2024-12-31-accounts - Bath And Counties Archaeological Society

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2024 To 31 December 2024

Charity name: Bath and Counties Archaeological Society

Charity registration number: 1189630

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To promote for the public benefit the study of archaeology in all its branches.
Summary of the main activi- ties in relation to those pur- poses for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The society achieves these aims by orga- nizing public lectures given by leading ar- chaeological professionals and excursions to study archaeological and historic sites. Members participate in fieldwork projects using the society's own archaeological equipment. Projects include geophysical studies as well as excavations under the di- rection of the society's director of archaeol- ogy. The society provides training and ex- perience of a broad range of archaeological and historical investigative techniques which may be applied to the study of the lo- cal heritage and from time to time organizes specific training sessions in contemporary archaeological techniques. Reports of all projects undertaken are pub- lished on the society's website or in the so- ciety's journal of record Camertonia. Access to society records is possible via the soci- ety's website. The society also publishes a regular newsletter which informs readers of current society activities and other activities organized by local groups to provide a use- ful resource for those interested in archaeo- logical events. The society answers general enquiries from members of the public and works with the local authority to enhance the Historical Environment Record (HER). Additional

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Com- mission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees can confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

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 ben- eficiaries and any wider ben- efits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Activities Excavations continued at Oldfield (previ- ously known as Marston Mill), near Frome, with the uncovering of medieval remains. An excavation was conducted in partnership with the National Trust of the Prior Park Ba- son. A geophysical survey at Cleaves House near Timsbury to identify the exact location of a large Georgian house known as ‘The Fort’. A geophysical survey of Four Acre Field on Lansdown revealed possible Iron Age and Roman remains. In September, we carried out an excavation in Royal Victoria Park, Bath. In July, we had a stall at ‘Bristol’s Brilliant Archaeology’ day at Blaise Castle. Members presented a paper at the Bath History Festival, and we had a stall. External representation We contributed to the Bathscape project and attended meetings of the Bath World Heritage Site Advisory Group. Excursions The society was able to organise a full pro- gramme of visits: Three Somerset Churches (April); Hinton Priory (May); Tretower Castle and Court (June); Taunton Town and Mu- seum (July); Castle Cary Town and Mu- seum (August); Avalon Marshes Centre (September). Lectures Lectures were held on A Career in Ruins (Andrew Ziminski, January); Exhuming Old- field (Dr Robert Heath, March); The Tem- perance Movement in Bath and Bristol (Alan Clarke, October); Medieval Myth Busting (James Wright, November); and English Monasteries from the Earliest Times to 1540 (Dr Giles Mercer, December). Archaeology Online, the partnership devel- oped with Bristol Museums, Bristol and Avon Archaeological Society and Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Soci- ety, held one lecture. Publications Regular Newsletters were sent to members. New project reports were published on the website and together with the Facebook site both were updated on a frequent basis to maintain communication with members. A number of mailshots on specific subjects were also made to members. Committee The Committee held four meetings to plan the society’s business and to review the fi- nancial situation of the Society to ensure

that such decisions were taken as necessary to support the organisation. Trustees The trustees met in November and approved a number of policies and procedures, including Safeguarding. Two new trustees, Tim Lunt and Marek Lewcun were appointed. AGM The AGM was held in February and Bob Whitaker was elected a life member.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s finan- cial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Income was down at £4556 (2023: £5405) but so was Expenditure at £3855 (2023: £4308) resulting in a surplus of £701 (2023: £1097). Membership income was £2856 (2023: £2852). Lectures showed a surplus of £695 (2023: £1099) and Excursions a surplus of £483 (2023: £1021). Increasing costs are likely to put pressure on these surpluses and we may need to consider pricing. For the first time, we received a rates bill for the portacabins at Lilliput Farm used for the storage of equipment. The initial demand was for £1500 a year, but we were success- ful in getting a 90% reduction, paying £308 for two years’ rates. Equipment repairs were nominal in 2023 but came back with a vengeance in 2024 as we had to replace the EDM, £1584 in total. ACCUMULATED FUNDS now stand at £23076 (2023: £22375) and Available Cash of £19564 (2023: £19063).
Statement explaining the pol- icy for holding reserves stat- ing why they are held	Para 1.22	Trustees maintain under review the financial risks to which the charity is exposed. In a typical year society costs would include in- surance, room and other hire fees, subscrip- tions to other organizations, social media and website fees, repairs to and replace- ment of equipment, and other potential costs that may arise as a consequence of the work that BACAS undertakes. The Trustees have reached the view that it would be prudent for BACAS to aim to re- tain a level of reserves of some £5000. Cash over and above the reserves may be used to fund ongoing activities. This policy is reviewed annually. No change to this pol- icy was required in 2024.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£5000 + £3113 ARA grant
Reasons for holding zero re- serves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertain- ties about the charity contin- uing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None identified.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution.
How is the charity consti- tuted? (e.g unincorporated associa- tion, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any con- stitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are elected from the membership.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s organisational structure and any wider net- work with which the charity works	The charity’s organisational structure and any wider net- work with which the charity works		The Society is managed by a General Com- mittee all of whom are elected from the membership. Five of the Trustees are also members of the General Committee. Spe- cialist groups/committees reporting to the Trustees are formed as necessary.
	The charity’s organisational structure and any wider net- work with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The Society is managed by a General Com- mittee all of whom are elected from the membership. Five of the Trustees are also members of the General Committee. Spe- cialist groups/committees reporting to the Trustees are formed as necessary.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Bath and Counties Archaeological Society
Other name the charity uses	BACAS
Registered charity number	1189630
Charity’s principal address	7 Maycliffe Park Bristol BS6 5JH

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Henry Lowe	Chair
Dr Janet Pryke
Bob Whitaker		1/01/2024 – 8/02/2024
John Richards	Secretary
Shaun Wilson
Roger Underhill
Marek Lewcun		29/11/2024–31/12/2024
Tim Lunt		29/11/2024–31/12/2024

– 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	N/A
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the char- ity’s own assets	N/A

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

----- Start of picture text -----
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Henry William Peter Lowe
Position (eg Sec- Chair of Trustees
retary, Chair, etc)
Date 17/04/2025
----- End of picture text -----

Bath and Counties Archaeological Society

1189630

Receipts and payments accounts

CC16a

	Recei	Recei	pts and pay	ments ac	c	ounts	CC16a
	For the period from		Period start date 31.12.23	To		Period end date 31.12.24
Section A Receipts and	payments
	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds	Endowment funds		Total funds	Last year
	to the nearest	£	to the nearest £	to the nearest £		to the nearest £	to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Subscriptions	2,856		-	-		2,856	-
Lecture entrance fees		695	-	-		695	-
Excursion income		483	-	-		483	-
Gift Aid		321				321
Survey Deposits		200				200
Donations		1	-	-		1	-
		-	-	-		-	-
Sundry sales		-	-	-		-	-
		-	-	-		-	-
		-	-	-		-	-
Sub total(Gross income for AR)	4,556		-	-		4,556	-
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
		-	-		-	-
		-	-		-	-	-
Sub total		-	-		-	-	-
Total receipts	4,556		-		-	4,556	-
A3 Payments
Room Hire		835	-	-		835	-
Surveys		-				-
Print postage stationery		68				68
Insurance		457				457
Publications		58	-	-		58	-
Camertonia		-				-
Subscriptions		153	-	-		153	-
Paypal TicketLab		112	-	-		112	-
Misc		176	-	-		176	-
Equipment repairs	1,584		-	-		1,584	-
Website		104	-	-		104	-
Durley Hill exp		-	-	-		-	-
Portacabins Rates		308	-	-		308	-
Sub total	3,855		-	-		3,855	-
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
		-	-		-	-
		-	-		-	-
Sub total		-	-		-	-	-
Total payments	3,855		-		-	3,855	-
Net of receipts/(payments)		701	-	-		701	-
A5 Transfers between funds		-	-	-		-	-
A6 Cash funds last year end	22,375		-	-		22,375	-
Cash funds this year end	23,076		-	-		23,076	-

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
Categories	Details	funds	funds	funds
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	Nat West Bank	22,606	-	-
	Cash	10	-	-
	Paypal Account	460
		-	-	-
	Total cash funds	23,076	-	-
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	OK	OK	OK
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
		funds	funds	funds
	Details	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the	Plant and Equipment @ W D value		-	-
charity’s own use			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
		Fund to which	Amount due	When due
	Details	liability relates	(optional)	(optional)
B5 Liabilities	Unused Grant	3113	-
	Refundable survey deposits	200	-
			-
			-
			-

Date of Signature Print Name approval

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

HENRY LOWE 0710512025