## **The British Association for the Advancement of Science**
_Trading as_ **The British Science Association (BSA)**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Charity registration number: 212479 Scotland charity registration number: SC039236
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**Chair’s foreword**
This is my first year as Chair of the British Science Association (BSA) and the second year of our 10-year strategy. I am pleased to report an action-packed period of innovative programmes intended to make science more relevant, representative and connected to society. We maintained a sustainable operating model through the disruption caused at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and our finances continue to be stable.
Notably, we recruited our new CEO, Hannah Russell, who joined us from the Association of Science Education, and I am delighted with how much of an impact she has made since she joined.
The BSA is a national charity that is working towards a future where everyone feels represented in science. Our work takes the form of education programmes; public-facing events and campaigns; grant-making; community-led engagement; and stakeholder influencing, and we have a particular focus on improving equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science.
We have seen great success over the last twelve months and I would particularly like to highlight the following achievements:
- The British Science Festival took place in Leicester in September 2022, hosted by De Montfort University, featured over 100 events across five days including the worldpremiere of _The Compass_ , an installation developed in collaboration with a group of young people from Leicester.
- British Science Week 2023 ran in March under the theme of ‘Connections’. We commissioned a photography exhibition to display in London Bridge Station featuring some of the BSA’s recent Honorary Fellows, including Ade Adepitan, Mona Chalabi, and Helen Sharman, along with researchers from King’s Engaged Researchers Network. School engagement with British Science Week was high, despite several days of teacher industrial action leading up to and during the Week itself. We achieved over 83k resource and activity pack downloads from our website and over 102k entries to the schools’ poster competition. We also bolstered our digital offering for the Week working in partnership with YouTube content creator, TheDadLab and the BBC who ran a special British Science Week Teach Live lesson.
- A record 57,000 CREST Awards were awarded to young people, which represents a significant upturn since the early stages of the pandemic. It also reflects the important role that CREST, and project work more broadly, can play in supporting STEM education and engagement at all levels and with young people from all backgrounds. The BSA’s reach into secondary schools in challenging circumstances continues to expand, as does our work in primary schools.
- 2022/23 also saw significant expansion of our community-led engagement work. Alongside our successful Community Buddies and Leaders programmes and awarding more grants through our innovative Wellcome-funded participatory grants programme, The Ideas Fund, we added a new programme, the Community-Led Research Pilot. Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and delivered in partnership with the University of Reading, this innovative pilot puts local communities at the heart of the research process and invites them to develop their own research proposals on topics relevant to them.
- The BSA also supported a cohort of community organisations to engage with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), through our Highlands & Islands Climate Change Community Grants scheme. Also funded by UKRI, this programme has helped to demonstrate the potential impact that smaller grants and a
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- supported development process can have on establishing new relationships between grassroots climate action groups, their communities and researchers.
- Enabled by our long-standing reputation and the breadth of our work, the BSA has considerable convening power to bring together the wider science community. The BSA manages and chairs the UK Science Festivals Network, which has over 50 members. It awarded grants funded by UKRI to 10 science festivals to innovatively engage young people aged 11-17 from low socioeconomic backgrounds and who have identified as having a disinterest in science and research.
- _For Thought_ , The BSA’s thought leadership conference held in December, gave an opportunity for 100 leaders across business, policy, science and civil society to discuss how science and technology are shaping responses to global challenges, from net zero, to public health, and the metaverse. The event was opened by Science Minister, George Freeman MP.
- We continue to provide the Secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM and prepared to launch a new report exploring inequity in STEM skills by region. The report was published in June 2023.
- Future Forum is the BSA’s youth voice programme, working with 14-18 year olds across the UK to let their voice be heard in science. In partnership with UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, with support from UKRI and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, we explored young people's views on creativity and STEM, and the role of both in solving the issues of tomorrow.
The BSA’s work attracts funding from a diverse range of institutions and commercial partners and I would like to thank all our many funders, in particular UKRI and Wellcome, whose support makes our work possible.
A Royal Charter organisation, the BSA sadly lost its Patron, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was a keen supporter of our work.
I would also like to thank our departing trustees, Kafui Tay and Raj Jethwa, for their commitment to the organisation over the last few years and to welcome Sarah Chaytor, Phil Smith and Kevin Coutinho as new trustees. I would also like to extend a warm welcome and thanks for her inspiring energy and commitment to our President for the year, Anne Marie Imafidon.
We have a strong executive team and I pay tribute to our former Chief Executive, Katherine Mathieson, who left in April 2022, and thank Amy MacLaren and Gill Riches who led the organisation on an interim basis before Hannah Russell, joined as our new CEO in October 2022.
As we look ahead to 2024, we will review our impact and objectives and how we are delivering against our 10-year strategy. The voice of our audiences and beneficiaries will become remain paramount as we decide on our next steps. We move forward into the new financial year with healthy reserves, a high performing staff team, refreshed governance and successful programmes that are having a demonstrable impact on people’s connection to and engagement with science. We continuously evolve and improve our programmes and have exciting plans for the years ahead.
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**Summary**
The British Science Association (BSA) exists to ensure that all of society is represented in science. We do this through our education work; public facing events and campaigns; grantmaking; community-led engagement; and stakeholder influencing, with a particular focus on improving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science.
## _Our purpose_
## **We want a future where science is more relevant, representative, and connected to society**
Science is more than a body of research, people working in a lab or even the wider industry that surrounds that. It’s also a way of asking questions, making decisions, and understanding the world. Science is a tool that everyone in the UK could and should be able to use. In fact, for us to grow as a society, it’s essential that they do.
The BSA helps to make all aspects of science more relevant, more representative, and more connected to everyday life.
## _Our mission_
## **Let’s break down barriers…**
The science sector has many structural and system-wide barriers that it’s time to remove. In particular, we’re working with business leaders, policy makers, scientists, community leaders, teachers, and many others to say goodbye to the old stereotypes of who a scientist ‘should be’. With their help, we’re bringing more voices into the conversation, to help more people see science (in all its forms) as a relevant part of their lives.
## _Our vision_
## **…So good ideas can thrive**
The UK is bursting with potential. We’re unlocking it. And we won’t stop until people and communities who’ve typically been overlooked by science can confidently play their part.
We’re striving for a future where everyone is represented and has their voice heard on the issues that matter to them. So, science goes beyond being a lesson at school and becomes a way of thinking and making decisions – about looking after your health, protecting the planet and choosing and using new technology.
In that future, everyone has the potential to contribute, whether it’s through the ideas they engage with, the jobs they do or the lifestyles they lead.
In that future, scientists understand and include different perspectives, help more communities, and make even more breakthroughs.
In that future, society shapes science. And society is all the stronger for it.
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## Section One: Objectives and Achievements
Our ten-year objectives are:
A) For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to feel that science is relevant to their lives
- **Provide engagement** activities that effectively **reach and engage underserved audiences** with science and use these activities to **understand** and **disseminate** good practice.
- **Enrich** young people’s experience of science in a way that encourages more of them to see science as **relevant** to their lives and to **study/work** in science.
- Partner with **communities** to enable them to **conduct, influence or apply** science/research e.g. involvement in discussions about emerging technologies, decisions on research funding priorities, citizen science.
B) For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to play a bigger role, have a more powerful voice, and build stronger relationships in/with the STEM sector
- **Amplify** the ‘missing voices’ in science to champion those whose voices are often overlooked in science-based conversations.
- Set up **participatory structures** to facilitate dialogue, foster mutual understanding and transfer power between communities and science/research professionals.
- Enable **collaboration and dialogue** to improve the way science is applied and used among business, policy and third sectors.
## C) Build the capacity of the BSA and the science community to:
- **Understand and address** structural inequalities in accessing science education, employment and engagement opportunities.
- **Advocate** for the adoption of a more participatory and transformative form of science engagement.
- **Improve** the BSA’s and science community’s diversity and inclusivity in order to represent all of society.
Objective C was broadened from its original version in March 2023, reflecting the BSA’s work to support EDI across the wider science community as well as within the science/research engagement sector[1] .
These objectives are supported by a three-year business plan. Our current business plan runs from April 2021 to March 2024.
The following pages provide an overview of the key achievements for our main projects and programmes under each of our three strategic objectives, for the period April 2022 to March 2023.
> 1 Previous wording for Objective C:
> To build the capacity of the BSA and the science/research engagement sector to:
> • Understand and **address structural inequalities** in science engagement.
> • Advocate for the adoption of a more **participatory** and transformative form of science engagement. • Improve the BSA’s/sector’s **diversity** and **inclusivity** .
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## Strategic objective A
For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to feel that science is relevant to their lives
## **British Science Festival**
_An annual five-day celebration of the people, stories and ideas at the heart of science, hosted by a different city each September._
The 2022 British Science Festival took place in Leicester, hosted by De Montfort University (DMU), with support from the University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Leicester City Council and other local partners.
103 events took place over the five days, 57 on campus and 46 in the city centre. This included the world-premiere of The Compass, an immersive, projection mapped installation[2] positioned in the heart of Leicester, bringing to life how we navigate knowledge, and how scientific research can be a compass to guide our curiosity.
As well as raising the profile of the host institution(s), the British Science Festival aims to support a legacy of public engagement with adult audiences within the host city. 35% of events and activities at the 2022 Festival were delivered by DMU researchers/academics. 91% of DMU academics rated their Festival experience as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ and all DMU academics who reported not being ‘Very confident’ with engaging with the public before taking part in the Festival noted that their confidence had increased because of the event.
Of the 221 speakers and facilitators at this year’s Festival, 59% identified as a ‘Woman’, 39% as a ‘Man’ and 2% as ‘Non-binary’. Overall, 12,611 visitors joined bookable and drop-in activities across the Festival, with 23.5% identifying as being from non-White backgrounds. 8% of attendees reported that they had a disability. The majority of the audience was aged 35+, with an even distribution of age groups across campus and city centre events.
Our social and digital media campaign achieved over 1m organic impressions and 77.5k page views of the Festival website.
We also achieved some excellent national and local media coverage e in the lead up to and during the Festival, including BBC News website, ITV Central, BBC Radio Leicester, The Times, Financial Times, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph.
_Hosting the British Science Festival at DMU was one of the highlights of our year. The events throughout the festival were hugely varied and helped the university to engage with academic colleagues to bring their areas of expertise to life and also to explore new public engagement opportunities with the local communities of Leicester and Leicestershire. The team at the BSA who organise the festival were brilliant to work alongside, and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them to bring the festival to life. An absolutely incredible project to be involved with, which has left a fantastic opportunity to build a strong legacy programme going forward._
_Sarah Thomson, Director of Engagement, De Montfort University_
> 2 The Compass was commissioned by the BSA, designed, developed and delivered in partnership with Illuminos and Inspirate, and funded as part of 2022 Unboxed: Creativity in the UK
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## **British Science Week**
_An annual grassroots celebration of science with events and activities taking place in schools, local community groups and national cultural institutions across the UK. As well as free resources (schools’ activity packs, marketing resources) and opportunities for the public to engage in the Week, we provide ‘micro grants’ to schools and community groups to enable them to participate._
British Science Week (BSW) 2023 took place between 10-19 March 2023. This year’s theme was ‘Connections’, which was used in the curation of the content for the activity packs and as inspiration for the poster competition.
As always, school engagement was high; despite industrial action during the week itself, we received over 83k resource downloads and over 102k entries to the schools’ poster competition. For the second year running we partnered with YouTube content creator, TheDadLab, leading to over 24,000 views, while 111,000 primary school children watched the BBC’s special British Science Week Teach Live lesson.
Strong engagement was also reflected through the wide range of national cultural and STEM organisations taking part in activities, including the London Transport Museum, British Museum, UK Space Agency, Royal Navy and many more.
Thanks to support from UKRI we awarded 237 Kickstart grants this year, together with 96 community grants. These micro grants continue to be an important gateway for first time science engagement and development of activities with diverse audiences.
It was the fourth year of our popular Smashing Stereotypes campaign, celebrating the diverse people and careers in science and engineering. In 2023, a total of 14 new profiles were produced. There were over 37,000 unique page views of the content and case studies were also featured on BBC Science Café and Newsround as well as on the BSA’s new TikTok account which was launched during the week
Also new for 2023, and inspired by our previous polling suggesting that relatively few young people feel connected with science, we held a photography exhibition at London Bridge station (which was also available online). The exhibition featured some of our Honorary Fellows (Ade Adepitan, Mona Chalabi, and Helen Sharman) along with researchers from King’s Engaged Researchers Network.
Alongside the exhibition, we held a Question Time-style BSW launch event at Science Gallery London. Chaired by our President, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, the panel (including George Freeman MP, Ali Speechly from the FA, Michael Sulu from University College London, Bob Ward, from the London Climate Change Partnership, and Aisha Kukoyi, an A- Level student studying Further Maths, Physics and Product Design) faced questions from an audience of students from around London, together with representatives from the science sector.
British Science Week 2023 was supported by UKRI, together with a number of sponsors, including 3M, MSD and Urenco.
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Case study:
One of our new Smashing Stereotype profiles for 2023 was Maya Hanspal, a neuroscientist at MSD. Speaking about the importance of the campaign, Maya said:
_“People often think that scientists must be incredibly analytical and mathematically minded. These skills are important, but I think creativity and thinking outside of the box are just as valuable. Science is all about problem-solving after all!_
_“I didn’t have many role models working in science who looked like me when I was growing up, and I certainly had little in common with most of the scientists I idolised in my books (queue a picture of a white man in a lab coat). One of the best things I have discovered since becoming a scientist is that all kinds of people can contribute to science, and we all have unique life stories and backgrounds._
_“Increasing the visibility of people who don’t look like stereotypical scientists is really important to make sure that more people realise this can be a career option for them.”_
## **CREST Awards**
_The BSA’s flagship education programme, which inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. CREST recognises young people’s achievement in STEM project work and is available at a range of levels to suit students aged 3 to 19._
A record 57,000 CREST Awards were awarded in 2022/23. This represents a significant upturn since the early stages of the pandemic – see Figure 1 below and reflects the important role played by CREST, and project-work more broadly, in supporting STEM education and engagement at all levels and with young people from all backgrounds.
Analysis through the year showed that between 2018 and 2022 45% of secondary schools in England had taken part in CREST, including 43% of schools classified as being in challenging circumstances[3] . Similarly in Wales, 57% of secondary schools had taken part in CREST between 2018 and 2022, including 48% of schools in challenging circumstances.
Our work in primary schools has also continued to grow; since 2018, almost 100,000 primary school students have completed a CREST Award through the Star (aimed at 3-to-7-yearolds) and SuperStar (aimed at 7-to-11-year-olds) schemes.
> _3 The criteria we use for schools in challenging circumstances are: has at least 30% of pupils eligible for pupil premium (or equivalent); has at least 30% of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds; is located in a designated rural postcode. https://www.crestawards.org/urateachernetwork_
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## **Figure 1 – CREST submissions year on year (2017/18 to 2022/23)**
## **Projects and Resource development**
A key development for 2022-23 was our new kit box initiative to increase our support for primary schools in challenging circumstances. With support from the NCR Foundation, we developed a set of ‘Everything’ kit boxes and training to engage approximately 700 students in deprived areas of Scotland with CREST. We know that the key barriers to primary schools engaging with quality student-led projects like CREST are teacher time, confidence and resource. This pilot has aimed to address each of these barriers - providing schools with all of the resources required to run a CREST SuperStar activity (age 7-11), even down to the Sellotape and scissors, significantly reducing the preparation time required. Feedback so far has been highly positive. One teacher told the evaluator “ _We would not have done any of this work had it not been for the kit boxes. It’s opened up a whole new opportunity for us in terms of STEM_ .”
With support from the Horners’ Education Charity, we also developed a number of ‘Essentials’ kit boxes for schools in England. These are a slimmed down version of the ‘Everything’ box but still provide schools with key equipment they need to complete their SuperStar CREST project that schools would be unlikely to have in the classroom already.
New CREST resources developed in 2022-23 included a new Bronze pack for the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, redevelopment of our ‘Wild Creations’ Discovery challenge in association with Unboxed: Creativity in the UK and a new accessible CREST activity funded by UKRI.
We also worked in partnership with Mewburn Ellis and with DeepMind to develop and run CREST Discovery days. In addition to the benefits of this work for schools, these projects have provided valuable opportunities for employees at the two organisations to get involved in working with and inspiring young people.
## **CREST Under-represented audiences (URA) grants & teacher network**
Our URA network continues to grow and now includes over 1,600 teachers from primary, secondary and special schools across the UK.
Through our URA grants scheme, funded by UKRI, we supported teachers in 106 schools to complete CREST projects in the 22/23 academic year, and trained and matched 14 ‘buddies’
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(teachers with experience of delivering CREST) to 30 teachers in the URA network who had received CREST grants.
Over the course of the year we ran 25 sessions for the URA network teachers, 20 of which, were though an online conference in June-July 2022, engaging over 200 teachers to either watch sessions live or via flexible catch up..
## **CREST International**
We have started to explore the potential to support young people outside the UK to engage with CREST. In 2022 we signed an agreement with Pearson to promote the use of CREST by schools in China.
## **Funding**
We are grateful for the support of our funders in helping to keep CREST affordable for young people of all backgrounds across the UK. In addition to UKRI and other funders included above, CREST funders in 2022-2023 included the Gatsby Foundation, Ogden Trust,
Urenco, Silence Therapeutics, and the Welsh Government, whose support allows schools in Wales to access CREST free of charge. We also continue to be grateful for the support of our Regional CREST Support Organisations, who work with schools across the UK.
Case study:
George, a 14-year-old autistic student at Lighthouse School in Leeds, achieved a Silver CREST Award for his invention of an automated biscuit-dunking machine, built from Lego.
The machine – which was inspired by experiments in class to find the best biscuit to dunk in a cup of tea – included a cupholder, extendable arm with a rubber claw, two motors, a main data hub and buttons to give the machine exact instructions. George plans to follow his aptitude for STEM into a career in cyber security.
George was interviewed on ITV News Yorkshire about his CREST Award and said, “( _This project) has given me more confidence, as it is physical proof that you can achieve something_ ”.
George’s science teacher, Caroline Maston, said: “ _The CREST Awards gave George a springboard to explore his areas of interest and independently showcase his skills and knowledge_ ”.
## Strategic Objective B
For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to play a bigger role, have a more powerful voice, and build stronger relationships in/with the STEM sector
## **Community Engagement Programmes**
_The British Science Association is committed to supporting community organisations who work with groups underserved and under-represented in science. Since 2015, the BSA has supported communities to feel more involved with science. We run a growing number of programmes providing communities with an opportunity to engage with science, have a voice in science and explore science-related issues such as mental health and climate change in a way that is relevant to them._
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## **Community Engagement Network, Leaders and Buddies**
Our **Community Engagement Network** aims to support, connect and inspire community organisations interested in providing science content to their audiences/users. We work with over 1,000 community groups as part of the network, enabling us to reach a diverse range of audiences across the UK.
Our **Community Leaders and Buddies programmes** harness the passion and ideas of individuals who work with underserved audiences, enhance their skills to enable them to become leaders in science engagement in their communities and support them to access local researchers who they can work together with in their engagement activities.
In 2022-23 we recruited our fifth cohort of Community Leaders. With funding from UKRI, 11 pairs attended a number of training and networking sessions across the year, and prepared projects for British Science Week in March 2023.
_“Being a 'BSA Community Leader' adds value and legitimacy to holding science events, and sparks interest from teachers, community leaders, councillors and budget holders.”_
We also supported 11 pairs of Community Leaders and researcher buddies and offered grants to seven of last year’s cohort of buddy pairs to enable them to co-create a project which responds to a local need and benefits the local community. The project ideas were developed as a result of the ongoing relationship developed between the pairs and we were able to fund seven projects.
Case study: The buddy programme allows researcher and communities to building new connections and using the ‘people before programme’ model
Mohammed, from the East African Education (EAE) Foundation, a longstanding Community Leader linked to the BSA was matched with Gary, a Research Fellow in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at London at Imperial College London. The EAE Foundation’s mission is to empower people to make informed choices and live independent lives; they aim to do this by supporting their users to access quality education opportunities. Their project explored the causes of COVID vaccine hesitancy among East African community members in Barking and Dagenham in East London through interviews and online surveys. Mohammed designed, conducted and wrote up the research which was collated and analysed by Gary and his team. The researcher highlighted that the project changed his attitudes and approach to carrying out public health surveys and that he will take this learning back to his wider department. The results of the research revealed helpful insights into why the community was hesitant to receive COVID vaccines and how to positively influence their perceptions.
## **Highlands and Islands COP 26 Grant Programme**
_The Highlands and Islands Climate Change Community Grant scheme, funded by UKRI and delivered by the BSA and Science Ceilidh, supports community groups in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to work with a researcher and run a project on a local climate change issue that matters to them._
This impactful programme has helped to demonstrate the potential impact of smaller grants and a supported development process to establish new relationships between grassroots climate action groups, their communities and researchers. In 2022/23 we supported 10 community groups to take part in the programme. Building on our learnings, and with further support from UKRI, we will be running a second phase in 2022/23.
UKRI published a short video on the Seaweed Gardens project, which you can find here.
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## **Antarctica in the Community Grant Scheme**
In 2022-23 we funded 15 projects providing community groups with grants of £500 to help them explore and celebrate Antarctica’s important role in climate science. We have been delighted to work with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust on this new programme.
## **Community-led research pilot programme**
## _Exploring an approach to more equitable, community-driven research._
The Community Led Research Pilot is putting local communities based in Reading and Slough at the heart of the research process - inviting them to develop and deliver their own research projects. This cutting edge pilot aims to support local communities to feel that science and research is more accessible, and to highlight the value communities can bring to research by improving both its quality and relevance. In addition to the University of Reading, we are working alongside two community partners in Reading and Slough (Reading Voluntary Action and Slough Community Voluntary Services), with the Social Change Agency appointed as the learning partner. The pilot delivery stages, from outreach to engage communities that are new to and underrepresented in research and to understand their local priorities, developing the theme and research questions, and designing the research, will take us to October 2023. Research projects will be carried out over the next 9 -12 months into 2024. Senior leadership at the University of Reading are supporting us to share the CLRP approach across disciplines at the University and explore how learning can be embedded in their participatory action research.
## **The Ideas Fund**
_The Ideas Fund launched in January 2021 with the aim of enabling the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing, by working in partnership with researchers. Supported by Wellcome, the Fund has offered an exciting opportunity to test out a different approach, of community-led collaboration with researchers, with individuals, community groups and charities being invited to apply for and hold the funds, and supported to build relationships with researchers on their own terms._
The Ideas Fund was set up in recognition of the significant barriers faced by communities in ensuring that research is meaningful and relevant to their lives, including practices being commonplace that exacerbate power imbalances between the value of lived and learned experience. We know that communities often feel ‘done to’ and traditional forms of engagement can feel extractive, limiting the potential for long-term impact. Funding practices themselves add to these issues, with public engagement funding often being short term and restrictive, difficult to attain, not held by the community and unlikely to be rooted in or starting with communities’ day to day aspirations or needs.
The Ideas Fund has taken a place based approach, and is being delivered in four locations across the UK: Oldham, Hull, North-West Northern Ireland, and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Having taken a flexible and community-centred approach, working closely with ‘Development Co-ordinators’ in each region, over £3.8m in funding has now been awarded to over 70 partnerships across two rounds of funding: 49 projects were awarded through the first round (2021-2022), some of which are now either being offered extensions or coming to a close. A further 28 ideas were shortlisted in the second round in 2022, and 27 of these have now been awarded full grants, with projects beginning in January 2023. The grants awarded vary from £12k to around £90k. From looking at the wider impact of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, to the long-term wellbeing needs of survivors of cardiac arrest, or better understanding how to best support people in recovery from addiction, the Ideas Fund is supporting a breadth of communities and initiatives. The vast majority of these communities are new to receiving support from both Wellcome and the BSA.
Our analysis of the supported partnerships demonstrates that around 31% have been working in remote and/or rural communities, 17% are supporting disabled people or those with cognitive impairments, 26% work directly with young people and around 17% have
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reached people from a minoritised ethnic background. We are also now supporting a number of projects working with the LGBTQ+ community, older people, women who have experienced domestic abuse, and those recovering from addiction.
In addition to these projects, in 2022-2023 we also awarded three further grants to partners in Hull, the Highlands & Islands and North West Northern Ireland focusing on making changes within their local systems to enable more equitable community-researcher relationships. Discussions are also taking place with partners in Oldham to explore this opportunity for ‘infrastructure’ activity.
Case study:
The Building Natural Capital project is a collaboration between Ewen’s Room, a charity that actively improves mental wellbeing throughout Lochaber, and researchers from the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI). It aims to investigate, through peer-research, the existing barriers to local young people using the outdoors, and to consider how being in the outdoors impacts mental wellbeing. Trish McQueen, of Ewen’s Room, explains the impact of the Ideas Fund grant:
_“Our project recruits young volunteers to conduct research amongst their peers in schools. Researchers from UHI train our young volunteers at the UHI West Highland College, and Ewen’s Room staff support the young people with learning in college, conducting research in school, and analysing the findings. The findings highlight the need for greater outdoor opportunities and organised outdoor activities within the local area._
_“It is unusual for these young people to come into contact with professional researchers, so the impact of being able to work alongside them in this way and learn from them cannot be overstated. We could not otherwise have achieved the feeling these young people get from this engagement. It was utterly inspiring to watch this relationship develop, and see their confidence and self-belief grow alongside their ability to innovate and adapt in response to changing circumstances._
_“The iterative process has also allowed us to learn as we go, tweaking and adapting our programme, and through delivering the project, we have made new connections with other organisations in our wider community. However, the big success of the programme is in the outcomes for participants; the young people frequently say they don't want the programme to end, so we are currently planning a proposal to extend the project with further funding.”_
## **For Thought**
_A thought leadership programme which gives leaders from business, policy, science and civil society a platform for cross-sector discussion and collaboration around the role of science in solving the greatest challenges of the day, and how science can better work alongside other sectors._
The 2022 For Thought event took place in December 2022 at One Moorgate Place, London.
With panel discussions and provocations from speakers ranging from Science Minister, George Freeman MP and Professor Dame Anne Johnson, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, to investigative journalist Rosa Furneaux and young campaigner Evie Aspinall, and hosted by Samira Ahmed, attendees discussed how science and technology are shaping responses to global challenges, from net zero, to public health, and the metaverse.
The event was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
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## **Future Forum**
_Empowering young people to share their views on cutting-edge innovations that will affect their futures._
The next generation are tasked with solving the greatest challenges in our time, yet our research has found that they do not feel able to have their say on the issues affecting their future and they don't feel spoken to by politicians, scientists and other influential figures.
Future Forum, is the British Science Association’s youth voice programme, working with 1418 year olds across the UK. This growing programme provides opportunities for young people to have a say on key issues involving science, and for organisations who want to better serve young people, the opportunity to find out more about what they value.
In 2022, Future Forum focused on young people's views on creativity and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and the role of both in solving the issues of tomorrow.
_“So I can say that my opinions are quite different to my mum and dad’s, but also very different to say my nan and grandad's. I think people, say, our age are quite aware of the stuff that people have done in the past, but also what people are doing now, it's going to impact our futures. Whereas people who are in their like 60s to 80s, they go, ‘Well, look, we've had our life, this is how it was back in my day, why should we bother changing?’ And I think we kind of need to show it in the respect of this is what effect it’s having on you now in terms of health benefits and pollution, but also in the respect of that in 20-40 years down the line, your grandchildren or your children, this is what they're realistically going to be up against. And this is what we need to do.”_
Future Forum ‘creativity & science’ workshop participant
The survey and workshops were conducted in partnership with UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, with support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
We also began work on our next report, on climate change education, in partnership with the University of Plymouth, and worked in partnership with Stemettes on a youth voice survey around GCSE subject choices and role models in the science curriculum as part of their 10th birthday celebrations.
## Strategic Objective C
To build the capacity of the BSA and the science/research engagement sector around issues relating to equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI).
## **Stakeholder influencing and policy**
## **Statements and Consultations**
Through 2022/23 the BSA continued to respond to consultations and to publish news stories and blog posts on key areas relating to our strategic objectives. These included: written evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry on Science Superpower, and People and Skills in STEM; a response to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy consultation on Net Zero; and written evidence to the House of Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee inquiry on Misinformation and trusted voices.
12
We also published new pieces welcoming the formation of the new Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, and advocating for diversity and inclusion to be a core part of the Government ‘science superpower’ ambitions.
## **The APPG for Diversity & Inclusion in STEM**
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in STEM aims to promote inclusion and progression of people from diverse backgrounds in STEM, and to encourage government, parliamentarians, academics, businesses, and other stakeholders to work towards a STEM sector that is representative of the population. The Group is funded by a wide range of sponsors.
The BSA has provided the Secretariat for the Group since its inception in 2018/19. 2022/23 saw a return to face to face events, with a broad and lively panel discussion in Autumn 2022 on diversity and inclusion in STEM education and the workforce, revisiting recommendations from our previous reports. Our next report, on regional inequity in STEM, is due to be published in 2023.
## **Sciencewise**
Sciencewise is a public dialogue programme providing insights into what people think about science & emerging technology. BSA works as part of the Sciencewise consortium (alongside Involve and NCCPE, funded by UKRI). In 2022/23 we published a new report on _‘Tomorrow’s Tech Today: Public opinion on emerging technology and opportunities for future ’ engagement ._
## **Science Learning+**
In 2021 we were awarded a contract to evaluate the Wellcome Trust’s long-running Science Learning+ scheme (funding for informal science learning) as part of a consortium with NCCPE and NatCen; our role was to disseminate and discuss the findings of Science Learning+ with stakeholders in education policy, youth, and community organisations.
In 2022/23 we organised four workshops and discussions on the current landscape and future needs of informal science learning (ISL). Themes included:
- Current priorities ISL practice
- Defining success in ISL
- The funding landscape for ISL
- Connections to formal education
- These were further disseminated at an event with NCCPE in October 2022.
## **Building the capacity of the Science Engagement sector**
## **UK Science Festivals Network**
The BSA manages and chairs the UK Science Festivals Network (UKSFN), which now has over 50 members, including science festivals and other festivals who feature science content. The Network aims to unite, celebrate and grow the science festivals sector in the UK.
In 2022/23 we ran bi-monthly meetings for the network, addressing a range of topics through in-person and virtual meetings.
With funding from UKRI, the UK Science Festivals Network awarded funding to ten science festivals to develop innovative approaches to engaging young people aged 11-to-17-yearsold, from low socioeconomic backgrounds and ‘inactive’ science identities, with research and researchers.
We continued to work with Culture Counts on an evaluation pilot project, also funded by UKRI. The project has involved eight UKSFN members and aims to encourage more data-
13
driven decision making in the science festivals sector; create an aggregated account of value and impact; and build a stronger data culture across science festivals in the UK. We will be using findings to produce a collaborative evaluation plan for 2023/24.
## **Inequity in UK science engagement**
Following the publication of our widely-used report on inequity of science engagement in the UK, published in March 2022, we hosted a webinar in May 2022 to discuss findings and next steps.
## **People and culture**
2022 saw some significant changes to senior leadership at the BSA, with our outgoing CEO, Katherine Mathieson leaving in April 2022 and our new CEO, Hannah Russell joining in October 2022. In the intervening period, CEO responsibilities were shared between Amy MacLaren, Director of External Relations, who took on the role of Interim Chief Executive and Gill Riches, Director of Programmes, who took on the role of Interim Chief Operating Officer. An interim Head of Operations post was also introduced to support the organisation through this period and Hannah’s first few months in the role. This additional operations support has proved valuable and has led to a restructure of the core services team to introduce more internal operations capacity.
Overall staff turnover remained steady compared to the previous year: 01 April 2022 – 31 March 2023: 11 starters and 7 leavers compared to 01 April 2021 – 31 March 2022: 9 starters and 10 leavers.
## **Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)**
The BSA believes that, for too long, science has been the preserve of professional scientists. We believe science should be open to everyone, regardless of background or experience.
We know there are persistent structural barriers to equality in many areas of UK society, culture and work, and we believe that transforming the diversity and inclusivity of science can play a part in tackling them.
Our **Sustaining Excellence** grant from the Wellcome Trust came to an end in June 2022, and provided an opportunity to review the progress that the organisation has made on its EDI journey, including re-running the EDI audit we had undertaken in 2018. We published a report in July 2022 ‘ _Sustaining Excellence: Developing our practice with grant funding and beyond’_ to mark the end of this project.
We have continued to ensure that a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion sits right at the heart of our programmes and to look at ways to ensure this focus is also reflected through our internal systems and processes. We monitor staff views on our EDI work as an organisation (as reported by staff in our annual staff survey, see, for example, graphs below). We also have an EDI action plan which is reviewed annually. Recognising that there is more to do, in 2022-23 we recruited a new EDI lead Trustee to sit on Council and support the team in identifying next steps to drive forward this work.
14
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15
## **Diversity data**
The BSA has been monitoring staff EDI data since 2017 and trustee EDI data since 2019. We published this for the first time in 2020 and believe this is an important indication of our commitment to EDI. Our most recent data, from our survey in Autumn 2022, has shown the following:
## **Gender identity**
- While the balance between men : women is typically stronger on Council than on the staff team, the percentage of men has reduced somewhat since 2020;
- The proportion of men : women on the staff team has increased slightly since 2020, but at 22%, men are still under-represented compared with the charity and voluntary sector average of 33%.
## **Ethnicity**
Collectively 73% of respondents described their ethnic origin as White (British, Irish or other White).
- Staff: 74% (a decrease of 13% since 2021);
- Council: 67% (an increase of 17% since 2020).
- This compares to approx. 86% of the England and Wales population and 61% of the London population.
## **Age**
- The proportion of staff respondents within the 21-30 age range has declined somewhat, while the proportion 41 and above has grown;
- 50% of Council respondents are within the 51-60 age range, compared to 11% of staff.
Some of the age categories were merged in the years of reporting to avoid individuals being identifiable.
## **Other characteristics**
- **Neurodiversity** – 15% of staff consider themselves to be neurodiverse, an increase of 5% compared to 2021 although the same level as in 2020.
- **Caring responsibilities** – The proportion of staff and Council members with caring responsibilities has grown (collectively, 54% of respondents have some form of caring responsibility (compared with 43% in 2021 and 39% in 2020).
- **Sexual orientation** – 79% of all respondents consider their sexual orientation to be Heterosexual, broadly the same as in 2020 & 2021.
- **Long-term illness or disability** – 15% of staff responded positively to this question, an increase of 5% from 2021, but broadly stable on an average of 13% over the last five years.
- **Social mobility** – 18% of collective respondents were eligible for free school meals – an increase from 13% in 2021.
- **Religion or belief** – Collectively, 61% of respondents selected ‘no religion or belief / atheist’ (compared with 59% in 2021).
## **Heritage & Identity Review**
The BSA is seeking to catalyse change both internally within our organisation and within the wider science engagement sector, to make science and science engagement more equitable, diverse and inclusive. In the context of ongoing institutional improvement –
specifically in relation to our organisational focus on equality, diversity and inclusion – we embarked on a project to explore how we might understand and contextualise the BSA’s history.
16
This review was completed in 2022/23 and has now been reported internally to staff and our Council. We plan to publish a series of recommendations and Guiding Principles that we will use to inform our practice, programmes and communications in the future.
## Section Two: Our future plans
This section sets out our cross-organisational priorities for 2023/24.
1) **Continue to grow our reputation and networks,** increasing the visibility and profile of our programmes and of BSA as an organisation, as well as being alert to opportunities to work in partnership and to new funding opportunities.
2) **Agree a clear set of policy asks and messages across education, community engagement and diversity & inclusion within the STEM sector more broadly.** These messages and asks will be used to support our advocacy work as well as feeding into our wider programmes.
3) **Review how we evaluate our programmes and implement a clear set of impact outcomes and measures** that can be used to evidence the value of our work as well as to reinforce our reputation as a trusted leader and partner.
4) **Review our use of language and tone of voice** , ensuring this is appropriate for the different audiences we are trying to reach (including communities, young people, policy makers, science communicators, universities and others).
## 5) **Continue to refine our strong governance and explore opportunities to work more closely with our Honorary roles**
6) **Ensure we have the capacity to deliver to a high standard,** including working with the team to make sure we remain a welcoming, inclusive and attractive employer, ensuring that our internal culture, systems and processes reflect our external focus on EDI.
7) **Aim for operating breakeven** , excluding already agreed use of reserves for the 2023 British Science Festival, and other investment of resources where agreed by Council.
17
## Section Three: Financial Review
The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net deficit for the year of £60,200 (2022: net income of £149,917) excluding net losses on investment assets of £52,415 (2022: £12,189 gain).
Key funders of activities during the year include UKRI, De Montfort University and the Wellcome Trust. The BSA does not engage in fundraising from the public.
Total income of £6.84 million was higher than last year (2022: £5.28 million).
Total expenditure of £6.89 million was higher than last year (2022: £5.12 million).
The expenditure on individual programmes shown on the SOFA is dependent on the activities within the programmes and the funding received.
## **Funders/ sponsors:**
3M ACS Advanced Microbiology International (AMI) Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists AstraZeneca Atos BBC Studios Science Unit British Society for Haematology British Society for Immunology Brooklands Museum Collective Act Crossland Tankers De Montfort University DeepMind Drax Evolution Education Trust (EET) Explorify Fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments (FRAME) Futurecodersse Community Interest Company Gatsby Charitable Foundation Harper Collins The Worshipful Company of Horners Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Institute of Physics The Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) James Weir Foundation King's College London Marine Stewardship Council MSD National Farmers' Union (NFU) Natural History Museum (NHM) Nutrition Society OCR
18
PerkinElmer Physiological Society Primary Science Teaching Trust PWIS Royal Academy of Engineering Royal Society of Chemistry Salters' Institute Sciencewise Silence Therapeutics STEM Learning Stemettes Limited The Country Trust The National Archives The Reading Agency UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Leeds University of Plymouth University of Reading University of the West of England University of York URENCO Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics Wellcome Trust Welsh Government World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zinc ( on behalf of HS2)
## **Risk Management**
The purpose of the BSA’s Risk Register is to enable the British Science Association’s Trustees to identify the main risks the charity faces and record how to deal with them. The information in this framework is reviewed by the Senior Management Team on a monthly basis and at least twice-yearly by the Audit & Risks Committee. Principal risks (those identified as ones that would have a significant impact on ability to deliver our charitable objectives) are reported by default at each Council meeting, alongside other risks where ratings have changed significantly since the last meeting. A review of the risk register was undertaken in Autumn 2022. This led to the introduction of an Issue log alongside the risk register to allow greater differentiation between things that might happen and those that are already taking place.
Both the risk and issue frameworks are divided into five areas based on Charity Commission guidance (CC26[4] ):
1. Strategic risks and issues
> 4 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-risk-management-cc26/charities-and-risk-managementcc26#annex-1-risk-register-template-with-examples-of-use
19
2. Operational risks and issues
3. Financial risks and issues
4. Governance risks and issues
5. Compliance and legislative risks and issues
Principal risks identified for the organisation include:
- **Programmes being ineffective or not being aligned to strategy** . This is mitigated by our strategy, mission, vision and aims being developed and prominently shared on our communications channels, regular review of programmes and strategy by Council and active consideration of the extent to which potential new programmes meet our strategic needs.
- **Loss of funding through competition or change in funding model or strategic direction of major funders.** This is mitigated by regular analysis to identify competitors and (more often) potential partners, focus on capturing our impact, working closely with funding partners to understand and adapt to changes in funding models and regular review of the funding landscape to identify prospective new funders aligned to our strategic objectives.
- **Team capacity not being sufficient to deliver programmes.** This is mitigated by using a thorough process for allocating staff time and resources, effective recordkeeping and handovers and using interim appointments, freelance staff and agencies to help address gaps.
## **Reserves policy**
At their meeting in March 2020, Council approved a revised, risk-based reserves policy, proposed by the Finance Committee. Reserves are based on the following key principles:
1. Working capital provision - £500k to 800k
2. Loss or delay in funding - £800k
3. Wind down costs - £300k - £500k
On this basis, the BSA aims for reserves between £1.6m and £2.1m
The designated reserves are based on forward looking risk and therefore included in free reserves as not designated for future spend.
The Trustees recognise that the current reserves are £2.08m and will continue to aim to work towards holding unrestricted reserves within the above range in the coming years.
The BSA’s Trustees are satisfied that there are no concerns about the BSA’s existence as a going concern, for at least the next 12 months from signing the accounts.
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## Section Four: Structure, Governance and Management
The Trustees confirm they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity's Royal Charter and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.
## **Charter, statutes and rules**
The British Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1831 and is incorporated by Royal Charter. The Charter is dated 21 April 1928 and there have been Supplemental Charters dated 15 August 1960, 10 February 1997. The Association’s Statutes were revised and approved by the Privy Council in May 2006. In April 2020, the Privy Council approved an updated version of the BSA’s Charter and Statutes.
Council has approved Rules which are reviewed regularly by Council and may be altered by a majority vote in Council.
## **Registered and operating names**
The British Science Association is the operating name for (and a registered trademark of) the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The registered name of the charity remains as the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
## **Council**
The governing body of the British Science Association is Council. Members of Council comprise the following people who are entitled to vote at Council meetings:
- The Chair
- The Vice (deputy) Chair
- The Treasurer
- Up to three Vice-Presidents who advise on specific matters
- Up to eight people appointed as determined by Council
In addition, the President, President-elect and immediate Past President, if not Trustees, are entitled to attend Council but not to vote.
Council normally meets four times a year, once per quarter. Its function is to agree a vision and strategy for the charity and to direct all the affairs and business of the organisation. Council may delegate its powers to the staff or its Committees.
Members of Council normally serve for a period of three years with the option of being reappointed for a further three years as long as any continuous period in office does not normally exceed six years. In exceptional circumstances, by two thirds majority vote in Council of all members present, a further year’s extension is permitted.
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## **induction and training**
Following their election or appointment, induction information is sent to all new Trustees before they attend their first Council meeting. This comprises relevant Association and Charity Commission documents and information including the Charity Governance Code. External training opportunities for new and existing Trustees are offered in addition to away days and ad hoc meetings. Council members are invited to many of the Association’s external events.
## **Finance Committee (incorporating the Investment Committee)**
The Finance Committee comprises four members of the Council plus the Treasurer. Meetings are usually held four times a year and attended by the Finance Director and Chief Executive. Finance Committee advises Council on financial strategy and, in its role as the Investment Committee, oversees the work of our investment managers.
## **Audit & Risks Committee**
The Audit & Risks Committee appointments comprises three members of Council (including the Treasurer). Council is able to co-opt further persons if needed to provide additional expertise or an external perspective, provided they do not outnumber the Council appointees. Currently there are two independent members. The Committee meets at least twice a year and meetings are attended by the Finance Director and Chief Executive.
Council has appointed a professional auditor of the Association, who is qualified for appointment as auditor of a company in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act. The auditor attends meetings of the Committee as and when required.
## **Council Members**
## **Council member roles and terms of office**
|||**Elected**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Name**|**Role**||**Retiring**|
|||**/appointed**||
|||||
|HilaryNewiss|Chair|March 2022|March 2025|
|Stephen
Nuttall|Deputy Chair and VP Engagement|July 2017|Mar 2024|
|Kalli Bowyer|Treasurer|June 2018|July 2024|
|Heather King|VP Education|Oct 2021|Nov 2024|
|Sarah Chaytor|VP Policy,Partnerships & Impact|Mar 2023|Apr 2026|
|Sarah Main|Trustee (elected)|Oct 2017|Nov 2023|
|Joe de Sousa|Trustee(appointed)|Aug2020|Sept 2026|
|Rubina Ahmed|Trustee(appointed)|Aug2020|Sept 2026|
|Kate Mingay||Aug 2020|December
2023|
||Trustee (appointed)|||
|||||
|Kevin Coutinho||Mar 2023|Apr 2026|
||Trustee (appointed) - EDI lead|||
|||||
|Phil Smith|Trustee (appointed) - Community|Mar 2023|Apr 2026|
||
engagement lead|||
22
## **Council membership of sub-Committees**
||**Finance**|**Audit & Risk**|**Nominations**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Name**||||
||**Committee**|**Committee**|**Committee**|
|||||
|HilaryNewiss|Y|Y|Y|
|Stephen Nuttall|Y|Y||
|Kalli Bowyer|Y|Y||
|Sarah Main|Y|||
|Rubina Ahmed|||Y|
|Joe de Sousa||Y|Y|
|Kate Mingay|Y|Y||
|Heather King|||Y|
|Sarah Chaytor*||||
|Kevin Coutinho*|||Y|
|Phil Smith*|Y|||
|Raj Dadra (non-Trustee||||
|||Y||
|role)||||
|||||
|John Misselbrook (non-||||
|||Y||
|Trustee role)||||
|||||
*term began January 2023
## **President**
September 2021 to August 2022 – Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (moving to Immediate Past President from September 2022 to August 2023)
September 2022 to August 2023 – Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
## **Royal Patron**
In September 2022 we were saddened to learn about the death of our Royal Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
As recently as March 2022, Her Majesty had hosted a special online event as part of British Science Week, where she joined a group of schoolchildren from Thomas Jones Primary School, as well as the BSA’s then President, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, to celebrate the role that science, technology, engineering and maths plays in UK society.
As a mark of respect in response to the news of Her Majesty’s death, we cancelled the British Science Festival stakeholder reception in September 2022, while the Festival’s public programme went ahead in line with other large-scale events at the time.
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## Section Five: Reference and Administrative details
## **Senior Staff**
Katherine Mathieson Chief Executive (Resigned 8 April 2022) Hannah Russell Chief Executive (Joined 11 October 2022) Gill Riches Director of Programmes (Acting COO from 9 April- 10 October 2022) Amy MacLaren Director of External Relations (Acting CEO from 9 April – 10 October 2022) Dave Lloyd Director of Finance (outsourced) **Advisors** Bankers NatWest Bank plc, 208 Piccadilly, London, W1A 2DG Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP, 45 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1SZ Accounting Crossley Group, Star House, Star Hill, Rochester, ME1 1UX Independent auditors Sayer Vincent, Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TL Investment advisors James Hambro Partners LLP, 45 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JG
**Principal and registered office**
Wellcome Wolfson Building 165 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5HD
## **Declarations**
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the BSA’s Council
Signature:
Name: Hilary Newiss Position: Chair Date: 3rd October 2023
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Independent Auditor’s report to the members of The British Association for the
## Advancement of Science
## Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The British Association for the Advancement of Science (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- Give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended
- Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
- Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
## Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on The British Association for the Advancement of Science's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## Other Information
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for
25
the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- The information given in the trustees’ annual report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements;
- Sufficient and proper accounting records have not been kept; or
- The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit
## Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with regulations made under that Act.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
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Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.
## Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
- We enquired of management and the Finance and Audit Committee, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the charity’s policies and procedures relating to:
- Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
- Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud;
- The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience.
- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit.
- We reviewed any reports made to regulators.
- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
27
## Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees as a body, in accordance with section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Judith Miller (Senior statutory auditor) Date: 23 November 2023 Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor
Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TL
Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
28
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Statement of financial activities
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
|Unrestricted
Note
£
Income from:
2
84,196
3
65,700
3
244,922
3
136,109
3
-
4
20,260
551,187
5
79,989
5
92,054
5
76,839
5
246,098
5
-
5
-
15,339
510,319
(52,415)
7
(11,547)
18
-
(11,547)
-
(11,547)
Reconciliation of funds:
1,833,850
17
1,822,303
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Transfers between funds
Net income / (expenditure) before other
recognised gains and losses
Other gains / (losses)
Net movement in funds
40,868
Raising funds
Net expenditure for the period/year
Other (Overhead allocation allocated to
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) / income before net
gains on investments
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
Education programmes
Regions, branches and sections
Net gains on investments
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme|Unrestricted
Note
£
Income from:
2
84,196
3
65,700
3
244,922
3
136,109
3
-
4
20,260
551,187
5
79,989
5
92,054
5
76,839
5
246,098
5
-
5
-
15,339
510,319
(52,415)
7
(11,547)
18
-
(11,547)
-
(11,547)
Reconciliation of funds:
1,833,850
17
1,822,303
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Transfers between funds
Net income / (expenditure) before other
recognised gains and losses
Other gains / (losses)
Net movement in funds
40,868
Raising funds
Net expenditure for the period/year
Other (Overhead allocation allocated to
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) / income before net
gains on investments
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
Education programmes
Regions, branches and sections
Net gains on investments
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme|Restricted
£
104,230
1,926,316
928,146
144,717
3,184,458
-|2023
Total
£
188,427
1,992,016
1,173,068
280,826
3,184,458
20,260|Unrestricted
£
94,027
68,257
229,759
186,259
-
13,829|Restricted
£
81,994
1,247,036
934,751
50,805
2,371,862
-|2022
Total
£
176,021
1,315,293
1,164,510
237,064
2,371,862
13,829|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||551,187|6,287,867|6,839,054|592,131|4,686,447|5,278,579|
||79,989
92,054
76,839
246,098
-
-
15,339|104,230
1,934,106
1,029,131
144,717
3,171,102
5,649
-|184,220
2,026,160
1,105,970
390,814
3,171,102
5,649
15,339|54,115
109,153
50,182
270,659
-
25,408|81,994
1,262,793
844,670
155,498
2,262,761
11,427
-|136,109
1,371,946
894,852
426,157
2,262,761
11,427
25,408|
||510,319|6,388,936|6,899,255|509,518|4,619,143|5,128,660|
||(52,415)
40,868|-
(101,068)|(52,415)
(60,200)|12,188
82,613|-
67,304|12,188
149,917|
||(11,547)
-|(101,068)
-|(112,615)
-|94,801
2,350|67,304
(2,350)|162,107
-|
||(11,547)
-|(101,068)
-|(112,615)
-|97,151
-|64,954
-|162,107
-|
||(11,547)
1,833,850|(101,068)
339,117|(112,615)
2,172,967|97,151
1,736,700|64,954
274,163|162,105
2,010,863|
||1,822,303|238,049|2,060,352|1,833,850|339,117|2,172,970|
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 17 to the financial statements.
29
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Balance sheet
## As at 31 March 2023
|Note
£
Fixed assets:
12
13
Current assets:
14
1,144,436
1,650,368
2,794,803
Liabilities:
15
(2,024,909)
17
18
1,031,691
790,612
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Debtors
The funds of the charity:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total net assets
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible assets|Note
£
Fixed assets:
12
13
Current assets:
14
1,144,436
1,650,368
2,794,803
Liabilities:
15
(2,024,909)
17
18
1,031,691
790,612
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Debtors
The funds of the charity:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total net assets
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible assets|2023
£
25,654
1,264,804|1,272,037
1,507,360|2022
£
25,910
1,314,341|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||1,290,458
769,894||1,340,251
832,719|
||2,794,803
(2,024,909)||2,779,397
(1,946,678)||
||1,031,691
790,612||1,045,861
787,991||
|||2,060,352||2,172,970|
|||238,049
1,822,303||339,118
1,833,852|
||||||
|||2,060,352||2,172,970|
Approved by the trustees on 27th September 2023 and signed on their behalf by
Hilary Newiss Chair of Council
Kalli Bowyer General Treasurer
30
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Statement of cash flows
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
|Note
£
£
20
138,884
20,260
(13,259)
366,128
(429,981)
(56,853)
82,032
1,604,731
21
1,686,763
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
2023|Note
£
£
20
138,884
20,260
(13,259)
366,128
(429,981)
(56,853)
82,032
1,604,731
21
1,686,763
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
2023|Note
£
£
20
138,884
20,260
(13,259)
366,128
(429,981)
(56,853)
82,032
1,604,731
21
1,686,763
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
2023|£
£
337,825
13,829
(31,119)
338,165
(314,881)
5,994
343,819
1,260,913
1,604,731
2022|£
£
337,825
13,829
(31,119)
338,165
(314,881)
5,994
343,819
1,260,913
1,604,731
2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||82,032
1,604,731||343,819
1,260,913|
|||1,686,763||1,604,731|
31
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
- 1 Accounting policies
## a) Statutory information
British Association for the Advancement of Science is an unincorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales and Scotland. The registered office address is Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5HD.
## b) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts n accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102). The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The accounts have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value except that investments held as fixed assets are carried at market value as at the balance sheet date.
## c) Public benefit entity
The Association meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## d) Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Association's ability to continue as a going concern.
The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
## e) Income
Income is recognised when the Association has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.
Income received for general purposes of the Association is credited to unrestricted funds. Income subject to specific wishes of the donor is credited to relevant restricted funds.
Subscription income is taken into the financial statements as a receipt in the year in which the subscription is received.
Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
Provision is made in the financial statements for income tax recoverable on gift aid donations.
Gross income received from the Asociation's investment portfolio is reinvested with the Association's portfolio fund managers for the acquisition of further stocks.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Association; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
## f) Donations of gifts, services and facilities
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the Association has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the Association of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised. The trustees’ annual report sets out more information about their contribution to the work of the Association.
## g) Fund accounting
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for charitable purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
32
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
- 1 Accounting policies (continued)
- h) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
- Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the Association in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services, exhibitions and other educational activities undertaken to further the purposes of the Association and their associated support costs
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
## i) Grants payable
Grants payable are made to third parties in furtherance of the charity's objects. Single or multi-year grants are accounted for when either the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition, or the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and that any condition attaching to the grant is outside of the control of the charity.
## j) Allocation of support costs
Resources expended are allocated to a particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, support cost (the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function) is apportioned on the bases of an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.
Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the Association. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the Association’s activities. These costs are allocated to each activity based on staff time.
Cost of Raising Funds: 7% Engagement programmes: 40% Education programmes: 27% Policy, Partnerships & Impact 12% New Grants programme 15%
## k) Operating leases
Where assets are financed by leasing agreement that give rights approximating to ownership ("finance leases"), the assets are treated as if they had been purchased outright. The amount capitalised is the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term. The corresponding leasing commitments are shown as obligations to the lessor.
## l) Tangible fixed assets
Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £100. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
- Office equipment
- Computer equipment
Straight line over 5 years
Straight line over 3 years
- m) Listed investments
Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading “net gains/(losses) on investments” in the statement of financial activities. The Association does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.
The Association's Investment Fund is invested in accordance with the Powers of Investment set out in the Schedule to the 1977 Supplemental Charter, which requires that at least 15% of the fund must comprise investments in Government and/or fixed interest securities, including interest-bearing cash deposits. Council has determined that the primary objective of investment policy should be to maintain the capital value of the fund in real terms over the long term.
## n) Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
33
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
## 1 Accounting policies (continued)
## o) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. Cash balances exclude any funds held on behalf of service users.
## p) Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Association has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
The Association only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## q) Pensions
The Association operates under an auto enrolment scheme and auto enrols the new employees into the Government's NEST scheme. Pre 1 July 2014, employees are in an AEGON pension scheme. The Association matches the minimum 1% contribution and pays (on a sliding scale) up to two times the contributions made by employees to the schemes which can range between 1% and 5% of gross salary. The pension charge recorded in these financial statements is the amount of contributions payable by the Association in the accounting year.
## 2 Income from donations and legacies
|Income from donations and legacies|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Other income
Donations and legacies income
Donated services and facilities - office space
Subscriptions and donations|Unrestricted
£
9,353
-
70,182
4,660|£
-
-
-
104,230
Restricted|2023
Total
£
9,353
-
70,182
108,891|Unrestricted
£
8,308
2,077
65,591
18,051|£
-
-
-
81,994
Restricted|2022
Total
£
8,308
2,077
65,591
100,045|
||84,196|104,230|188,427|94,027|81,994|176,021|
## 3 Income from charitable activities
|Income from charitable activities|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|British Science Festival
Sub-total for engagement programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme
Other engagement programmes
Total income from charitable activities
Education programmes|Unrestricted
£
-
65,700|£
1,056,562
869,754
Restricted|2023
Total
£
1,056,562
935,454|Unrestricted
£
-
68,257|£
523,973
723,063
Restricted|2022
Total
£
523,973
791,320|
||65,700
244,922
136,110
-|1,926,316
928,146
144,717
3,184,458|1,992,016
1,173,068
280,826
3,184,458|68,257
229,759
186,259
-|1,247,036
934,751
50,805
2,371,862|1,315,294
1,164,510
237,064
2,371,862|
||446,732|6,183,637|6,630,368|484,275|4,604,453|5,088,729|
## 4 Income from investments
|Income from investments|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Interest
Dividends|Unrestricted
£
15,248
5,012|£
-
-
Restricted|2023
Total
£
15,248
5,012|Unrestricted
£
13,736
93|£
-
-
Restricted|2022
Total
£
13,736
93|
||20,260|-|20,260|13,829|-|13,829|
34
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
- 5a Analysis of expenditure (current year)
## Charitable activities
|Staff costs (Note 8)
Direct costs
Investment managers' fees
Office costs
Depreciation and disposals
Legal and professional
Irrecoverable VAT
Office service charge
Office equipment
Insurance
Marketing and PR
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2023|Cost of raising
funds
£
86,431
30,635
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Engagement
programmes
£
467,487
1,195,446
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Education
programmes
£
323,891
530,421
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Policy,
Partnerships &
Impact
£
153,550
127,750
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Regions,
branches and
sections
£
-
5,649
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Grants
Programme
£
187,940
2,852,475
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,040,415
126,943
3,744
3,171,102|Governance
costs
£
24,037
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Support costs
£
233,052
48,985
10,310
250,948
13,902
23,807
180,607
131,103
221
11,452
9,156|2023
Total
£
1,476,388
4,791,361
10,310
250,948
13,902
23,807
180,607
131,103
221
11,452
9,156|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||117,066
65,433
1,722|1,662,933
353,914
9,312|854,312
245,205
6,452|281,300
106,706
2,808|5,649
-
-||24,037
-
(24,037)|913,542
(898,203)
-|6,899,254
.00
(.00)|
||184,220|2,026,160|1,105,970|390,814|5,649||-|15,339|6,899,254|
35
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2023 5b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)
|Analysis of expenditure (prior|year)|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Staff costs (Note 8)
Direct costs
Investment managers' fees
Office costs
Depreciation and disposals
Legal and professional
Irrecoverable VAT
Office service charge
Office equipment
Insurance
Marketing and PR
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2022|Cost of
raising funds
£
68,746
17,665
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|||Charitable activities|||Governance
costs
£
26,077
-
-
574
-
11,750
-
-
-
-
-|Support costs
£
188,555
56,073
11,171
222,434
14,093
154
128,306
101,039
-
8,238
11,902|2022
Total
£
1,361,054
3,257,945
11,171
223,008
14,093
11,904
128,306
101,039
-
8,238
11,902|
|||Engagement
programmes
£
431,741
631,099
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Education
programmes
£
270,500
426,399
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Policy,
Partnerships &
Impact
£
227,729
111,983
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Regions,
branches and
sections
£
-
11,427
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Grants
Programme
£
147,706
2,003,299
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-||||
||86,411
47,170
2,528|1,062,840
293,383
15,723|696,899
187,884
10,069|339,712
82,048
4,397|11,427
-
-|2,151,005
106,072
5,684|38,401
-
(38,401)|741,965
(716,557)
-|5,128,660
-
-|
||136,109|1,371,946|894,852|426,157|11,427|2,262,761|-|25,408|5,128,660|
36
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
|For the year ended 31 March 2023|||
|---|---|---|
|6
Cost
At the end of the year
Wellcome Trust grants
Engagement Grants
Education Grants
PPI Grants
Grant making|2023
£
2,506,777
151,425
112,750
-|2022
£
1,788,659
155,223.00
121,300.00
10,000.00|
||2,770,952|2,075,182|
- 7 Net income / (expenditure) for the period
This is stated after charging :
||2023|2022|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Depreciation|13,902|10,658|
|Operating lease rentals:|||
|Property|60,920|35,381|
|Auditors' remuneration (excluding VAT):|||
|Audit|13,500|11,750|
- 8 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel
Staff costs were as follows:
|Staff costs were as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|2023
£
1,275,583
134,811
65,995|2022
£
1,173,864
107,267
79,923|
||1,476,388|1,361,054|
The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) during the period between:
||2023|2022|
|---|---|---|
||No.|No.|
|£60,000 - £69,999|1|-|
|£70,000 - £79,999|1|2|
|£90,000 - £99,999|-|1|
|> £100,000|-|-|
The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £220,430.58 (2022: £261,916).
The Council members were not paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the Association in the year (2023: £nil). No Council member received payment for professional or other services supplied to the Association (2022: £nil).
Council members' expenses represent the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £647.88 (2022: £248) incurred by 2 (2022: 2) members relating to attendance at Council meetings.
37
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
- 9 Staff numbers
The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the period was as follows:
|Fundraising, marketing and public relations
Engagement programmes
Ideas Fund
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Educational programmes
Support and Governance|2023
No.
5.3
9.1
7.8
5.0
3.0
6.1|2022
No.
4.0
6.9
7.3
5.6
2.5
6.2|
|---|---|---|
||36.2|32.5|
## 10 Related party transactions
There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2023 (2022: none).
There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.
## 11 Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
## 12 Tangible fixed assets
|Tangible fixed assets||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Cost
Depreciation
At the end of the year
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Net book value
Disposals in year
At the end of the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the start of the Year|Fixtures and
fittings
£
30,211
-
-|Computer
equipment
£
33,030
13,259
(2,711)|
Total
£
63,241
13,259
(2,711)|
||30,211|43,578|73,789|
||28,063
669|9,268
12,500
(2,364)|37,330
13,169
(2,364)|
||28,730|19,404|48,135|
||1,481|24,174|25,654|
||2,148|23,763|25,911|
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
38
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
## 13 Listed investments
|13
Listed investments|||
|---|---|---|
|14
15
Grant accruals
Shares listed on the London Stock Exchange
Cash
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
Deferred income
Investments comprise:
Cash held by investment broker pending reinvestment
Historic cost at the end of the year
Net (loss)/gain on change in fair value
Fair value at the end of the year
Debtors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Trade creditors
Disposal proceeds
Fair value at the start of the year
Additions at cost|2023
£
1,216,970
429,981
(366,128)
(52,415)|2022
£
1,228,066
314,881
(338,165)
12,188|
||1,228,408
36,395|1,216,970
97,371|
||1,264,804|1,314,340|
||1,190,336|1,178,874|
||2023
£
1,228,408
36,395|2022
£
1,216,970
97,371|
||1,264,804|1,314,341|
||2023
£
103,755
209
48,933
991,539|2022
£
98,082
17
47,399
1,126,541|
||1,144,436|1,272,040|
||2023
£
145,635
64,356
84,120
410,873
1,020,676
299,250|2022
£
149,799
71,663
68,457
177,445
1,018,738
460,577|
||2,024,909|1,946,680|
39
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
## 16 Deferred income
Deferred income comprises both fees received in advance of the delivery of the services and grants received for future financial periods.
|Balance at the beginning of the period
Amount released to income in the period
Amount deferred in the period
Balance at the end of the period
Investments
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the period
Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
Investments
Net current assets
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Net assets at the end of the year
Analysis of net assets between funds (prior period)|£
25,654
1,264,804
531,845
Unrestricted|2023
£
460,577
(460,577)
299,250|2022
£
616,573
(616,573)
460,577|
|---|---|---|---|
|||299,250|460,577|
|||Restricted
£
-
-
238,049|2023 Total
£
25,654
1,264,804
769,894|
||1,822,303|238,049|2,060,352|
||£
25,910
1,314,341
493,601
Unrestricted|Restricted
£
-
-
339,118|2022 Total
£
25,910
1,314,341
832,719|
||1,833,852|339,118|2,172,970|
## 17a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
- 17b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior period)
40
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
18a Movements in funds (current year)
|Movements in funds (current year)||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
Grants programme
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Engagement programmes
Total funds
Designated funds:
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Restricted funds:
Sections and regions
Unrestricted funds:
Innovation Fund
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Engagement programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Contingency for wind-down costs
General funds
Total unrestricted funds|At 1 April
2022
£
-
17,392
170,388
-
134,666
16,672|
Incoming
resources &
gains
£
1,056,560
869,754
928,146
144,717
3,184,458
-|
Outgoing
resources &
losses
£
(1,046,960)
(887,146)
(1,029,131)
(144,717)
(3,171,101)
(5,649)|Transfers
£
(9,600)
-
-
-
-
9,600|At 31 March
2023
£
()
-
69,403
-
148,024
20,623|
||339,118|6,183,634|(6,284,704)|-|238,049|
||80,000
80,000
145,000
225,000
500,000
15,861|-
65,700
244,923
136,110
-
-|(14,071)
(77,983)
(76,839)
(246,098)
-
-|34,899
22,283
(193,083)
89,988
-
-|100,828
90,000
120,001
205,000
500,000
15,861|
||1,045,861|446,733|(414,991)|(45,913)|1,031,690|
||787,990|156,269|(199,559)|45,913|790,613|
||1,833,851|603,002|(614,550)|-|1,822,303|
||2,172,969|6,786,636|(6,899,254)|-|2,060,352|
18b Movements in funds (prior period)
|Movements in funds (prior period)||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
General funds
Restricted funds:
Designated funds:
Other
Engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Branches
Sections and regions
Unrestricted funds:
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Contingency for wind-down costs
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Engagement programmes
Grants programme
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Innovation Fund|At 1 April
2021
£
-
32,000
80,307
104,693
25,565
2,350
29,248
-|
Incoming
resources &
gains
£
523,973
723,063
934,751
50,805
2,371,862
-
-
81,994|
Outgoing
resources &
losses
£
(525,122)
(737,671)
(844,670)
(155,498)
(2,262,761)
-
(11,427)
(81,994)|Transfers
£
1,149
-
-
-
-
(2,350)
(1,149)
-|At 31 March
2022
£
-
17,392
170,388
-
134,666
-
16,672
-|
||274,163|4,686,448|(4,619,143)|(2,350)|339,118|
||148,187
70,000
167,000
237,500
500,000
15,861|-
68,257
229,759
186,259
-
-|-
(109,153)
(50,182)
(270,660)
-
-|(68,187)
50,896
(201,577)
71,901
-
-|80,000
80,000
145,000
225,000
500,000
15,861|
||1,138,548|484,275|(429,995)|(146,967)|1,045,860|
||598,152|120,046|(79,524)|149,317|787,991|
||1,736,700|604,321|(509,519)|2,350|1,833,851|
||2,010,863|5,290,769|(5,128,662)|-|2,172,969|
41
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
## 19 Movements in funds - descriptions
Purposes of restricted funds
## Festival of Science
These are funds received specifically to deliver the Festival of Science and have been fully spent in the year.
## Other engagement programmes
These are funds received specifically to deliver Engagement Programmes.
## Grants Programme
These are funds received directly to deliver the Ideas Fund programme. At the year end some grant funding had not been fully spent and has been carried forward.
## Education
These are funds received predominantly to deliver work relating to the CREST awards. At the year end some grant funding had not been fully spent and has been carried forward.
## Policy, Partnerships & Impact
These are funds received in order to deliver work in relation to the For Thought Summit.
## Sections
Sections raise their own funds as well as receive contributions from the engagement programmes. The majority of the balances are restricted funding from the British Science Festival.
- 19 Movements in funds - descriptions (continued)
Purposes of designated funds
## British Science Festival
These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the Science Festival during the coming financial year if required.
## Engagement
These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the Engagement team in the coming financial year if required.
## Education
These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the Education Team in the coming financial year if required.
## Policy, Partnerships & Impact
These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the PPI Team in the coming financial year if required.
## Contingency for wind-down costs
We currently hold £500,000 in designated reserves as a contingency in the case of wind down.
## Innovation Fund
The availability of this fund encourages our staff to develop and implement ideas that contribute to our strategic goals during the year.
## Transfers between funds
Transfers have been made between funds to enable the right reserves to be available in the right areas as described above.
42
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
- 20 Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
|||2023|2022|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
|Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period||(112,615)|162,107|
|(as per the statement of financial activities)||||
|Depreciation charges||13,169|10,658|
|(Profit)/loss on the disposal of fixed assets||345|3,435|
|(Gains)/losses on investments||52,414|(12,188)|
|Dividends, interest and rent from investments||(20,261)|(13,829)|
|(Increase)/decrease in debtors||127,601|(781,662)|
|Increase/(decrease) in creditors||78,231|969,304|
|Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities||138,884|337,825|
|Analysis of cash and cash equivalents||||
||At 31 March||At 31 March|
||2022|Cash flows|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Cash at bank and in hand|1,507,360|143,008|1,650,368|
|Cash awaiting investment|97,372|(60,977)|36,395|
|Total cash and cash equivalents|1,604,731|82,031|1,686,763|
21 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
## 22 Operating lease commitments
The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods.
|
following periods.|||
|---|---|---|
|Less than 1 year
1 - 5 Years
Over 5 years|2023
2022
£
£
67,102
62,712
268,408
250,848
1,006,529
1,003,394
Property||
||1,342,039|1,316,953|
The commitment relates to the service charge due under the Wellcome Wolfson Building lease. The term of the lease is for 40 years from 29 September 2003 increasing by inflation each year.
43
British Association for the Advancement of Science
## Notes to the financial statements
## For the year ended 31 March 2023
## 23 Detail of branches, and sections and regions restricted funds
|Sections and regions
Agriculture & Food
Anthropology
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Economics
Education
Engineering
General
Geography
Geology
History of Science
Mathematics
Medical Sciences
Physics
Psychology
Science & The Arts
Sociology
Total sections and regions
restricted funds|At 1 April
2022
109
-
-
4,673
1,871
1,465
2,265
1,178
2,302
816
-
552
595
469
2,662
-
15
18,971|Incoming
resources &
gains
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Outgoing
resources &
losses
(75)
(557)
(63)
-
-
-
-
(708)
(366)
(608)
(232)
-
(200)
(1,050)
(1,065)
(664)
(63)|
Transfers
800
400
400
400
-
-
800
800
400
800
800
800
400
800
800
800
400|At 31 March
2023
834
(157)
338
5,073
1,871
1,465
3,065
1,270
2,336
1,007
568
1,352
795
219
2,398
136
352|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||(5,648)|9,600|22,923|
## 24 Post Balance Sheet Events
Since the year end there has been a material change in the VAT recognition on CREST income. This was agreed with HMRC in July 2023. This does not require an adjustment to the accounts, however this has been disclosed as information for the reader of the accounts.
44