The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Central and South Association (CIO)
referred to as Central and South Herts Beekeepers Association (“CSHBKA”)
Registered Charity Number 1186777
Report and Accounts for the period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Trustees Report for the Period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Trustees:
Phill Jepson Chairman of Trustees David Chenery Treasurer Gabriela Ross Secretary Nick Leech Lieva Nation resigned April 28, 2022 Andrew Groom appointed April 28, 2022 Louise Hare appointed April 28, 2022 Duncan Newton appointed April 28, 2022 Steve Smith appointed April 28, 2022
Independent Examiner: Mike Goodhew
Bankers: NatWest
Incorporation and Objectives
CSHBKA was incorporated as a charitable incorporated organisation and registered with the Charity Commission on December 5, 2019. It was established in order to assume the role formerly undertaken by the Hertfordshire Beekeepers’ Association - Welwyn Division ("Closing Charity"), an unincorporated charity. It commenced this role with effect from January 1, 2020 and was endowed with an initial capital by the Closing Charity equal to the assets it then held. The objectives of CSHBKA, as set out in its constitution, are: "to promote and further the craft of beekeeping; to maintain and improve the highest standards amongst beekeepers in the CSHBKA; to educate the public about beekeeping and hive products and to increase their knowledge of the importance of bees in the environment."
Accounts
The Association recorded a deficit of £74 on its activities for 2022 compared with a deficit of £1,622 for the Pandemic year 2021. Income from Training, Events and donations arising from honey sales have improved over 2021 but have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Costs for the year were in line with expectations.
Activities
Activities have increased during 2022 compared to 2021 as the constraints imposed by government in response to Covid 19 were lifted as we went through the year.
Training: Training is supporting our charitable objectives and the annual Bee Awareness Evening and Beginners’ Course are available to the Public. The year started off with the Beginners’ course in March having been held in person again. The New Season Preparation Course was run with the help of members from the North Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association and was also held in person.
There were only very few ad hoc apiary meetings in a much smaller format than normal. The Bee Awareness evening took place in the Autumn.
Apiaries: We currently have 12 apiary sites across our area where we have agreements in place. During the year we have also been in contact with owners of two additional sites and negotiations are ongoing. There is space available at some of the apiaries and it is offered free of charge to members, making beekeeping more accessible particularly for members who are unable to keep bees in their gardens at home.
Swarms: During the year, Andrew Groom has taken over the swarm coordinator role from Lieva Nation. With the help of a number of members who made themselves available to collect swarms, the whole process ran smoothly throughout the swarming season and all swarms could be successfully rehomed.
Raise a Nuc initiative: As a result of the heavy winter losses the Association launched the “Raise a Nuc” initiative which was administered by Andrew Groom. The aim was to encourage every beekeeper to raise a nuc that could then be sold to a fellow CSHBKA beekeeper or to new beekeepers. It was making beekeeping more accessible to members and it did also ensure that we were true to our aim to “keep it local”, reducing the risk of imported bee diseases as a result of bringing in bees from different sources, areas or countries. The initiative worked well and every beekeeper who wanted a nuc was able to obtain one.
Events/Fairs: Attending events has almost returned to pre-Covid levels. The first event we attended was in March at the Welwyn Garden City Golf Club who held a Motor Neurone Disease charity event fundraiser. This was followed by the Welwyn Garden World Food Festival in mid-May, an event that is now being held over two rather than one day. At the end of May we teamed up with St Albans Beekeepers to run a stand at the Herts County Show under the HBKA mantle. We also attended the Welwyn Street Festival and a Panshanger event in June. In the middle of July we participated in the “Folk by the Oak” event at Hatfield House for the second year running. This was followed by the St Johns Church WGC Christmas Fair. It is our aim to support other charities and local associations through our attendance and improve awareness of the importance of bees to the public.
In addition to events, we have again been providing the shop at Waste Not Want Not and Trussells Butchers in Knebworth with regular supplies of Association and members’ honey for sale which provides donations for the Association.
Social Events: We started off the social events of the year with a Bee Quiz Night in the middle of February where members were challenged with a number of sincere as well as trivia bee related questions and in conjunction with the AGM we had a talk from a member of the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our apitour in July as the uptake from members was very low. The year concluded with a pub night in November.
Membership
CSHBKA is a member of the Hertfordshire Beekeepers Association (Registered Charity No. 1184766).
Annual General Meeting
The third CSHBKA AGM will take place on April 18, 2023, at 7.30 pm at Christchurch Parkway, 110 Parkway, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6HN.
The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Central and South Association (CIO)
referred to as Central and South Herts Beekeepers Association (“CSHBKA”)
Registered Charity Number 11846777
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of CSHBKA
I report on the accounts of CSHBKA for the period from January 1 to 31st December 2022 ("Accounts'’).
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts. It is my responsibility to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by CSHBKA and a comparison of the Accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the Accounts, as well as seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the Accounts.
Independent Examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the rdquirements to (a) keep accounting records and (b) prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records have not been met; or
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2) to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the Accounts to be reached.
Mike Goodhew
Independent Examiner
3 Deards End Lane. Knebworth SG3 6NL
The Hertfordshire Beekeepers Central and South Association (CIO)
referred to as Central and South Herts Beekeepers Association (“CSHBKA”) Registered Charity Number 1186777
Accounts for the Period from 1st January to 31st December 2022
| INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Income Spend Net |
2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Fees & BDI Insurance CSHBKA Membership Fees 335 335 HBKA Membership Fees 228 230 (2) BBKA Membership Fees 2,280 2,301 (21) BDI Insurance Fees 375 381 (6) Membership Fees & BDI Insurance Total 3,218 2,912 306 Other Income Education &Training 1,796 Gift Aid 776 Donations 65 Apiary 0 Events & Honey Sales 7,839 Other 0 Interest 44 Other Income Total 10,520 Expenditure Education & Training 604 Administration 969 Lockup 1,765 Donations 0 Apiary 651 AGM 0 Events & Honey Sales 6,882 Bank Charges 28 Expenditure Total 10,900 Net Surplus/(Deficit) (74) |
||
| 310 | ||
| 380 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 45 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 1,911 | ||
| 27 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 2,367 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 1,165 | ||
| 1,490 0 329 0 1,315 0 |
||
| 4,299 | ||
| (1,622) | ||
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31st December 2022 | 2021 | |
| Current Assets Cash at Bank 17,108 Prepayments 221 Beekeeping manuals 340 Current Assets Total 17,669 Current Liabilities 2021 training fees paid in advance 0 2023 membership paid in advance 70 Current LiabilitiesTotal 70 Net Assets 17,599 Charity Funds Capital Endowment 17,961 Retained funds (288) Net Surplus/Deficit 2021 Net Surplus/Deficit 2022 (74) Total Charity Funds 17,599 |
||
| 17,903 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 400 | ||
| 18,303 | ||
| 630 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 630 | ||
| 17,673 | ||
| 17,961 | ||
| 1,334 | ||
| (1,622) | ||
| 17,673 |
These Accounts were approved by the Trustees on March 13, 2023, and signed on their behalf by:
Phill Jepson, Chairman of Trustees