Society For Natural Sciences Financial Statements ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS
For the Year Ended 31 July 2024 FOR THE YEAR ENDED Charity Registration No: 1181964 ion No 31 JULY 2023
Charity number 1181964
SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
| I N D E X | P A G E |
|---|---|
| _______________ | |
| CHARITY INFORMATION | 1 |
| TRUSTEES’ REPORT | 2 -3 |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT | 4 |
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | 5 |
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | 6 |
| NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS | 7 |
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
CHARITY INFORMATION
Charity name: Charity number:
Society for Natural Sciences 1181964
TRUSTEES
The trustees during the year were:
Professor Derek Jeffrey Raine MBE Roddy Vann Geraint Mark Howard Thomas Ruth Jones Susan Crennell
CEO Treasurer
(Appointed 8 July 2024)
ADDRESS
Equinox House Clifton Park Shipton Road York YO30 5PA
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Frances Howard FCA Fortus Limited Business Advisors and Accountants Equinox House Clifton Park Shipton Road York YO30 5PA
BANKERS
The Co-Operative Bank Plc PayPal UK Limited P O Box 250 5 New Street Square Skelmersdale London WN8 6WT EC4A 3TW
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
The trustees present their report and the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Charity information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Society for Natural Sciences is a registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution dated 11 February 2019.
Trustees
At the first annual general meeting of the members of the CIO all the charity trustees shall retire from office. At every subsequent annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire. The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot. The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting. The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The objects of the CIO are to advance interdisciplinary science and education in interdisciplinary science for the benefit of the public, in particular but not exclusively by:
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establishing, upholding and advancing high standards of qualification, competence and conduct
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of those who are teaching, studying or practising interdisciplinary science;
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• acting in an advisory, consultative or representative capacity in matters relating to interdisciplinary science; and
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promoting knowledge and understanding of topics of interdisciplinary science.
ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
CPD for academic members
The Interdisciplinary Science Pedagogic Research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (PedR/SoTL) group continues to operate online using the Society’s Zoom account.
The Society publishes the open access academic journal: New Directions in the Teaching and Learning of Natural Science.
We sponsored a session at the STEM-Horizons National Meeting, University of Bristol (https://ukstemconference.com), June 2024.
These interactions are beneficial to development of curricular in HE Science and to wider society through the improved training of science undergraduates
Society Website: The website has been set up to provide information about Natural Sciences and to accept membership applications. It has subsequently been expanded to allow members to present a searchable public profile to underpin networking opportunities. It has been further developed to host recordings of seminars and outreach presentations. We have set up a LinkedIn group for the Society.
Newsletters : A newsletter was sent out. There are plans in place to expand this. These are of benefit to members in supporting networking and dissemination of information.
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE (continued)
Student Conference 2024: A national 1-day meeting for undergraduate students of Natural Sciences hosted by the UEA. This provides training and networking opportunities for undergraduate students.
Outreach
Talks to Schools: Five on-line outreach sessions in 2023-2024 were delivered through Channel Talent to high school pupils and teachers and individuals. These activities are of direct public benefit in disseminating educational opportunities for students in science.
Accreditation: The accreditation process has been rolled out involving the accreditation of university programmes in Natural Sciences. The process is under review to ensure it is fit for purpose for the future.. Accreditation to verify and maintain degree standards is a central part of the Society’s social benefit.
Membership: Membership is an issue. Four Universities have closed or are closing their Natural Sciences programmes (Leicester, Southampton, York, Keel) against a background of financial consolidation in the sector. On the other hand a new programme has started up at Kings (London) which we anticipate will join the Society.
Membership of recently graduated students has improved but has still not met expectations. We are working to address this issue with the ongoing development of a student council.
Undergraduate members have been recruited through the Affiliation scheme for Institutional undergraduate societies.
Fundraising: Fees from institutional memberships (our main source of income) will reduce as a result of programme closures. The reduction will not impact the Society’s core activities but will limit initiatives beyond this, for example development grants and sponsorships. Fees from individual members are less than anticipated but this has not affected the activities of the Society as they form a minor contribution to current income which has been more than offset by accreditation fees.
The trustees have exercised diligence in ensuring public benefit of activities through their membership of the Main Committee of the Society.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During the year income of £7,240 (2023: £7,664) was received and payments were made of £4,193 (2023: £8,368) resulting in a surplus of £3,047 (2023 deficit: £704).
RESERVES POLICY
The charity’s policy is to retain sufficient funds to meet its own expected future obligations.
The charity’s free reserves at 31 July 2024 amount to £14,527 (2023: £11,480).
Approved by the trustees on 21 May 2025
………………………………………………………. D J Raine - CEO
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024 comprise of the receipts and payments account, statement of assets and liabilities and notes to the accounts.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts to not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Frances Howard FCA Fortus Limited Business Advisors and Accountants Equinox House Clifton Park Shipton Road York YO30 5PA
22 May 2025
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
RECEIPTS Staff subscriptions Student subscriptions University subscriptions Association subscriptions Other income Total receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities 3 Total payments Increase/(decrease) in Bank Balance at 1 August 2023 Balance at 31 July 2024 |
2024 £ 527 146 6,500 58 9 __ 7,240 _ 4,193 __ 4,193 _ 3,047 11,480 ___ 14,527 |
2023 £ 488 147 7,000 29 - _ 7,664 8,368 8,368 (704) 12,184 ___ 11,480 |
|---|---|---|
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 JULY 2024
| Assets held for charity’s use Website - fully written down Debtors Bank and cash balances Bank accounts - Co-Operative account - PayPal account Total bank Creditors Accruals - Independent examiner’s fee |
31 July 2024 £ - 2,000 14,522 5 ______ 14,527 1,236 |
31 July 2023 £ - - 11,073 407 _____ 11,480 600 |
|---|---|---|
Approved on behalf of the Trustees on 21 May 2025
…………………………………………………………………….. R Vann - Treasurer
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SOCIETY FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, on a receipts and payments basis, in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charity Commissioners.
2. INFORMATION REGARDING TRUSTEES
No trustee or persons related or connected by business to them have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustee received any reimbursement for expenses incurred during the year.
3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Accreditor fees | - | 353 |
| Publicity expenses | - | 283 |
| Webinar expenses | 2,016 | 1,872 |
| Independent examination fee | - | 540 |
| Membership fee | 836 | 796 |
| Staff costs | 696 | 785 |
| Subscriptions | - | 176 |
| Miscellaneous costs | - | 15 |
| Insurance | 174 | 158 |
| Website | 96 | 608 |
| Launch event | - | 2,782 |
| Conference sponsorship | 250 | - |
| Student conference expenses | 125 | - |
| _____ | _____ | |
| 4,193 | 8,368 |