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2024-05-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period:

From 12 June 2023 to 31 May 2024 Charity name: British Neuro-Oncology Society Charity registration number: 1203502

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document		 Para 1.17 The objects of The British Neuro-
Oncology Society are:
The relief of sickness and the preservation
of health for patients suffering with
tumours of the brain and central nervous
system by improving treatment through:
(1) Educating the public in general
(particularly medical practitioners,
nurses, allied health professionals, and
the wider scientific community in the
United Kingdom) on the subject of
neuro-oncology.
(2) Promoting research for the public
benefit in all aspects of neuro-
oncology.
(3) Raising awareness of neuro-oncology
and of treatments and techniques in
clinical practice among the general
public, health professionals and policy
makers.
(4) General advocacy for the interests of
brain cancer patients, their families and
carers.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 • Delivery of the BNOS annual scientific
meeting, held in Manchester from 5-7
July 2023
• Awarding 20 bursaries worth up £300
each to nurses, allied health
professionals, trainees and researchers
to subsidise the costs of attending the
conference
• Contributing £1000 towards the Young
Investigator Award, in conjunction with
Brain Tumour Research, to enable the
recipient to attend one or more other
neuro-oncologyconferences

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• Attendance of BNOS representatives
to raise awareness of the Society at
other events, such as the British
Neuroscience Association (BNA)
conference and the Society of British
Neurological Surgeons (SBNS)
conference
• The BNOS website hosts useful
information about treatment pathways
from patients and their careers and has
free resources for professionals. It also
acts a signpost to news, events,
research and job opportunities across
the neuro-oncology community. There
is also a private members-only website
area with additional resources, such as
recordings from previous conferences
and webinars
• Delivery of the online Patient and Carer
event on the 9 November 2023
• Delivery of educational webinars
relating to neuro-oncology
• Attendance of BNOS representatives at
other charity and professional body
meetings (SBNS, Joint Neuroscience
Council (JNC), Royal College of
Surgeons (RCS) Cancer Services
Committee
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 Trustees have acted in line with the
Society’s constitution and have complied
with their duty under the Charities Act
2011 to have due regard to the guidance
on public benefit published by the Charity
Commission.

Additional information

Additional information
SORP reference
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 The day-to-day running and decision-
making of BNOS is carried out by the
BNOS Council and Executives. The
Council represents the broad spectrum of
disciplines within the field of neuro-
oncology. The Council is overseen by the
Executives (President, Vice President,
Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary
and Meetings Secretary). In addition, to
the Council, there are three Committees
(Academic, Patient Centred Care, and
Student and Trainee) who have additional
volunteer members. The Committees plan
and deliver online events such as
educational webinars and help to support
BNOS’s role as a stakeholder,informing

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the clinical, academic and patient communities about relevant drug and technology developments. They also foster multidisciplinary collaboration and represent students and trainees. Further volunteer contribution is made by the Local Organising Committee for the annual conference. Each annual conference host unit will convene a committee to decide the conference theme, devise the scientific programme, invite speakers, organise the social events and review abstracts amongst other activities associated with the successful delivery of the conference.

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
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 The 2023 Annual Conference was held in
Manchester. This is an educational and
networking event which attracts a diverse
and multidisciplinary audience. There
were 381 individual attendees across the
3-day meeting. 110 abstracts were
submitted. Twenty individuals who may
otherwise have not been able to attend
were supported with a £300 bursary
towards registration, accommodation and
travel costs. Key highlights from the
conference were translated to the online
Patient and Carer event held in
November.
£1000 was awarded at the conference via
the Young Investigator Award. This award
is co-sponsored by Brain Tumour
Research. The award recognises young
researchers who have made an
outstanding contribution to the field of
neuro-oncology in the UK. The winner is
invited to speak at the conference and
receives £2000 in total to attend one (or
more) other neuro-oncology conference
in the year of the award to facilitate their
professional development. Dr Tim
Ritzman was the 2023 winner. He said of
the award “I was honoured to be awarded
with the BNOS Young Investigator Award.
The award was a huge benefit to me, it

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allowed me to present my work in a national setting (at the BNOS conference) and further my clinical-academic training by providing me with funding to attend the SIOP Europe Brain Tumour Group annual meeting and the International Symposium on Paediatric NeuroOncology (ISPNO) in Philadelphia, USA. Without the funding from the BNOS award it may have been difficult to attend this meeting in view of the rising costs of transport and conference fees .” In spring 2023, BNOS Council formed a multi-disciplinary working group to provide a position statement for tissue sampling of brain tumours within the UK. As a result of this, a document entitled ‘BNOS Guideline for tissue sampling of brain tumours: Addressing insufficient material submitted for diagnosis, genetics and emerging novel therapies’ was approved and published on our website. In addition, a lay version of this document was created for patients, their caregivers and members of the public. This document was co-authored by some members of the working group so that the two align. This version also went through the rigorous PIF Tick evaluation. In August 2023, the guideline document was sent to the neurosurgery leads of all the UK neuro-oncology units and the following UK brain tumour charities are supporting and signposting these documents: Brain Tumour Research, brainstrust, Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission and The Brain Tumour Charity.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 The charity held £130,185 in unrestricted
cash funds at 31 May 2024. All income
and expenditure received in the period
was unrestricted.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
statingwhytheyare held		 Para 1.22 The charity holds reserves in order to fulfil
its charitable objects. Trustees are
reviewingthepolicyfor the target level of

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reserves and will include this in future sets
of financial statements.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 The charity held £130,185 in unrestricted
cash funds at 31 May 2024, and no
restricted funds.
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
goingconcern		 Para 1.23 The trustees consider that there are no
uncertainties about the charity as a going
concern.
Additional information
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
anyfundraising)		 Para 1.47 Income is raised through membership
fees and additional revenue is generated
through the annual conference.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts: Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing
document		 Para 1.25 Constitution dated 3 July 2024
How is the charity
constituted?		 Para 1.25 Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions
e.g. election to post or
name of any person or
body entitled to appoint
one or more trustees		 Para 1.25 The current trustees were appointed at
the date of the charity incorporation.
The appointment of future trustees will be
by majority agreement by the Board of
Trustees.

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Reference and Administrative details

Charityname British Neuro-OncologySociety
Other name the charityuses BNOS
Registered charitynumber 1203502
Charity’s principal address The Gateway
85-101 Sankey St
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1SR

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not
for whole year		 Name of person (or
body) entitled to
appoint trustee (if
any)
Paul Grundy Chair From 01/01/2024
Andrew Brodbelt
Colin Watts
Harpreet Hyare
Susan Short

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Paul L Grundy
Full name(s) Paul Grundy Andrew Brodbelt
Position Chair of Trustees Trustee
Date 27 March 2025 27 March 2025

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Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

British Neuro-Oncology Society

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of British Neuro-Oncology Society (the charity) for the period ended 31 May 2024, which are set out on pages 8 - 9.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

As the trustees of the charity 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 charity’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:

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.

Dougal Howard

Date: 27 March 2025 Dougal Howard ACA Member of the ICAEW

For and on behalf of:

Godfrey Wilson Limited

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House

62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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British Neuro-Oncology Society

Receipts and payments account

For the period ended 31 May 2024

Unrestricted
£
Receipts
Donations
99,893
Conference
59,811
Interest
1,561
Other income
25
Subscriptions
15,564
Total receipts
176,854
Payments
Admin
2,434
Annual membership
374
Bank charges
27
Bursaries
6,657
Conference
24,374
Events
48
Freelancers
11,351
Governance
216
Website
1,188
Total payments
46,669
Net receipts / (payments)
130,185
Cash funds at 12 June 2023
-
Cash funds at 31 May 2024
130,185		 2024
Total
£
99,893
59,811
1,561
25
15,564
176,854
2,434
374
27
6,657
24,374
48
11,351
216
1,188
46,669
130,185
-
130,185

All receipts and payments are unrestricted in the reporting period.

During the reporting period, travel expenses amounting to £95 were reimbursed to one trustee.

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British Neuro-Oncology Society

Statement of assets and liabilities

As at 31 May 2024

As at 31 May 2024
Cash funds
Cash at bank and in hand
Total cash funds
Cash funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total cash funds		 2024
£
130,185
130,185
-
130,185
130,185

Approved by the trustees on 27 March 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Paul L Grundy

Paul Grundy - Chair

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