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2025-11-30-accounts

Charity No. 1197656

THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity Number: 1197656 Trustees: Mr M West - President Mr C Cox - Chair Ms J Nimmo – Honorary Secretary Mrs J Brown – Honorary Treasurer Mr P Barclay Mr B Brown Mr J Fell Mrs D Grove Mr N Hateley Rev G Heighton Mr J Patel Mr S Khan Mr R Pearce Miss S Peckett Mr R Stephenson Mr M Styles Mr C White Mr M Wibberley Principal address: Honorary Secretary 88, Northfield Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 1 JG Independent David W Cox FCMA, CGMA Examiner: Chartered Management Accountant Hill View 6, Manor Fields, Bishampton, Worcs WR10 2PF

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Structure, Governance and Management.

The Warwickshire Beekeepers’ Association (the WBKA or the Association) was approved by the Charity Commission on 25[th] January 2022 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It is governed by its Constitution as accepted by the Charity Commission. The Association has been in existence since 1879.

The Association is affiliated to The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA). The WBKA has a core function and eight branches governed by rules set out in Part 2 of its Constitution. The accounting period ends on 30[th] November each year.

Trustees.

The trustees serving throughout the year are shown on page 1.

The trustees include the Chair, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, the President, and at least one and up to two elected trustees from each branch. Appointments are made in accordance with the governing document.

Objects and Activities for the Public Benefit.

The objects of the charity, as set out in its governing document, are: -

“to advance the education of the public and beekeepers in the craft of beekeeping and promote the importance of bees in the environment.”

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the general guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in carrying out the charity’s objects.

Achievements and Performance and Financial Review.

Membership.

There were 899 full, partner and junior members in 2024/25, as well as 114 local members (local members do not have voting rights).

Education and Training.

In 2024/25, the Association continued to operate a successful “devolved” model of Education management whereby the 8 branch Education Co-ordinators (EDCOs) plan training for post-beginners across the county, but the beginner training happens in Branches.

It is hard to quantify the training, support and contribution to best beekeeping practice made by Warwickshire branches; the wider picture of winter branch meetings, bee safaris, apiary training meetings, mentoring and formal and informal training offered by the branches is impressive. These activities not only educate beekeepers but draw in new trainers and volunteers. All the Branches offered winter lecture programmes and Solihull, Shipston, Warwick and Leamington, Birmingham, Sutton and Rugby offered

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Beginners’ courses. There were also taster courses in some of the Branches which generate a very positive interest for a smaller input of time - increasing the supply of both new beekeepers (those who do take up beekeeping) and bee-positive members of the public (those who do not become active beekeepers).

The EDCO group has addressed training and education across the whole County and adds to the offering of each branch. In 2024/25 this included the Beyond the Basic Course, zoom lectures and a Microscopy group. The EDCOs have worked hard at training and the administration and management surrounding that training, including arranging online bookings, maintaining and monitoring equipment, offering Branch apiaries for queen rearing, booking schools etc.

WBKA Beyond the Basic Course.

This two-day event was run at Solihull School in February, and the team of experienced beekeepers ran an enthusiastic and efficient course aimed at the General Husbandry award - but also useful for Honey Bee Health Certificate.

The day was very positively evaluated, the majority of feedback respondents (21) classed themselves as Intermediate or Advanced, with only two beginners, so we hit the target participants for intermediate training. They were overwhelmingly enthusiastic and enjoyed the course and meeting other beekeepers across the county. 85% said they would be likely to enter the Honey Bee Health Certificate and 52% likely to enter the General Husbandry - a real triumph. The workshops and presentations were rated excellent by all the participants in feedback. This is an important succession planning issue as the General Husbandry is required for assessors of Basic and Honey Bee Health Certificate, and to give people the confidence to act as trainers. We had three new trainers - Linda Tuffin who has become a Master Beekeeper, and Graham Franklin and Paul Friend who passed General Husbandry in 2024. They set a great example, did very popular sessions and made the General Husbandry seem possible.

National Bee Unit Days.

This year we ran two days with the National Bee Unit in Birmingham and Stoneleigh, which gave members the chance to update. These were both very well attended and evaluated.

Microscopy Group.

David Bonner, Barry Meatyard, David Blower and Stuart Roberts are leading the establishment of a Microscopists group for the county. The meetings so far have resulted in (prize winning) entries of slides to the National Honey Show!

Winter lectures

The winter lecture speakers included Lesley Jacques (Discovering Pollen) and Saeunn Vigdis Sigvaldadottir (Honey Bees in Iceland) - in February and March.

Module Study Groups.

Dave Bonner has run an online Module study group for Module 1 and Module 3 with very high levels of exam success. The meetings and WhatsApp groups have been extremely popular - and active.

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Assessments passed in 2025 (2024 in brackets).

Warwickshire members achieved the following awards: 40 (30) Basic Certificates 5 (8) Honey Bee Health Certificates 19 (24) Modules (15 were Module 3) 1 (1) Advanced Theory Certificates 4 (3) General Husbandry

General Husbandry Certificates were awarded to:

Julian Humphreys (Coventry) James Thorne (Solihull) Julia Wigfield (Sutton) Alex Wray (Warwick and Leamington)

All the trainers and assessors in all the branches should be proud of this achievement!

Modules achieved 2025 (Not including November 2025).

The large number of Module 3 passes reflects the success of the module group run by David Bonner of Coventry Branch.

Pass Credit Distinction Total
Module 2 1 1
Module 3 9 2 4 15
Module 5 1 1
Module 6 1 1
Module 8 1 1
Total 12 3 4 19

Public Events.

Branches raised awareness of honeybees and their importance by manning displays at fairs and fetes. Members gave talks to schools, Women’s Institutes, Brownies, Rotarians, gardening groups, allotmenteers, as well as U3A and other community groups and also attended at residential homes, open gardens, seed swaps, and a Building Society. Throughout all these events there was focus on raising awareness about the threat from the invasive insect, the yellow-legged hornet (YLH). Below is a selection of some of the bigger events attended:

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Trustees’ Meetings

Trustees meet four times per year, and their meetings (and the AGM) continued to be held via Zoom.

Honey Shows.

Three branches held honey shows, with the largest held by Birmingham Branch in mid-September at Winterbourne House and Gardens in Edgbaston. This show was held over two days and included observation hives, live bee demonstrations, candle rolling, and information about the yellow legged hornet.

The Association’s Honey Show was held on Saturday 27th September at a new venue – St. Mary’s Church Hall, West Street, in the county town of Warwick. The venue proved to be an excellent showcase for the high-quality exhibits and the town centre location provided an opportunity to open the show to the public.

Yellow Legged Hornet.

Nationally, 2025 saw a massive increase in both the number of sightings of this unwelcome invasive insect and of nests destroyed. There were 71 sightings in 2024 but 544 in 2025, and 24 nests destroyed in 2024 against 162 in 2025.

Although the YLH has spread beyond the Dover area, reaching Dorset and London, Warwickshire remains a low-risk area, perhaps vulnerable only to opportunistic ‘hitch hiking’ insects. Two suspected sightings were reported, one in Hinckley and the other at Lapworth. Monitoring was initiated by the Association’s action team, but no further sightings were recorded.

YLHAT team have been monitoring the system carefully and have adopted what was considered a proportionate response as far as public awareness is concerned, concentrating effort on public shows and responding to invitations to give talks including an interview on BBC Coventry And Warks Radio. We have engaged actively with the BBKA’s YLH initiatives and taken advantage of the resources they offered.

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Subscriptions.

The breakdown of subscriptions for a full registered member for 2025 is shown below:

BBKA Capitation £23.00 WBKA Capitation £5.50 Bee Disease Insurance £2.00

So, a full registered member paid a total subscription of £30.50 plus branch subscriptions that ranged from £6.50 to £15.00. Partner, Junior and Local Members benefitted from lower subscriptions.

Reserves.

The Association reserves policy is as follows: -

Each branch determines its own application of the Association reserves policy taking into account the particular circumstances of the branch.

Core
Birmingham
Coventry
Nuneaton
Rugby
Shipston
Solihull
Sutton
WLBK
Total		 Working
Capital
£10,700
£1,500
£1,670
£700
£1,750
£3,000
£1,800
£5,000
£12,000
£38,120		 Reserves
Uninsured
losses
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0		 Specific
projects
£0
£10,000
£12,000
£500
£0
£2,000
£2,000
£10,000
£22,921
£59,421		 Total
£10,700
£11,500
£13,670
£1,200
£1,750
£5,000
£3,800
£15,000
£34,921
£97,541		 Free
Reserves
£16,880
£11,499
£7,942
£3,689
£6,254
£8,108
£1,782
£8,126
£0
£64,280		 Cash
Balances
£27,580
£22,999
£21,612
£4,889
£8,004
£13,108
£5,582
£23,126
£34,921
£161,821

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Correspondence.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary at the address on page 1.

Approval.

Approved by the Trustees on 18th March 2026, and signed on their behalf by: -

Mr CJ Cox Mrs J Brown Chair Treasurer

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (‘the CIO’)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Warwickshire Beekeepers’ Association (the CIO) for the year ended 30[th] November 2025, which are set out on pages 10 to 13.

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the CIO, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act;

or

  1. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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.

David W Cox FCMA, CGMA Chartered Management Accountant Hill View 6, Manor Fields Bishampton

Worcs WR10 2PF Date: 23rd March 2026

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Total Cash Funds
Memorandum List
Land and Buildings
Fixtures and Fittings
Furniture and Equipment
Stock
Trophies
Other
Total Assets
Liabilities
Course fees
Total Liabilities		 Unrestricted
£27,580
£0
£0
£2,710
£0
£16,500
£0
£19,210
£46,790
£0
£0		 Designated
to
branches
£134,241
£28,516
£6,491
£36,090
£7,418
£7,376
£307
£86,198
£220,439
-£1,500
-£1,500		 Total
2024/25
£161,821
£28,516
£6,491
£38,800
£7,418
£23,876
£307
£105,408
£267,229
-£1,500
-£1,500		 Total
2023/24
£154,584
£29,384
£17,761
£29,234
£8,584
£22,539
£480
£107,982
£262,566
-£1,095
-£1,095

Note:

The Association also has 333 fully paid £1 shares in BeeCraft Limited. The Company is a 'not for profit ' organisation and its shares are neither income producing nor tradeable.

The Trustees confirm that there are no potential liabilities under any guarantees given by the CIO, or any outstanding debts secured by express charge on the assets of the CIO as at 30[th] November 2025.

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Unrestricted
Unrestricted
but
Designated
to Branches
RECEIPTS
1) Voluntary Sources
BBKA Subscription
£0
£17,740
WBKA Subscription
£4,603
-£25
Branch Subscriptions
£0
£8,860
BDI Premiums Members
£0
£3,514
Gift Aid tax refund
£0
£5,960
Donations
£0
£1,983
Grants
£0
£0
£4,603
£38,032
2) Trading Activities - Primary and Ancillary Trading (Tax Exempt)
Course Fees
£2,626
£13,724
Events (including honey sales, candle
sales, demos and displays)
£0
£11,625
Hire of apiary sites and equipment to
members
£0
£615
Sales to further members' craft of
beekeeping
£0
£32,884
Advertising income
£298
£0
Refreshments (sales)
£0
£0
Miscellaneous
£0
£2,345
£2,924
£61,193
3) Income from Assets
Bank and building society Interest
£219
£1,467
Sale of assets
£0
£0
£219
£1,467
4) Miscellaneous
Fundraising Events
£0
£1,048
Miscellaneous
£100
£938
£100
£1,986
Total Receipts
£7,846
£102,678		 Total
2024/25
£17,740
£4,578
£8,860
£3,514
£5,960
£1,983
£0
£42,635
£16,350
£11,625
£615
£32,884
£298
£0
£2,345
£64,117
£1,686
£0
£1,686
£1,048
£1,038
£2,086
£110,524		 Total
2023/24
£18,365
£4,747
£8,248
£3,532
£5,980
£1,520
£0
£42,392
£11,996
£12,324
£471
£31,022
£298
£63
£1,608
£57,782
£1,774
£158
£1,932
£781
£339
£1,120
£103,226

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THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

PAYMENTS
5) Direct Charitable expenditure
Members' Capitation Fees - BBKA
Members' Capitation Fees - WBKA
BDI Premiums: Members only
BDI Premiums: Branch Training Apiary
Hire of rooms for meetings
Speakers/lecturers fees
Training Apiary Expenses
Extraction Unit Expenses
Honey show expenses
Training Course Expenses and
Consumables
Demonstrations and displays costs
Insurance
Other educational expenses
6) Other expenditure
Purchases of stock to further members'
craft of beekeeping
7) Miscellaneous Payments
Gifts
Bank Charges
Refreshments
Telephone, postage, stationery
Website costs
Digital subscriptions
Professional fees
Honoraria and Officers Expenses
Miscellaneous
8) Fixed Assets (Purchases)
Training Equipment
Show Equipment
Honey Extraction Equipment
Training Apiary Equipment
Library		 Unrestricted
£0
£0
£0
£0
£30
£100
£0
£0
£1,379
£2,786
£0
£194
£0
£4,489
£0
£250
£0
£0
£4
£30
£274
£0
£500
£0
£1,058
£0
£627
£0
£0
£0
£627		 Unrestricted
but
Designated
to Branches
£18,107
£21
£3,597
£50
£3,583
£2,043
£8,535
£3,255
£3,499
£4,254
£2,079
£1,842
£1,072
£51,937
£30,301
£853
£483
£826
£70
£1,462
£251
£200
£858
£4,946
£9,949
£302
£1,835
£1,071
£1,573
£145
£4,926		 Total
2024/25
£18,107
£21
£3,597
£50
£3,613
£2,143
£8,535
£3,255
£4,878
£7,040
£2,079
£2,036
£1,072
£56,426
£30,301
£1,103
£483
£826
£74
£1,492
£525
£200
£1,358
£4,946
£11,007
£302
£2,462
£1,071
£1,573
£145
£5,553		 Total
2023/24
£18,312
-£6
£3,560
£47
£3,409
£2,540
£8,610
£1,437
£3,889
£6,798
£1,798
£1,849
£1,070
£53,313
£31,391
£714
£394
£1,281
£169
£1,915
£927
£200
£1,568
£4,771
£11,939
£2,128
£478
£539
£2,105
£92
£5,342

12

THE WARWICKSHIRE BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[th] NOVEMBER 2025

Total Payments
Total Receipts less Total Payments
Transfers between funds
Balance brought forward
Cash Funds at year end		 £6,174
Unrestricted
£1,672
-£70
£25,978		 £97,113
£103,287
£101,985
Unrestricted
but
Designated
to Branches
Total
2024/25
Total
2023/24
£5,565
£7,237
£1,241
£70
£0
£0
£128,606
£154,584
£153,343
£134,241
£161,821
£154,584		 £97,113
£103,287
£101,985
Unrestricted
but
Designated
to Branches
Total
2024/25
Total
2023/24
£5,565
£7,237
£1,241
£70
£0
£0
£128,606
£154,584
£153,343
£134,241
£161,821
£154,584



£27,580 £154,584

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