2024-09-30-accounts - Wiltshire Beekeepers Association

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- Trustees Report 2023 24

To be presented at the AGM 28 January 2025

The charitable objects of the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association are to advance the education of the public and beekeepers in the craft of beekeeping and promote the importance of bees in the environment. We have done this in several ways this year.

We engage with and develop the skills of existing beekeeping members in many ways: through courses and exams in Basic Beekeeping and General Husbandry, the BBKA Module study groups and exams, the production of the Honey Bee Times, and in talks both at branch and county level.
Last summer, 11 candidates passed the Basic exam,
- 3 with Distinction, 6 with credit.
Around 24% of the total membership has taken the Basic Exam. This continues to be an area we need to work on next year although it should be noted that the influx of new beekeepers to the membership always skews this figure, as they are not eligible to take the exam for two years.

12 candidates took the BBKA Module exams as follows:

 - 3 passed Module 2

 - 1 passed Module 3

 - 1 passed Module 5 with Credit

 - 6 passed Module 6, 2 with Credit and 2 with Distinction

 - 1 passed Module 8 with Credit

1 candidate achieved the General Husbandry Certificate.

Congratulations to everybody.

We also encourage potential beekeepers.
28 members of the public attended taster days.
There were at least 4 open apiary days where the public could attend.
Meanwhile over 70 people learned how to keep bees in four
- Introduction to Beekeeping courses across the county. Not all went

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on to take up beekeeping this year but may come back to it when personal circumstances allow. Nevertheless, they are now better informed about bees, pollinators, beekeeping and the environment.

At least 7 schools have formally invited members to talk to pupils about bees in the environment. During the summer term, such visits may also include bees in an observation hive.
There were at least 10 presentations on beekeeping to local groups including residential care homes, nursery schools and a Cub pack.
On another front, Wiltshire Beekeepers’ interests were represented at the British Beekeepers Association Annual Delegate Meeting and the South West Beekeepers Forum.
We ensure that relevant information is circulated to members through appropriate channels, including regarding Asian hornet incursions and other National Bee Unit alerts.
Talking of which, in 2024 there were 24 Asian hornet incursions to the UK and hopefully the National Bee Unit dealt with all nests in good time to prevent the new queens emerging. Meanwhile, last January, 14 members of the Wiltshire Asian Hornet Action Team (which we call AHAT) attended the 2nd South West Beekeepers Forum Asian Hornet Conference to learn best practice and prepare for Asian hornet incursions into the county this year. This will enable the charity to support the National Bee Unit in verification and tracking activities as necessary.
At the other end of the scale, we have over 80 approved swarm collectors in the county. They provide a free 24/7 swarm collection service to residents in most of Wiltshire (except in the Salisbury area, where the Salisbury Beekeepers Association provides a similar service).
Calls are made to our Branch Swarm Co-ordinators and sometimes direct to our branch beekeepers.
The majority of collected swarms were retained by the swarm collector; some were provided to other beekeepers.
Along with dealing with swarms, we also dealt with bees in roofs or cavities and a few wasp nests, as well as enquiries which turned out to be mining bees and bumble bees.

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AGM 2025

At the beginning of the 2024-25 financial year, we staged the Wiltshire Bee & Honey Day , which is currently our biggest public-facing event of the year. Around 400 people attended the event.
Held in the Corn Exchange, Devizes, the 2024 event included fascinating talks aimed at both beekeepers and the general public, which went down tremendously well.
There were just under 300 entries in the honey show.
£1,155-worth of members’ honey was sold, as were 3 kegs of Wadworth honey beer at nearly £500, and £239-worth of teas and coffees, while 200 biodegradable balloons on biodegradable sticks were given away to children. Income from sponsors and trade stands amounted to £960. Over 60 children enjoyed themselves rolling a beeswax candle while beekeepers explained the role of wax in the hive to them and their family, and dozens of other children made model bees and learned about pollination from Sherill Percy and her team, after which their parents browsed the stalls selling bee-related gifts, wildflower seeds, honey and candles.
Before awarding cups on the day, the Mayor, Councillor Ian Hopkins, toured the event and spent a few minutes with WBKA President Chris Rawlings learning about how mead is made. The Mayor and his wife enjoyed the Wadworth honey beer and Hive Mind mead.
The show cost just over £3,940 to stage (up £680 compared to last year) but thanks to the various income streams at the show, the net cost was around £980. The show committee was able to return the balance of the £2000 operating budget (just over £1,000) to the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association.
Other public-facing events included assisting in the Bee Tent at the Bath & West Show last June, where members of the public could find out more about bees and beekeeping. Wiltshire members contributed to over £6,000 worth of honey sales. Several members also successfully competed at the show and Wiltshire walked away with 6 Trophies for individual members, plus we retained the County Shield for the Association with the most points. The Wiltshire Beekeepers’ candle display of “Creatures Great and Small” was considered the outstanding Stand/Demonstration. Another highlight

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was the Wiltshire President’s 5 year old granddaughter assisting at a couple of the bee handling demonstrations.

The Field to Food Event , held in conjunction with Somerset BKA in April at the Bath & West Showground, was attended by 1,500 primary school children, who were able to see real bees in the observation hive, get their hands on beekeeping equipment and see honey and wax and other hiverelated products.
The branches were represented in at least 9 local fetes and fairs. At summer fetes this may include an observation hive.
Looking inwards, one branch completed construction of their honey kitchen in which they demonstrate and facilitate honey extraction.
Running alongside the regular club apiary sessions between April and September (weather-permitting), kit building sessions and a wax masterclass were held and there was a walk to discover a local drone congregation area.
We have been able to reinvigorate our County newsletter, the Honey Bee Times, which aims to educate and inspire members, as well as keeping them abreast of what is going on in the other Branches.
The Trustees met quarterly in various location around the county to drive the operations of the charity forward. We continue to work on a strategy and modus operandi to develop special projects in line with our charitable objects.
We closed the year on 30 September with 498 members in four Branches, most of whom have gone on to renew their membership.
I would like to thank the Branch Chairs for their role in developing interest, knowledge and camaraderie at grassroot level.

Sophie Butcher,

Chair of the Wiltshire Beekeeping Association

On behalf of the Wiltshire Beekeeping Association Trustees

November 2024

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES WILTSHIRE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION 1198735 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 0111012023 3010912024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to the nearest Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Donations Membership Capitation Education Apiary Activity County Honey Show Other Beekeeping Receipts Sundry Non Beekeeping ReGeipts 279 8,138 4,455 6,543 2,696 3,471 606 279 18,470 4,455 6,543 2,696 3,471 606 46,432 24,087 4,803 9,187 4,082 3,420 278 10,332 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 26,188 10,332 36,519 92,288 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Sub total Total receipts 26,188 10,332 36,519 92,288 A3 Payments Donations Membership Gapitation Education Apiary Activity County Honey Show Other Beekeeping Payments Sundry Non Beekeeping Payments 1,446 1,446 10,027 2,506 10,474 2,929 5,457 1,657 346 10,844 2,737 13,014 3,846 7,803 2,147 10,027 2,506 10,474 2,929 5,457 1,657 Sub total 24,469 10,027 34,496 40,736 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Sub total Total payments 24,469 10,027 34,496 40,736 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 1,718 305 2,023 51,551 1,718 305 2,023 51,551 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 0610612025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Cat gories Details B1 Cash funds Cash 232 Bank Accounts (immediate access) 48,217 5,125 Total cash funds 48,450 5,125 (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Details B2 Other monetary assets Fund to which asset belon Current value tional Details Cost (optional) B3 Investment assets Fund to which asset belon Current value tional Details Cost (optional) B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to which relates Amount due tional When due tional Details B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Print Name Date of roval gnature /./? . Gloria PILZ

J Sophie BUTCHER CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 0610612025

Commercial in Confidence

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Wiltshire Beekeepers Association

On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages	30 September 2024	Charity no (if any)	1198735

	1 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/09/2024.

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

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

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:		24/01/2025

	Lucy Wood

	ACA Qualified Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

	47 B Fremantle Road, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5SX

October 2018

IER

Commercial in Confidence

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER