utilise surplus funds and are
working towards building a sufficient sum for
this to be meaningful. The society not run at a
loss during the period and was therefore a
successful year.
Not relevant.
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 The charity is in a positive financial position.
financial position at the end of
the period
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 One of SoBRA’s purposes is to lead/arrange
policy for holding reserves conferences/workshops, support learning and
stating why they are held development in brownfield risk assessment and
the trustees have an objective to ensure the
society has money to do so.
Some money is required to run the
conferences/workshops/events/support the
accreditation scheme. SoBRA also has a
bursary and scholarship system to ensure that
funds are spent on areas which would advance
and promote the society purpose/objectives.
Holding funds so that they can be utilised in this
way is in accordance with the SoBRA financial
procedures governing document.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £46,634.51
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 Allowance for a ‘failed event’ where an
reserves insurance claim is not appropriate, allow for
bursary/scholarship/research opportunities.
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 NA
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 NA
uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern
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Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:		 Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:		 Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources
of funds (including any
fundraising)		 Para 1.47 Funds are generated through membership
contributions, the accreditation scheme and
conference/workshop profit.
Investment policy and
objectives including any social
investment policy adopted		 Para 1.46 There is no investment.
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 If the membership drops below a critical level,
then the society will be unable to meet its
objective and will naturally fold.
Likewise, if there are insufficient volunteers to
deliver the required objectives, the society will
fold. This is actively monitored by the executive
committee at committee meetings.

Financial risks are considered and actions to mitigate risks are decided during the quarterly meetings, or during meetings/calls convened for that purpose. Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 Constitution (association model)
How is the charity constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 CIO
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more trustees		 Para 1.25 New trustees are invited to nominate
themselves on an annual basis – the number of
new trustees depends on the number of gaps
on the board of trustees (in accordance with the
constitution). Applicants must be seconded by
another member and must provide a short
biography explaining who they are and why
they would be an excellent trustee. Where there
are more applicants than spaces, the whole
society membership is invited to vote (a simple
majority vote). New trustees are elected at the
December AGM.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees		 Para 1.51 As detailed in the constitution. Relevant
matters are discussed in the first executive
committee (trustee) meeting following the AGM.
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works		 Para 1.51 Whilst SoBRA networks with other
organisations to meet our objectives, SoBRA is
an independent organisation to others.
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51 SoBRA works alongside other charitable
organisations on occasions in the spirit of
collaborative working. Should it be necessary,
SoBRA will form a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to clearly define roles and
responsibilities for the delivery of the objective
(e.g. conference, workshop).
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment
Other name the charity uses SoBRA
Registered charity number 1180875

Charity’s principal address

c/o Soilfix, 10 St Martin's Industrial Park, Avonmouth BS11 0RS

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Oct 20-Sept 21

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Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if
whole year
any)
1 Hannah White Out-going Chair Retired December 2021
Simon Cole Chair Role changed January
2
2020
3 Rachel Dewhurst Treasurer
Chris Taylor Accreditation
4
Secretary
5 Geraint Williams Event coordinator Retired December 2020
6 Jo Wilding Secretary
7 Melinda Evans Website Coordinator Started January 2020
8 Jenny Mullen Started January 2020
9 Eleanor Walker Data Protection Officer Retired December 2020
10 Olayinka Ekundayo Started January 2020
11 Tim Rolfe Started January 2021
12 Aliyssa Glen Started January 2021
13
14
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None.

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

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Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole
year
None.
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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held
in this capacity		 None
Name and objects of the charity
on whose behalf the assets are
held and how this falls within
the custodian charity’s objects		 None
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and segregation
of such assets from the
charity’s own assets		 None

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address
adviser
None
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Not relevant

Other optional information

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

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Signature(s)
Rachel Dewhurst
Full name(s) Simon Cole
Position (eg Secretary, Chair Treasurer
Chair, etc)
Date
14th February 2022
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Financial Statement

from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021

Opening / End of 2020-2021 Year Balance (at bank close £30,295.38 £24,037.67
Paypal £5,604.94 £5,187.68
Income 2019/2020
Membership Fees (not for profit) 65 £650.00 £620.00
Membership Fees (normal) 410 £10,250.00 £9,750.00
Membership Fees (accrediation) 61 £3,050.00 £1,450.00
Accreditation Fees 15 £2,550.00 £1,870.00
Summer Workshop 2021 £5,220.00
Joint December RSC Event (50% of profit) £0.00 £1,720.34
Total Income £21,720.00 £15,410.34
Expenditure 2020/2021 2019/2020
Refunds £227.50
Paypal Fees £835.79 £545.24
Eventbrite Fees £421.56
Website £5,454.00 £3,575.00
Summer Workshop 2021 £2,232.00
Insurance £692.46 £632.75
Miscellaneous (Christmas Conference Cake and Decorations) £324.71
Scrutineering Expenses £1,350.00 £3,199.53
Committee Expenses (marketing, travel to meetings) £230.64
Total Expenditure £10,985.81 £8,735.37
2019/2020
Current Balance £46,634.51 £35,900.32
Cash in bank at end 30/9/20 £33,236.92 £30,295.38
Balance on paypal at end 30/9/20 £13,397.59 £5,604.94
£46,634.51
£0.00

Liabilities

None currently, although planning for Xmas Conference

Available Sums

£46,634.51

2020-2021

Year End Auditors Report

1. Non-executive Auditor 2020-2021

My name is Simon Firth and I have volunteered to audit the Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) accounts for the period 1st October 2020 - 30th September 2021. This is my second year as auditor for SoBRA but I have previously served a seven year term (2009-2015) on the SoBRA Executive Committee in the roles of Secretary and Chair for the Society. As the owner and sole director of Firth Consultants Limited, I regularly scrutinise accounts.

2. Documents submitted for audit

The following documents have been submitted by SoBRA's Treasurer Rachel Dewhurst for scrutiny in 2021:

3. Audit process

The audit has been carried out through the reconciliation of account spreadsheets with bank statements, invoices and other documentation as outlined above.

4. Audit findings

The income and balance spreadsheet presents current account entries and PayPal activity in an easy to audit format. Documents scrutinised correlate with the balance sheets submitted for audit. The manner in which documents have been produced and managed would appear to be in accordance with the Financial Procedures of SoBRA.

5. Declaration

The declaration below is provided in recognition of the audited accounts for SoBRA for the year ending 30th September 2021. I confirm that the records are correct and comply with SoBRA's procedures.

Please note this audit is a 'good will' informal audit, undertaken in order to verify the approximate status of SoBRA accounts. This audit is not intended to constitute a formal accounts audit for submission in relation to tax. Any such audit should be undertaken by a specialist accountancy practitioner.

I the undersigned, certify that the account documentation viewed for the Society of Brownfield Risk
Assessment appears to be a correct record and complywith the Financial Procedures of SoBRA		 I the undersigned, certify that the account documentation viewed for the Society of Brownfield Risk
Assessment appears to be a correct record and complywith the Financial Procedures of SoBRA		 I the undersigned, certify that the account documentation viewed for the Society of Brownfield Risk
Assessment appears to be a correct record and complywith the Financial Procedures of SoBRA		 I the undersigned, certify that the account documentation viewed for the Society of Brownfield Risk
Assessment appears to be a correct record and complywith the Financial Procedures of SoBRA
Non-executive Auditor Signature Print Name Date
Simon Firth 22 November 2021