2023-11-30-accounts

THE IPSWICH & EAST SUFFOLK BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

First Founded 1880, Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1183025 Via the Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association, an area association of the British Beekeepers’ Association

The Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 1[st] December 2022 to 30[th] November 2023

This is the report of all eight Trustees, not just of the three who have signed it.

The Charity Commissioners call for this report and specify its format.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This Association was first founded in 1880; in 2014, it became a registered charity. On 1[st] June 2019 we became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Correspondence address: c/o The Old Rectory, Dallinghoo, Woodbridge IP13 0LA.

Bank account details: Barclays Bank plc, in the name of The Ipswich & East Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association, sort code: 20-44-51, account number: 10570028.

SECTION A - REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Trustees Listed inalphabeticalorder	Responsibility (Ifany)	Date of **birth **	Contact details
RichardAllen From 10/10/2016	Hon Secretary	09/09/1962	11 Jupiter Road, Ipswich IP4 4NT 01473 719207 [e-mail]
BarryCrabtree From 15/06/2017	Talks Programme & Newsletter	16/10/1958	3 Old Cottages, Tattingstone, Ipswich IP9 2NN 01473 327240 [e-mail]
JackieMcQueen From 22/02/2012	Hon Treasurer	04/05/1944	643 Foxhall Road, Ipswich IP3 8NE 01473 420187 [e-mail]
BarriePowell From 14/10/2015	President & Apiary Manager	03/01/1935	Bristol House, Bristol Hill, Shotley Gate, Ipswich IP9 1PU 01473 787199 [e-mail]
JeremyQuinlan From 22/02/2012	Chairman	16/08/1937	The Old Rectory, Dallinghoo, Woodbridge IP13 0LA 01473 737700 [e-mail]

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Helen CatherineThorne From03/02/2021	Schools	13/10/1953	Offton Place, Offton, Ipswich IP8 4SF 07814 506988 [e-mail]
Jonathan JamesTuppen From03/02/2021	Safeguarding Lead	07/07/1961	Hallfield Cottage, Lower Street, Sproughton IP8 3AD 01473 742862 [e-mail]
SteveWillingham From 10/10/2018	Mentors for new beekeepers	20/12/1955	380 Norwich Road, Ipswich, IP1 4EJ 07521 467247 [e-mail]

Note: We have two other committee members who prefer not to be Trustees.

Independent examiner of accounts: Paul White

SECTION B - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document. The association is governed by its constitution; this was accepted by the Association’s members at our annual general meeting of 6[th] February 2019.

How the charity is constituted. The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Organisational Management. The Trustees of the Association are responsible for its management and control; they aim to meet at least three times a year. We must have at least three trustees and at most twelve. One third of the Trustees must retire in turn at each annual general meeting (AGM) but may offer themselves for re-election. Trustees are elected by the ordinary members of the Association at our AGM. Should there be a vacancy for a trustee, either the members or the trustees may at any time appoint a new one - see our constitution article 13.

SECTION C - OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objects: Working mainly in Ipswich and East Suffolk, our objects are to:

• a. Promote and further the craft of beekeeping.

• b. Advance the education of the public in the environmental and economic importance of bees.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects:

Charitable Activities

When planning the activities of the association, the Trustees bear in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. In carrying out its charitable objects, the association undertakes a wide range of activities. These include responding to many enquiries from the public on a wide variety of bee related subjects, collecting swarms, school visits, shows, talks and demonstrations, advice and help to new and inexperienced beekeepers, classroom and apiary training courses and preparation for national beekeeping examinations and assessments.

All activities are carried out voluntarily by the members. The Trustees thank all those who give their time so freely to help the Association to function. We could not manage without their good will and ready practical assistance; we thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the year.

Additional details of objectives and activities

Together with most of the other beekeepers’ associations in East Anglia, we continue to contribute to the advancement of bee sciences. In conjunction with the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Newcastle and nearly every East Anglian beekeeping association, we supported our third East Anglian Research Student (EARS3) as she worked for her PhD, a study of honey bee nutrition in the effects of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. This work is now complete and we look forward to reading

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her thesis. Another student (EARS4) has begun work on establishing the results of not treating for Varroa.

SECTION D - ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The Association recognises the need to engage with the public and advance their understanding of the importance of bees and beekeeping to them and to the environment. During the year we assisted at the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s Annual Show and their School Farm Country Fayre - and at many other public events, fetes and open gardens. We visited seven schools. We continue to provide expert advice and training to HM Prisons, Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill, and to the Ipswich charity ‘ActivLives’; each has an apiary with several colonies of bees.

Many members of the public fear bees, particularly honeybees in swarms, and seek information and reassurance by telephone and email. Unfortunately, there is also widespread ignorance of the different bee species so most calls are for either bumble or solitary bees. While we have no great expertise with these, we have helped many with advice. Both the Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association and the British Beekeepers’ Association maintain lists of those prepared to respond to swarm calls; many of our members volunteer for both. We recommend there should be no charge for responding to such calls.

The association’s commitment to education and training continues. To members of the public new to beekeeping, we offered our usual introductory course with follow up guidance for learning and practicing the craft. As always, we accept those with no beekeeping experience and offer free training to those who cannot afford the fee. In 2023, 29 people took our course.

We continue to focus on the training and development of our members. Although our mentoring offer for those new to beekeeping continues, in 2023, only 14 new and inexperienced beekeepers asked for mentor support although we had 20 volunteer to be mentors. Beginners’ support requirements range from guidance on hive siting and swarm collection to help with hive inspections. While all beginners are encouraged to work towards taking the BBKA Basic Assessment and to enter the Suffolk Honey Show classes we need to do more to get them to do both.

Between May and August, we opened our Wherstead apiary for teaching every Sunday afternoon. Around 50 attended. Currently there are 4 different types of hive here. Our particular thanks go to our apiary manager for whom this is a considerable commitment.

Module examination study groups continued their evening meetings with considerable success. Several other individuals continue to study too.

We would like to improve the level of expertise within the association and develop competent knowledgeable teachers of beekeeping, but we have difficulty getting the more experienced but less expert to engage. Liaison is maintained with DEFRA’s APHA National Bee Unit Inspectorate in monitoring the health of the honey bee population and promoting good practice. The trustees want all members will take advantage of these services by registering with the NBU’s BeeBase.

Our library of some 350 books and DVDs continues to be both popular and well used by our members. On request, books are sent out by post with the borrower responsible for the cost of return. As last year, thirty are currently out on loan. Suggestions for new books are welcome and new books are added regularly. We hope to introduce a new better listing via the Web so our members can see what books we have and encourage their borrowing.

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In 2017 we signed lease at a peppercorn rent with Ardencrest Limited, the legal name of the Eastern Counties’ Co-operative Society, moved our apiary to Wherstead Park and installed a hut. While relationships between us are good, we have no security of tenure there, we continue to look for a small suitable piece of land we might buy for an apiary; so far, we have not found one.

The overall membership of the association continues to be buoyant. During the year our membership reached 260, almost as many as the previous year. The maintenance in numbers allowed us to continue to engage good speakers from far away; this has enhanced the standards of teaching and training. The general use of Zoom has, however, meant that few are now willing to travel far.

Tim Wilmshurst. a member, has kindly taken on responsibility for organising talks.

Meetings:

Date	Speaker	Subject	Ten Minute Talk, etc	No
7 Dec	Tracey Clayden & Jeremy Quinlan	Wax & Candles	None
2023
4 Jan	Kevin Thorn	"What beekeepers worry about and don’t need to"	Helen Thorne: Women Beekeeping in Uganda: report of Novembervisit
1 Feb	Marian Stephens Theodora Rübensaal-Commandeur	Bees and other insects in my garden Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus	AGM None
8 Mar
5 Apr	Greg Monaghan	The Rose Hive: "One Size Box"	None
7 May	Wherstead apiarybegan openingeverySundayafternoon until August
16July	Safari(an instructional tour of apiaries)south of Ipswich
6 Sep		Auction/Forum	None
4 Oct	RevdDr Sharon Hadley	Bees at HM Prison, Hollesley Bay	Helen Thorne: Beekeeping in Sardinia.See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001f1g4/ stanley-tucci-searching-for-italy-series-2-6- sardinia
1 Nov	Dr Alice Bridges	Bumble bee learning	Chris Stephens: Varroa- ResistantHoneyBees

SECTION E - FINANCIAL REVIEW

As usual, some three quarters of our expenditure was paid to outside bodies, principally to our central organisation, the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA), Bee Disease Insurance Ltd and Bee Craft Magazine. In 2022, the BBKA increased subscriptions by £2 per year but we decided to absorb half that increase.

	2022-23	2021-22	2020-21
Income	31,553	18,919	13,346
Expenditure	30,149	18,084	9,766
Surplus/Deficit	1,403	853	3,579
Cashat bankat start ofyear	22,931	22,089	18,509
TotalCash Assets atYear End	24,434	22,931	22,089

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Gift Aid - tax refund: Our Gift Aid number is ZD09379. In 2022-23 our refund was £1,431.

Reserves policy: The Trustees want to buy land for an Association apiary; we are looking for a suitable place at a price we can afford.

There were no funds in deficit.

TRUSTEES’ DECLARATION

The trustees declare that they have approved this report.

Signatures:

Full names: Richard Allen Jackie McQueen Jeremy Quinlan Position: Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer Chairman

January 2024

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Ipswich & East Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association Income and Expenditure Account For the Year ended 30 November 2023

2023 Income Subscriptions 9,173.65 £ Research Donations 12,903.40 £ Other Donations 140.57 £ Gift Aid 1,431.15 £ Course/Training Fees 1,350.00 £ Suffolk Show 6,302.47 £ Teas & Coffees 201.15 £ Hog Roast - £ Miscellaneous 50.80 £ Expenditure BBKA, BDI 6,213.65 £ Direct Debit Costs 67.29 £ Research - EARS Research 300.00 £ Beecraft 2,550.26 £ Meetings/ Speakers/Hall 987.22 £ Newsletter 5.66 £ Course Expenses 683.33 £ Honey/Apiary Costs 10.79 £ Suffolk Show 6,302.47 £ Library 260.24 £ Bee Safari 391.32 £ General/Stationery 66.20 £ Hog Roast - £ Miscellaneous 50.80 £ Refund 60.00 £ Deposit Account 12,200.00 £ Excess of Income over Expenditure Cash at Bank Start of Year 7,883.40 £ Cash at Bank Year End 9,287.35 £ Deposit EARS account 12,200.00 £ Cash to Deposit Account Deposit Account Cash at Bank Start of Year 15,048.32 £ Cash at Bank Year End (includes EARS) 27,347.31 £ Total Cash Assets at Year End Accounts Examined Paul White	2022 9,255.90 £ 657.50 £ 161.09 £ 1,363.68 £ 1,670.00 £ 5,628.80 £ 34.30 £ 148.00 £ 31,553.19 £ 6,447.35 £ 79.26 £ 400.00 £ 300.00 £ 2,294.17 £ 529.60 £ 9.14 £ 1,344.61 £ 494.12 £ 5,494.40 £ 96.44 £ 60.00 £ 331.15 £ 85.00 £ 119.00 £ 30,149.23 £ 1,403.96 £ 10,048.40 £ £ 7,883.40 £ 3,000.00 12,041.01 £ 15,048.32 £ 24,434.66 £ Treasurer Jackie McQueen	18,919.27 £ 18,084.24 £ 835.03 £ 22,931.72 £

Ipswich & East Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association Income and Expenditure Account For the Year ended 30 November 2023

2023 Income Subscriptions 9,173.65 £ Research Donations 12,903.40 £ Other Donations 140.57 £ Gift Aid 1,431.15 £ Course/Training Fees 1,350.00 £ Suffolk Show 6,302.47 £ Teas & Coffees 201.15 £ Hog Roast - £ Miscellaneous 50.80 £ Expenditure BBKA, BDI 6,213.65 £ Direct Debit Costs 67.29 £ Research - EARS Research 300.00 £ Beecraft 2,550.26 £ Meetings/ Speakers/Hall 987.22 £ Newsletter 5.66 £ Course Expenses 683.33 £ Honey/Apiary Costs 10.79 £ Suffolk Show 6,302.47 £ Library 260.24 £ Bee Safari 391.32 £ General/Stationery 66.20 £ Hog Roast - £ Miscellaneous 50.80 £ Refund 60.00 £ Deposit Account 12,200.00 £ Excess of Income over Expenditure Cash at Bank Start of Year 7,883.40 £ Cash at Bank Year End 9,287.35 £ Deposit EARS account 12,200.00 £ Cash to Deposit Account Deposit Account Cash at Bank Start of Year 15,048.32 £ Cash at Bank Year End (includes EARS) 27,347.31 £ Total Cash Assets at Year End Accounts Examined Paul White	2022 9,255.90 £ 657.50 £ 161.09 £ 1,363.68 £ 1,670.00 £ 5,628.80 £ 34.30 £ 148.00 £ 31,553.19 £ 6,447.35 £ 79.26 £ 400.00 £ 300.00 £ 2,294.17 £ 529.60 £ 9.14 £ 1,344.61 £ 494.12 £ 5,494.40 £ 96.44 £ 60.00 £ 331.15 £ 85.00 £ 119.00 £ 30,149.23 £ 1,403.96 £ 10,048.40 £ £ 7,883.40 £ 3,000.00 12,041.01 £ 15,048.32 £ 24,434.66 £ Treasurer Jackie McQueen	18,919.27 £ 18,084.24 £ 835.03 £ 22,931.72 £