HERTFORD AND WARE BEEKEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION CIO
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Registered Charity No: 1187139
www.HWBees.org.uk
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@HWBeekeepers
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Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Chair's Report
2022 was a mixed year for our Members. We had an exceptionally long and hot summer and many Members harvested bumper crops of honey. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch many swarms to meet the demand from Members and the harsh weather in December led to several Members losing their colonies, leaving many starting from zero this year. Let’s hope that we manage to develop some thriving colonies this year!
Our Association thrives because of the Members who volunteer their time to help organise or take part in events. I would like to extend my personal thanks to everyone who helped last year and for your continued support and enthusiasm.
John Daffern, Chair
Member Communication: Our WhatsApp group is always active with Members posing questions, sharing ideas and helping each other. If you’re not already in the group, please let us know and we will add you. It would be great of we could run more talks, activities and social events in 2023 than we did last year. If there’s an area of beekeeping that you’d like to understand better, or you’ve got some skills or experience that you can share with our members, please let me know by email or on the WhatsApp group.
Equipment: We have an assortment of equipment which is free for Members to borrow. In 2022 we added to our resources by purchasing an oxalic acid vaporiser, a wax melter for making candles and some children’s bee suits. These are in addition to the adult bee suits, manual 2 frame extractor and electric 12 frame extractor and uncapping tray with knife. You only have to ask!
Membership: Our regular membership stayed static, starting and ending the year on 55 members. Our total membership, including those Members who take the Beginners' Course and opt to remain as country members for the duration of the year, declined from 68 to 61 members.
Training: Training of beekeepers is at the heart of our activities, to keep our established membership refreshed and to share knowledge and in particular to welcome newcomers to beekeeping. We held two beginners' training courses, with 13 attendees, early in the season and as a result welcomed some new Members. We will run another introduction course this year and already have a list of people wanting to attend.
Farmers Markets: We set up stall at the Hertford Farmers' Market every month and 4 times a year at Ware Southern Maltings. These events not only provide an outlet for Members to sell surplus honey and bee produce such as candles, but an important opportunity to talk to the public about bees. Lots of people are very happy to engage in conversation and learn about bees as well as buying our excellent produce.
Basia prepares to welcome the public at Ware Southern Maltings
Jane Rowley supervises "Draw a Bee on a Nuc" at the Jubilee Event; the bees watch.
Public Engagement: We aim to engage with the public to share our enthusiasm for bees, and to promote their importance to the environment. In 2022, we took part in two very successful public events; in June we attended the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee event at Hertford Castle and in July we attended the Ware Festival, back for the first time since 2019. In addition to sellling honey, we had colouring activities for children and an observation hive of live bees, which was very effective at drawing people in to initiate bee chat. The events were very well attended and we had lots of interesting conversations with people interested in bees and the environment. In November we were at the Hertford Christmas Gala for the first time, a very busy event on a dark and chilly evening.
The Mayor vists us at the Jubilee Event
Apiaries: We have two apiaries, one in Essendon and one in Hertford Heath. We have some club hives at Essendon which we use for training and these also provide honey which raises funds for the Association. If you’d like to keep bees at one of the apiaries, please get in touch.
Social: I was grateful to Paul and Alison Cassidy for hosting a garden party for the Association again this year. The honey tasting was very popular this year (well done Bill Hamilton!) and it was a great opportunity for Members to meet and share beekeeping hints and tips.
And finally: I would like to extend my thanks to my fellow Committee members and trustees who give their time to keep HWBKA going, and to the other Members who volunteer to help setting up our market stall, engaging with the public and selling. We are always keen to involve more Members who can spare a few hours to help to participate in the running of the Association; please don't be shy about coming forward! In particular , we would be grateful for someone to volunteer to be the Secretary , a position that has been vacant for a considerable time. I look forward to another year of beekeeping in 2023 and hope to meet all Members at some time during the year.
John Daffern
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Chair
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13 February 2023
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Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Report of the Trustees to Members for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
| Management | Trustees | **Committee ** | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Daffern | | | Chair |
| Paul Cassidy | | | Treasurer |
| Rachel Daffern | | ||
| Oliver Riley(resigned 17 November2022) | | ||
| Jane Rowley | | ||
| Murray Quinney | | ||
| Andreas Simou | | ||
| Brian Thomas | | ||
| Kieran Forde(resigned 17 November 2022) | | ||
| Bill Hamilton | | ||
| Basia Zacharuk | | ||
| Solle Zacharuk | | ||
| Independent Examiner: | Peter Knowles | ||
| Registered Charity No: | 1187139 |
Trustees: The current trustees and Committee members (opposite) served throughout 2022 except where otherwise stated.
Objectives: The objectives of HWBKA, as set out in its constitution, are " to promote and further the craft of beekeeping within the area defined broadly as the towns of Hertford and Ware and their surrounding villages and countryside (“area”) and to advance the education of the public within the area in the importance of bees in the environment. "
Activities: The activities of HWBKA returned to normality in 2022 after the constraints imposed in response to Covid 19 in 2020 and 2021. HWBKA furthered its objectives during the year by running a training course for beginner beekeepers, promoting public engagement through regular attendance at the Hertford and Ware farmers' markets and attending members of the public to catch swarms of bees which were transferred to the HWBKA apiary and then rehomed. Activities are fully described in the Chair's Report.
| Bank: Lloyds Bank PLC Membership 2022 Full Registered 39 Partner 9 Country 6 Social 1 Total Regular Members 55 Beginners' Course 6 Total All Members 61 |
2021 |
|---|---|
| 40 10 5 - 55 13 68 |
Financial: the net assets of the Association have increased to £6,407 as a result of the surplus income of £100 for the year. This is the lowest surplus achieved in recent years and reflects the Committee's objective to operate broadly at a break-even level. To maintain this position the Committee has decided to maintain in 2023 the discount on membership fees introduced in 2022 and to continue to absorb the increase in BBKA membership fees which came into effect in 2022.
Annual General Meeting: The 3rd AGM of HWBKA took place on 24 February 2022 at The White Horse, Hertford; the 4th AGM will again take place at The White Horse at 8pm on 2 March 2023.
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO ("HWBKA")
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of HWBKA
I report on the accounts of HWBKA for the year ended 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 HWBKA and a comparison of the Accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the Accounts, and 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 expressed 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 requirements 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.
Peter Knowles
Independent Examiner
13 February 2023
Hertford and Ware Beekeepers' Association CIO
Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
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INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER
2022 2021
2022 2021
Income Expense Net Income Income Expense Net Income
Membership Fees NET ASSETS
HWBKA Membership Fees £1,517 £1,517 £1,877 £1,877 Fixed Assets
BBKA & HBKA Membership Fees -£1,169 -£1,169 -£1,008 -£1,008 Original Cost £3,091 £2,427
Gift Aid £193 £193 £271 £271 Cumulative Depreciation -£1,739 -£1,288
Membership Fees Total £1,710 -£1,169 £541 £2,148 -£1,008 £1,140 Fixed Assets Total £1,352 £1,139
Farmers' Market & Events Current Assets
Sales of Own Product £492 -£207 £285 £552 -£84 £468 Stock £192 £54
Commission on Member Sales £362 £362 £492 £492 Debtors £279 £330
Event Hire -£382 -£382 -£222 -£222 Cash At Bank & In Hand £4,934 £4,924
Other Selling Costs -£117 -£117 -£63 -£63 Current Assets Total £5,404 £5,307
Farmers' Market & Events Total £854 -£706 £148 £1,044 -£369 £675
Current Liabilities
Training Creditors -£10 -£40
Beginners' Course £650 -£389 £261 £800 -£267 £534 Deferred Income -£340 -£100
Other Training £0 £0 £100 -£86 £14 Current Liabilities Total -£350 -£140
Training Total £650 -£389 £261 £900 -£353 £548
NET ASSETS Total £6,407 £6,307
Other Income
Donations £40 £40 £39 £39 HWBKA FUNDS
Other Income Total £40 £40 £39 £39 Endowment £3,565 £3,565
Operating Costs Net Income
Small Equipment -£224 -£224 -£270 -£270 2020 & Prior Net Income £1,395 £1,395
Apiary Costs -£106 -£106 -£125 -£125 2021 Net Income £1,347 £1,347
Governance -£50 -£50 £0 £0 2022 Net Income £100
Depreciation -£451 -£451 -£468 -£468 Net Income Total £2,842 £2,742
Member Social Events -£50 -£50 -£141 -£141
Miscellaneous -£8 -£8 -£52 -£52 HWBKA FUNDS Total £6,407 £6,307
Operating Costs Total -£889 -£889 -£1,055 -£1,055
Net Income £3,253 -£3,153 £100 £4,131 -£2,785 £1,347
1. The Accounts are presented on an accruals basis, i.e. matching income with expenditure by time period.
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- Assets which will be used over several years are depreciated at 25% p.a. based on the depreciated value at the start of each year.
John Daffern, Chair Paul Cassidy, Treasurer 13 February 2023