**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: CE025895 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1194213**
## **Report of the Trustees and**
## **Unaudited Financial Statements**
## **For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **for**
## **British Lichen Society**
TC Bromhead Limited Harscombe House 1 Darklake View Plymouth Devon PL6 7TL
**British Lichen Society**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 7|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|8|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|9|
|**Balance Sheet**|10|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|11 to 19|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|20 to 21|
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
This report complies with the Charities Act 2011, the charity's constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
The British Lichen Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), governed by constitution approved in 2019. It was established on 23 April 2021 to take forward the work of British Lichen Society, an unincorporated organisation (registered number 228850), it began these activities on 1 July 2021.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The objectives of the Society are:
- To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation of lichens and their habitats, and to raise awareness of them, including through publications, meetings, workshops and support importance and significance of lichens in the environment.
- For the public benefit to advance education in the study of lichens, especially in relation to those of the British Isles, including through publications, meetings, workshops and support for academic research.
The charity brings together professionals from both scientific and ecological backgrounds, combining their knowledge and expertise with the enthusiasm of amateur lichenologists.
## **Significant activities**
1. The Society publishes two periodicals: The Lichenologist is published six times a year and is a highly respected international scientific journal while the Bulletin is published twice a year with accounts of Society activities, lichen records and information for members.
2. The Society normally organises three field meetings a year and usually at least one specialist workshop for members.
3. The Society maintains a database of lichen records. National agencies and others have a requirement for this information which the Society is in a unique position to provide.
4. The Society offers awards and grants to members to support the study of lichens and lichenology including attendance at field meetings, courses and workshops for students and other workers with limited financial means, principally via the Wallace-Burnet-Gilbert Fund. The Society also provides summer vacation scholarships, overseas members' travel awards and grants for small ecological projects. Grants from the Tom Chester Bequest are offered to schools or colleges involving students in lichen projects.
5. The Society provides partnership funding for projects that are in line with the Society's objectives.
6. The Society maintains a library from which members may borrow publications and a herbarium from which specimens may be borrowed.
7. The Society works closely through its committees and members with other relevant organisations and funding bodies, for example the Field Studies Council, Plantlife, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Natural Resources Wales, the Royal Society of Biology and the Linnean Society.
Page 1
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Public benefit**
The trustees consider they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## Charitable purposes
Of the 12 specific purposes listed in the Charities Act 2011, the Society's work is covered by the following:
- The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science.
- The advancement of environmental protection or improvement.
- The advancement of education.
## Key Strategies
- To publish work relating to lichens in the Society's own and other publications.
- To facilitate the exchange of information among lichenologists by means of field meetings, workshops, conferences, lectures, exhibitions and other means.
- To promote education and awareness of lichens and to support the training of lichenologists.
- To assist in the maintenance of adequate collections of British lichens in public herbaria.
- To develop and maintain databases of information on lichens in Britain.
- To maintain a library of books and lichenological journals.
- To promote the views of the Society on matters relating to lichens at local and national levels.
- -The above information is expounded more fully in the Constitution (2015).
Page 2
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities Education
We have continued to build on the success of our training strategy, backed by a commitment of £15,000 per annum.
The society now delivers:
- Online Chat & Improvement Groups for general topics, for microscope skills and for intermediate lichenologists. These sessions bring like-minded people together to share news, knowledge and to seek assistance from each other.
- Semi-formal online teaching through Lichens for Absolute Beginners (LABs) courses and a trail phase of semi-formal online teaching to help learners progress from beginner to intermediate skills. Members of LABs courses are encouraged to continue to meet independently online to share learning.
- In person early intermediate, intermediate and advanced level courses.
- Opportunities during our Field Trip Programme, including our Winter Workshop, for people to learn from each other and experts.
## Conservation
We have increased our output of consultations on development plans that will, or may, negatively impact lichen sites of national importance. This has been achieved in many cases by commissioning professional surveyors and consultants for field work and/or report writing.
We released guidance on the impact of ivy on lichen habitats.
## BLS Database of lichen records
We have increased public access to the BLS database records by updating our online interactive maps twice a year and responding to more than 150 requests for data and maps. The BLS database now contains 2.6 million records, with 101,000 records added during 2024-25. Promotion of the database and training on record submission amongst members has increased the number of active recorders to more than 60.
We shared our data with regional bodies for the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
## Grants
We awarded grants to support education, learning, ecological work and scientific study totalling £7,913, a 64% increase on 2023-24. We allocated £20,000 for travel support for attendees of the Association of International Lichenologists Symposium IAL10 which will take place in July 2026.
## Publications
We published The Lichenologist volume 56, parts 4-6 and Volume 57, parts 1-3 totalling 35 papers and 357 pages. This included a Special Issue dedicated to Professor Teuvo Ahtii, a world expert on Cladonia. In 2025 we awarded our inaugural 'Editor's Choice Award', which seeks to recognise an outstanding paper contribution, and this was received by Trevor Goward, Darwyn Coxson and Yngvar Gauslaa, for their paper on hair lichen abundance. The journal continues to operate a hybrid publishing model, with the full content freely available to British Lichen Society members.
Edited papers were also published in the BLS Bulletin.
We published nineteen more sections of the Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland Edition 3 (including updates of two previously published sections). This work is freely available on the BLS website and is now nearing completion.
Thanks to the generosity of Frank Dobson's family, we have made digital versions of Frank's Field Keys to lichens on trees, on the seashore and in churchyards freely available on our website.
## BLS Herbarium
We promoted and increased the use of the BLS Herbarium including provision of specimens for in-person courses and for home study.
Page 3
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## Finance
We increased our financial resilience through use of a savings platform, which has resulted in increased income from interest payments. We have engaged a bookkeeping service to reduce the workload of volunteers.
## Local Groups
We have continued to support Local Lichen Groups including advising during the formation of a new London Lichen Group.
## Fundraising activities
The British Lichen Society does not actively raise funds from the public and does not employ fundraising agencies, street fundraisers or undertake telephone fundraising programs. The charity does receive ad hoc donations and legacies from the general public.
## FINANCIAL REVIEW
## Financial position
The income from charitable activities for the year was £143,831 (2024: £191,429). Net income for the year, after charitable activities and costs associated with fundraising was £2,511 (2024: £41,115).
At the end of the financial year reserves were £715,603 (2024: £713,092) with £7,927 (2024: £7,927) being restricted funds.
Profit from the Proprietor share of The Lichenologist volume 56 (2024) was £71,729 (2024: £75,837) with £24,561 (2024: £28,601) being contributed by the British Lichen Society. The current year also includes profits from the proprietor share of The Lichenologist volume 57 (2025) in respect of the two of six issues completed by 30 June 2025. It should be noted that this total income includes £7,731 (2024: £1,971) from sales of digitalised journal content.
## Principal funding sources
The principal sources of funding year on year are Members' subscriptions, the Proprietor's share of The Lichenologist publication and interest from savings.
## Reserves policy
It is the policy of the Society to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves for the Society to be in a position to absorb setbacks and take advantage of change and opportunities and to meet its charitable aims.
It is the policy of the Society to have sufficient reserves to continue for a minimum of three years should sources of income dramatically decrease.
It is the policy of the Society to place/maintain current reserves in 'no risk' deposits platforms. The reserve is divided between a range of accounts so that each deposit does not exceed that protected under the UK Government's Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
It is the Policy that the reserves are deposited in such a way that monies are available without penalty at multiple time through the year to meet BLS expenditure.
The level of the existing reserve is above that of the projected three-year reserve. The BLS will develop a future reserves strategy with the following aims:
- To quantify a target range of how much the Society needs to keep in reserve; and
- To prepare a list of possible actions/projects to bring the reserve into line with the projected target range.
The BLS will seek appropriate external advice where necessary.
Page 4
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
FUTURE PLANS Publications
We will complete the Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland Edition 3. This major undertaking will be the first full reconsideration of the British lichen flora for 17 years.
## Churchyard Lichen Recording
We will extend our plans for a revival of lichen recording in churchyards. Churchyards are important habitats for saxicolous (rock-loving) lichens, especially in regions of the UK with no exposed bedrock.
## Red Data List for Lichens
The BLS is cooperating with the production of an updated Red Data List for Lichens. The BLS has funded training for the three expert assessors who are leading field lichenologists and members of the Conservation Committee. They are now working under contract with Natural England in the Lichen Red List project led by the Natural England Lichens and Fungi specialist, Matt Wainhouse. Species assessment is scheduled to be finished by October 2025, and the project should be complete in spring 2026.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It was an unincorporated charity until 30 June 2021 after which it became a CIO.
The Society's governing document is the Constitution, which was approved in 2019 and came into force on 1 July 2021 with the creation of the CIO.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Trustees are elected at the Society's AGM and serve a period of three years. The President and Vice-President each serve a term of two years. Other Officers serve a term of one year and can stand immediately for re-election.
## **Organisational structure**
The officers of the Society are the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Senior Editors, the Bulletin Editor, Data Manager, Field Meetings Secretary, Curator, Librarian, Archivist and the Chairs of the Conservation Committee, Data Committee and Education & Promotions Committee.
The committees report to each Council meeting. The following report in person to the Council meeting prior to the AGM and at other times through the appropriate Chair: Field Meetings Secretary, Mapping Recorder, Database Manager, Archivist, Curator, Librarian and Webmaster.
Decisions pertaining to charitable status are discussed at Council and voted upon if necessary. Major decisions that involve the whole membership are discussed and voted upon at the AGM.
The Council includes officers and trustees and meets three times a year. The trustees also meet separately, currently on an informal schedule but with a more structured schedule to be introduced for 2025-26.
## **Induction and training of new trustees**
New trustees are provided with the Charity Commission's publication "The Essential Trustee" and asked to read it to understand their responsibilities and obligations under charity law. As members of the Society they will possess a copy of the Constitution and the latest Trustees' Annual Report. The function and organisation of Council is also explained in a document 'Roles and Responsibilities'.
## **Relationships with other bodies**
- The Society is a member of the Royal Society of Biology and is represented at appropriate meetings of this organisation.
- The Society is an Associate Member of the National Biodiversity Network Trust.
Page 5
**British Lichen Society**
**Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risk management**
The BLS is a relatively small organisation with approximately 700 members. Approximately 14% get involved in the administration of the charity.
The largest risk to the BLS being able to carry out its charitable role is the lack of volunteers coming forward to take on organisational roles, particularly roles on Council. This has resulted in a vacancy for Treasurer. Vacancies and role descriptions are advertised through the BLS biannual newsletter, emails to all members, and the BLS's biannual Bulletin which is sent to all members.
A large proportion (61% in 2023-24) of the society's income is generated from publication of The Lichenologist, an international peer-reviewed scientific journal. With the changes occurring in scientific publication this income could become significantly reduced. The society has moved the majority if its reserves to a savings platform in order to generate increased income from interest which will be capable of offsetting some of these publication losses.
The BLS Database is of international importance for the conservation of lichens. The database is held in multiple locations which are updated frequently.
The BLS recognises the potential risks associated with public events, activities, and interactions with members of the public, which may give rise to claims for injury, property damage, or other liabilities. To mitigate these risks, comprehensive Public Liability Insurance is maintained and reviewed regularly to ensure adequate cover is in place.
In addition, the society acknowledges the legal responsibilities carried by trustees. Risks include claims arising from decisions made in good faith, alleged breaches of duty, or errors in governance. Trustee Liability Insurance (Directors and Officers Insurance) is therefore held to protect individuals and the organisation against such potential exposures.
The society maintains a risk register which lists the risks to which the society is exposed, mitigation measures in place, and how frequently each risk should be reviewed.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number**
CE025895 (England and Wales)
**Registered Charity number** 1194213
## **Registered office**
Royal Society of Biology PO Box 33 95 Mortimer Street London W1W 7GB
## **Trustees**
Dr P F Cannon (term of office ended 11.1.25) Dr R Yahr S J King D Wright (resigned 22.4.25) P Whelan A M Cross M N Chapman Dr A M Claypole Ms C J Walker (resigned 20.2.25)
## **Independent Examiner**
TC Bromhead Limited Harscombe House 1 Darklake View Plymouth Devon PL6 7TL
Page 6
**British Lichen Society**
**For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **Report of the Trustees**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Officers**
|**Officers**||
|---|---|
|Dr F Newbery|President|
|Mrs M Steer|Vice President|
|Mrs E Smith|Council Secretary|
|VACANT|Treasurer|
|Mr J Skinner|Communications Secretary|
|Dr C Ellis|Lichenologist Senior Editor|
|Dr L Myllys|Lichenologist Senior Editor|
|Mrs M Putnam|Bulletin Editor|
|Mr B W Edwards|Chair of Conservation Committee|
|Mrs M Steer|Chair of Data Committee|
|Dr J Simkin|Data Manager|
|Ms A Windle|Joint Chair of Education and Promotions Committee|
|Mr R Griffiths|Joint Chair of Education and Promotions Committee|
|Mr G Boswell|Field Meetings Secretary|
|Ms L Mahon|Membership Secretary|
|Mr R K Brinklow|Curator|
|Ms T Greenaway|Librarian|
|Prof M R D Seaward|Mapping Recorder & Archivist|
## **Professional Advisers**
CAF Bank, King's Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA The Co-operative Bank plc, 1 Bolton Street, Manchester, M60 4EP National Savings & Investments, 16-20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT
Investment services are provided by Flagstone Group Ltd, Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EL
Member subscriptions and bookkeeping services are provided by The Royal Society of Biology, PO Box 33, 95 Mortimer Street, London, W1W 7GB.
## **Specific Investment Powers**
The charity's investment powers are conferred by the Trustees Act 2000 and the Charities Act 2011.
## **ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS**
I would like to thank all the officers and members who have contributed to the impressive list of achievements above and for their contributions to ongoing projects.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
........................................................................
A M Cross - Trustee
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 7
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of British Lichen Society**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of British Lichen Society ('the Charitable Incorporated Organisation')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the year ended 30 June 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under section 144 of the 2011 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do 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.
4. The financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
James Groves FCA
TC Bromhead Limited Harscombe House 1 Darklake View Plymouth Devon PL6 7TL
Date: .............................................
Page 8
**British Lichen Society**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**9,641**
**Charitable activities**
4
Membership and promotion of the Society
**42,786**
Lichenologist
**61,135**
Other trading activities
2
**5,854**
Investment income
3
**24,415**
Other income
**-**
**Total**
**143,831**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
5
**4,731**
**Charitable activities**
6
Membership and promotion of the Society
**84,180**
Lichenologist
**44,496**
Grants and awards
**7,913**
**Total**
**141,320**
**NET INCOME**
**2,511**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**705,165**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**707,676**|Restricted
funds
£
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,927**
**7,927**|**30.6.25**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**9,641**
**42,786**
**61,135**
**5,854**
**24,415**
**-**
**143,831**
**4,731**
**84,180**
**44,496**
**7,913**
**141,320**
**2,511**
**713,092**
**715,603**|30.6.24
Total
funds
£
43
37,982
116,580
9,726
26,248
850
191,429
8,713
69,282
67,504
4,815
150,314
41,115
671,977
713,092|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 9
## **British Lichen Society**
## **Balance Sheet 30 June 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
14
**1,371**
Investments
15
**85,295**
**86,666**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
16
**10,927**
Debtors
17
**54,354**
Investments
18
**526,067**
Cash at bank and in hand
**75,356**
**666,704**
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
19
**(44,404)**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**622,300**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**708,966**
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due after more than one year
20
**(1,290)**
**NET ASSETS**
**707,676**
**FUNDS**
21
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,927**
**7,927**
**-**
**7,927**
**7,927**
**-**
**7,927**|**30.6.25**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**1,371**
**85,295**
**86,666**
**10,927**
**54,354**
**526,067**
**83,283**
**674,631**
**(44,404)**
**630,227**
**716,893**
**(1,290)**
**715,603**
**707,676**
**7,927**
**715,603**|30.6.24
Total
funds
£
1,048
-
1,048
4,905
27,684
446,380
283,815
762,784
(47,117)
715,667
716,715
(3,623)
713,092
705,165
7,927
713,092|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. A M Cross - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 10
**British Lichen Society**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the CIO, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The trustees have considered the charities financial position and concluded that, in light of the reserves available and continuing surpluses achieved, there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Unrestricted Income is used towards meeting any of the charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted Income is allocated against resources for a specific purpose.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in furtherance of the charitable objects.
At the beginning of the current accounting period there were eight grants available to members; Wallace-Burnet-Gilbert Fund, Overseas Members Travel Fund, Summer Vacation Scholarships, Tom Chester Award, Small Group Training Grants, Small Ecological Project Grants, Grants for Ecological or Conservation Research & Survey on Lichens and the Peter James Research Award.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
## **Charitable activities**
Costs of charitable activities comprise all costs incurred in the pursuit of the charitable objects of the charity. Support costs, where not wholly attributable, are apportioned between the categories of charitable expenditure in addition to the direct costs.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Plant and machinery - 25% on reducing balance Fixtures and fittings - 25% on reducing balance Computer equipment - 25% on reducing balance
## **Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Designated funds within the unrestricted funds category are amounts set aside for a particular purpose by the trustees
Page 11
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Fund accounting**
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Current asset investments**
Current asset investments are those amounts that the charity holds for investment purposes, i.e. to generate a return, rather than to meet ongoing cash commitments. To be classified as current asset investments the investments must be convertible to a cash amount within 12 months of the year end. Current asset investments are valued at their fair value.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash is the money held in the bank readily available for use and is intended to be used to be meet ongoing short-term cash commitments as they fall due. It is held in either physical form or in a bank account. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are ready convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Therefore an investment qualifies as a cash equivalent when it has both a short maturity, of say 3 months or less and is not intended to be used for investment purposes once it has matured.
## **2.**
## **3.**
## **4.**
## **OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Sales of publications
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest
Current asset investment income
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Activity
Members' subscriptions
Membership and promotion of the Society
Field meeting receipts
Membership and promotion of the Society
Training
Membership and promotion of the Society
Receipts from Lichenologist
Lichenologist|**30.6.25**
**£**
**5,854**
**30.6.25**
**£**
**2,479**
**21,936**
**24,415**
**30.6.25**
**£**
**23,077**
**16,819**
**2,890**
**61,135**
**103,921**|30.6.24
£
9,726
30.6.24
£
3,808
22,440
26,248
30.6.24
£
20,327
7,833
9,822
116,580
154,562|
|---|---|---|
Page 12
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **5. RAISING FUNDS**
## **Investment management costs**
## **6.**
|Portfolio management
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
Membership and promotion of the
Society
Lichenologist
Grants and awards|Direct
Costs
£
**68,700**
**44,496**
**-**
**113,196**|Grant
funding of
activities
£
**-**
**-**
**7,913**
**7,913**|**30.6.25**
**£**
**1,488**
Support
costs (see
note 7)
£
**15,480**
**-**
**-**
**15,480**|30.6.24
£
1,060
Totals
£
**84,180**
**44,496**
**7,913**
**136,589**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
In respect of grants payable, no grants (2024: £3,383) were in the process of being finalised at the year end.
## **7. SUPPORT COSTS**
|**SUPPORT COSTS**||
|---|---|
||Governance|
||costs|
||£|
|Membership and promotion of the Society|**15,480**|
## **8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
## **9.**
||**30.6.25**|30.6.24|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|**398**|349|
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REMUNERATION**|||
||**30.6.25**|30.6.24|
||**£**|£|
|Fees payable to the charity's auditors for the audit of the charity's financial|||
|statements|**695**|662|
|Other non-independent examination services|**3,665**|3,489|
## **10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 June 2025 nor for the year ended 30 June 2024.
Page 13
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS - continued**
## **Trustees' expenses**
Expenses were reimbursed to three trustees for meeting, administrative, postage and stationery costs amounting to £1,940 (2024: two trustees for £773). The charity wishes to emphasize that these expenses were incurred by the trustees in relation to their activities as members of the council.
## **11. STAFF COSTS**
The average number of employees during the year was NIL (2024: NIL).
No employees received received emoluments and/or benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 during the year.
## **12.**
|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
funds
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
43
**Charitable activities**
Membership and promotion of the Society
37,982
Lichenologist
116,580
Other trading activities
9,726
Investment income
26,248
Other income
850
**Total**
191,429
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
8,713
**Charitable activities**
Membership and promotion of the Society
69,282
Lichenologist
67,504
Grants and awards
4,815
**Total**
150,314
**NET INCOME**
41,115
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
664,050
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
705,165|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,927
7,927|Total
funds
£
43
37,982
116,580
9,726
26,248
850
191,429
8,713
69,282
67,504
4,815
150,314
41,115
671,977
713,092|
|---|---|---|
Page 14
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued**
## **For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **13. CHARITY RECONSTRUCTION**
Pursuant to the Charities SORP (FRS 102) section 27.15 a reconstruction from an unincorporated charity to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) took place during an earlier accounting period and was treated as a merger.
The unincorporated charity "British Lichen Society" (Charity no. 228850) was reconstructed as the charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) "British Lichen Society" (Charity no. 1194213), there was no change in the charitable activities carried out and a description of these activities can be found in the trustees report.
The merger took place at 11:59pm on 30 June 2021.
## **14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Fixtures||||
||Plant and||and|Computer|||
||machinery||fittings|equipment||Totals|
||£||£|£||£|
|**COST**|||||||
|At 1 July 2024||**832**|**6,731**||**959**|**8,522**|
|Additions||**721**|**-**||**-**|**721**|
|At 30 June 2025|**1,553**||**6,731**||**959**|**9,243**|
|**DEPRECIATION**|||||||
|At 1 July 2024||**234**|**6,677**||**563**|**7,474**|
|Charge for year||**285**|**14**||**99**|**398**|
|At 30 June 2025||**519**|**6,691**||**662**|**7,872**|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**|||||||
|At 30 June 2025|**1,034**||**40**||**297**|**1,371**|
|At 30 June 2024||598|54||396|1,048|
|**FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**|||||||
|||||||Cash and|
|||||||settlements|
|||||||pending|
|||||||£|
|**MARKET VALUE**|||||||
|Additions||||||**85,000**|
|Interest||||||**295**|
|At 30 June 2025||||||**85,295**|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**|||||||
|At 30 June 2025||||||**85,295**|
|At 30 June 2024||||||-|
## **15. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
There were no investment assets outside the UK. All amounts held within fixed asset investments relate to cash deposited with fixed term maturity dates that mature after one year from the balance sheet date.
Page 15
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
|**16.**
**STOCKS**
Stocks
**17.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade debtors
Accrued income
Prepayments
**18.**
**CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS**
Cash deposits|**30.6.25**
**£**
**10,927**
**30.6.25**
**£**
**42,934**
**7,445**
**3,975**
**54,354**
**30.6.25**
**£**
**526,067**|30.6.24
£
4,905
30.6.24
£
-
25,253
2,431
27,684
30.6.24
£
446,380|
|---|---|---|
All amounts held within current asset investments relate to cash deposited with fixed term maturity dates that mature within one year of the balance sheet date.
## **19. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|**19.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**30.6.25**|30.6.24|
|||**£**|£|
||Trade creditors|**5,675**|-|
||Other creditors|**6,151**|6,151|
||Deferred income|**4,045**|1,000|
||Accrued expenses|**21,323**|30,281|
||Subscriptions in advance|**7,210**|9,685|
|||**44,404**|47,117|
|**20.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**|||
|||**30.6.25**|30.6.24|
|||**£**|£|
||Subscriptions in advance|**675**|2,700|
||Life subscriptions|**615**|923|
|||**1,290**|3,623|
Page 16
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated fund
**Restricted funds**
Tom Chester Bequest
Ash dieback
Database project
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are a
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated fund
**Restricted funds**
Tom Chester Bequest
Ash dieback
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.7.24
£
**682,920**
**22,245**
**705,165**
**3,850**
**4,077**
**-**
**7,927**
**713,092**
s follows:|Net
movement
in funds
£
**5,894**
**(3,383)**
**2,511**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,511**
Incoming
resources
£
**143,831**
**-**
**143,831**
**143,831**
At 1.7.23
£
641,805
22,245
664,050
3,850
4,077
7,927
671,977|Transfers
between
At
funds
30.6.25
£
£
**-**
**688,814**
**-**
**18,862**
**-**
**707,676**
**-**
**3,850**
**(4,077)**
**-**
**4,077**
**4,077**
**-**
**7,927**
**-**
**715,603**
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
**(137,937)**
**5,894**
**(3,383)**
**(3,383)**
**(141,320)**
**2,511**
**(141,320)**
**2,511**
Net
movement
At
in funds
30.6.24
£
£
41,115
682,920
-
22,245
41,115
705,165
-
3,850
-
4,077
-
7,927
41,115
713,092|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 17
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
191,429
191,429|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(150,314)
41,115
(150,314)
41,115|
|---|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated fund
**Restricted funds**
Tom Chester Bequest
Ash dieback
Database project
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.7.23
£
641,805
22,245
664,050
3,850
4,077
-
7,927|Net
movement
in funds
£
47,009
(3,383)
43,626
-
-
-
-|Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
-
(4,077)
4,077
-|At
30.6.25
£
688,814
18,862
707,676
3,850
-
4,077
7,927
715,603|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||671,977|43,626|-||
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
335,260
-
335,260
335,260|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(288,251)
47,009
(3,383)
(3,383)
(291,634)
43,626
(291,634)
43,626|
|---|---|---|
The objects of each of the restricted funds are as follows:
The Tom Chester Bequest is funding for educational projects to support fieldwork involving lichens for students in schools or colleges aged 5-19 years.
Ash dieback is the funding of research into Ash dieback disease.
The Database fund is to be used to cover the ongoing database project costs to catalogue Lichen information and produce a comprehensive database of Lichens and their distribution throughout the United Kingdom (excluding Ireland).
The designated fund held relates to a legacy received from Peter James. The trustees have agreed monies from which should be spent to fund research in lichenology.
Page 18
continued...
**British Lichen Society**
**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Transfers between funds**
During the year there was a transfer between the Ash dieback restricted fund and the new Database fund. It was agreed between the British Lichen Society and the original provider of the funds for the Ash dieback fund that given further spend on Ash dieback research would not be necessary the funds could instead be utilised against database costs only.
## **22. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
Besides those transactions already disclosed in note 10 relating to trustee expenses there were no related party transactions for the years ended 30 June 2025 or 30 June 2024.
The charity received total donations of £320 (2024: £38) from trustees without conditions.
## **23. DEFERRED INCOME**
|Deferred Income brought forward
Income released in current year
Income deferred in current year
Deferred Income carried forward|**30 June 2025**
£1,000
(£1,000)
£4,045
£4,045|**30 June 2024**
£24,137
(£24,137)
£1,000|
|---|---|---|
|||£1,000|
The deferred income in the current year relates to amounts received in advance for the Lichenologist publication. The publication produces six issues throughout each calendar year, once the publication has completed all six issues and it's finances have been calculated a balancing payment is made to the charity and the previously deferred income is released.
Also included in deferred income is £2,725 relating to training workshops scheduled to take place in future accounting periods.
## **24. UNPAID VOLUNTEERS**
As the charity employs no paid staff it relies heavily on the work of volunteers to carry out it's activities. In conjunction with the Trustees they perform a wide variety of roles, including:
- Sitting on the council to decide on the strategic direction of the charity or manage key aspects of the charity's activities.
- Arrange and facilitate specific charitable activities such as field meetings and courses.
- Contribute to the production of the charities publications such as the Lichenologist or Bulletin.
- Other general administrative tasks to assist in the smooth running of the charity.
Page 19
## **British Lichen Society**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Legacies
**Other trading activities**
Sales of publications
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
Current asset investment income
**Charitable activities**
Members' subscriptions
Receipts from Lichenologist
Field meeting receipts
Training
**Other income**
Other income
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Other trading activities**
Opening stock
Purchases
Postage & storage
Royalties & fees
Closing stock
**Investment management costs**
Portfolio management
**Charitable activities**
Lichenologist
Production of The Bulletin
Website costs
Subscriptions
Administration inc. insurance
Field meeting expenses
Training
Grey literature project
Conservation
Carried forward|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
**For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**
30.6.25
30.6.24
£
£
**320**
43
**9,321**
-
**9,641**
43
**5,854**
9,726
**2,479**
3,808
**21,936**
22,440
**24,415**
26,248
**23,077**
20,327
**61,135**
116,580
**16,819**
7,833
**2,890**
9,822
**103,921**
154,562
**-**
850
**143,831**
191,429
**4,905**
5,057
**5,501**
5,432
**519**
674
**3,245**
1,395
**(10,927)**
(4,905)
**3,243**
7,653
**1,488**
1,060
**44,496**
67,504
**12,329**
18,713
**2,395**
4,006
**885**
885
**11,346**
13,305
**25,571**
10,534
**14,102**
12,732
**872**
720
**1,200**
2,605
**113,196**
131,004|
|---|---|
|||
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 20
## **British Lichen Society**
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|||
|---|---|---|
|**For The Year Ended 30 June 2025**|||
||30.6.25|30.6.24|
||£|£|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Brought forward|**113,196**|131,004|
|Grants to individuals|**7,913**|4,815|
||**121,109**|135,819|
|**Support costs**|||
|**Governance costs**|||
|Independent examiners remuneration|**695**|662|
|Independent examiners remn - non-audit|**3,665**|3,489|
|AGM fees|**7,923**|1,282|
|Bookkeeping fees|**2,800**|-|
|Plant and machinery depreciation|**285**|199|
|Fixtures and fittings depreciation|**13**|18|
|Computer equipment depreciation|**99**|132|
||**15,480**|5,782|
|Total resources expended|**141,320**|150,314|
|**Net income**|**2,511**|41,115|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 21