**Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 1[st] October 2022 To 30[th] September 2023** ## **Charity name: The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA)** ## **Charity registration number: 1180875** ## **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
•
Winter conference (December) joint with
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) (hybrid
event – in person and online to improve
accessibility to members)
•
Collaboration on National Quality Mark
Scheme (NQMS) Steering Group
•
Collaboration on National Brownfield Forum
(NBF)
•
Part of the Soil and Groundwater
Technology Association (SAGTA) Category
4 Screening Level (C4SL) Phase 2 Steering
Group
•
Two SoBRA Accreditation Scheme
windows and ratification of newly accredited
members
•
Continued work within the SoBRA NAPL,
ground gases, controlled waters & climate| |||change, CSM and statistics subgroups, and
associated publications throughout the year| |---|---|---| |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:|**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:| |---|---|---| ||SORP
reference|| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The eligibility criteria, application process and
prioritisation criteria for bursaries, scholarships
and research grants 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** ||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
groups where SoBRA was part of the Steering
Group (NQMS, Phase 2 C4SLs, NBF) 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.| ## **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, including the annual summer and
winter conferences, early careers webinar
series, and support of the various working
groups. These have all been achieved.| |---|---|---| |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, scholarship, and research
grant system with which to utilise surplus funds
and are working towards building a sufficient
sum for this to be meaningful.
This year we awarded to bursaries for two
individuals to attend CEN’s Technical
Committee 351, Working Group 5, Technical
Group 51 and to attend and present a poster at
the AquaConSoil Conference.
The society did not run at a loss during the
period and was therefore a successful year| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Not relevant.| |Other||NA| ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end of
the period|Para 1.21|The charity is in a positive financial position.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|One of SoBRA’s purposes is to lead/arrange
conferences/workshops, support learning and
development in brownfield risk assessment and
the trustees have an objective to ensure the
society has money to do so.
Funds are required to pay for upfront costs
associated with the
conferences/workshops/events/support the
accreditation scheme and cover the costs of
events that don’t break even.
SoBRA also has a bursary, scholarship and
research grant 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|£53k| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|NA| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|NA| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern|Para 1.23|NA| ## **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||NA| ## **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 prior to, and
confirmed at, the December AGM.| |**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:| |---|---|---| |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||NA| ## **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 22-Sept 23** |1
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14|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Jo Wilding|Chair||| ||Simon Cole|OutgoingChair||| ||Kate Baker|Vice Chair||| ||Rachel Dewhurst|Treasurer||| ||Melinda Evans|Secretary||| ||Tim Rolfe|Data Protection Officer||| ||Fiona Townley|Website officer||| ||Lawrence Bowden|||| ||GregGibson||Started January2023|| ||Alyissa Glen||Stepped down April 2023
(maternityleave)|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – 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 |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|| |---|---|---| |None.||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **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)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |**None**||| |||| |||| |||| **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details NA ## **Other optional information** NA **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**||| |---|---|---| ||Joanna Wilding|Rachel Dewhurst| ||

Chair|Treasurer| ||1 December 2023|| ||1 December 2023|| ## **Financial Statement** from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 |**Opening / End of 2022/23 Year Balance**||**£42,623.55**|**£30,295.38**| |---|---|---|---| |**Paypal**||**£16,161.60**|**£5,604.94**| |**Income**||2022/2023|2020/2021| |Membership Fees (Not for Profit)||£650.00|£680.00| |Membership Fees (Standard)||£11,010.00|£11,500.00| |Membership Fees (Accreditated)||£3,770.00|£3,335.00| |Membership Fees (Accreditated - NFP)||£175.00|| |Accreditation Fees||£3,740.00|£2,380.00| |Summer Workshop 2022|||£6,050.00| |Joint December RSC Event (50% of profit)||£2,124.63|£1,030.63| |Insurance||£1,000.00|| |**Total Income**||**£22,469.63**|**£24,975.63**| |**Expenditure**||2022/2023|2020/2021| |Refunds||£75.00|£252.50| |Paypal Fees||£747.83|£896.65| |Eventbrite Fees|||£506.84| |Website||£4,823.00|£4,398.00| |Summer Workshop 2023||£143.40|£4,101.00| |Christmas Conference||£95.09|| |Insurance||£206.64|£0.00| |Scholarship||£17,572.00|| |Scrutineering Expenses||£3,630.00|£2,670.00| |Committee Expenses (marketing, travel to meetings)
Support to Specialist Groups||£164.74|£0.00| |**Total Expenditure**||**£27,457.70**|**£12,824.99**| |**Current Balance**||**£53,797.08**|**£58,785.15**| |**Cash in bank at end 30/9/23**||**£47,586.77**|**£42,623.55**| |**Balance on paypal at end 30/9/23**||**£6,210.31**|**£16,161.60**| |||**£53,797.08**|**£58,785.15**| |||£0.00|£0.00| |**Liabilities**|||| |University of Greenwich|£3,682.00||| |Marlene Fees|£1,000.00||| |Pending payments on paypal, see Q4|£75||| |**Available Sums**||**£5379708**|| **£53,797.08** # Confidential