Charity registration number: 267625
## The British Society For The Philosophy of Science
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Community Accounting Plus Units 1 & 2 Northwest 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Contents (continued)**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 4|
|Independent Examiner's Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|8 to 12|
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
|**Trustees**|Dr Adrian Currie|
|---|---|
||Dr Kirsten Walsh|
||Prof Rachel Cooper|
||Dr James Read|
||Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta|
||Prof James Ladyman, President|
||Dr Alexander Franklin|
||Dr Alexandria Boyle|
|**Charity Registration Number**|267625|
|**Principal Office**|University of Oxford|
||Faculty of Philosophy|
||Radcliffe Humanities|
||Oxford|
||OX2 6GG|
|**Independent Examiner**|John O'Brien, employee of|
||Community Accounting Plus|
||Units 1 & 2 Northwest|
||41 Talbot Street|
||Nottingham|
||NG1 5GL|
Page 1
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Trustees and officers**
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees: Dr Adrian Currie Dr Kirsten Walsh Prof Rachel Cooper Dr James Read Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta Prof James Ladyman, President Dr Alexander Franklin (appointed 9 February 2024) Dr Alexandria Boyle (appointed 9 February 2024) Prof Alastair Wilson (resigned 5 July 2023) Prof Robert Northcott (resigned 5 July 2023)
## _**Nature of governing document**_
The charity is operated under the rules of its trust deed adopted in 1960 and most recently amended 7th June 2010.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Objects and aims**_
The principal object of the charity is to study the logic, the methods, and the philosophy of science, as well as those various special sciences, including the social sciences.
The BSPS holds an annual conference on the philosophy of science with invited speakers and contributed papers.
The BSPS awards doctoral studentships for doctoral work in the philosophy of science at a UK university.
The BSPS makes small grants to support conferences relevant to research and education in its areas of study.
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science is published by Chicago University Press on behalf of the BSPS.
The BSPS gives its imprimatur to the University of Calgary open access monographs series on philosophy of science, which has published John Norton’s ‘Material Theory of Induction’, with further volumes to come.
Page 2
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Public benefit**_
Activities benefit the public through supporting and disseminating research in the logic, the methods, and the philosophy of science.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
## **Achievements and performance**
The BSPS 2023 Annual Conference was held in person at the University of Bristol. It was deemed a success by conference attendees.
The Society began quarterly scholarship payments to its doctoral scholar, Mr William Wolf, in September 2023. The Society does not expect to begin another such doctoral award in September 2024.
The BJPS was published by Chicago University Press under Editors-in-Chief Wendy Parker and Rob Rupert.
The Popper Prize for 2023 was awarded by the Committee, in conjunction with the Editors-in-Chief of the BJPS, to James DiFrisco, for the paper, "Toward a Theory of Homology: Development and the De-coupling of Morphological and Molecular Evolution".
The Society also offered financial support to conferences falling within its areas of interest.
## **Financial review**
## _**Policy on reserves**_
The society’s policy is to maintain reserves approximately equal to three years’ expenditure. This is being reviewed against the ability to pay out all obligations should there be a 50% drop in journal income.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Recruitment and appointment of trustees**_
The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees (members of the BSPS committee) who are elected by Members of the society at the AGM.
Page 3
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:28/06/2024
......................................... Prof James Ladyman, President Trustee
Page 4
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The British Society For The Philosophy of Science (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
......................................
John O’Brien MSc, FAIA, FCCA, FCIE, employee of Community Accounting Plus Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners
Units 1 & 2 Northwest 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL
Date:.............................
Page 5
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Charitable activities
2
Investment income
3
Total Income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
4
Total Expenditure
Gains/losses on investment assets
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**£**
162,769
1,044
163,813
(113,336)
(113,336)
13,930
64,407
297,679
362,086|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
162,769
1,044
163,813
(113,336)
(113,336)
13,930
64,407
297,679
362,086|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
130,516
34|
|---|---|---|---|
||||130,550|
||||(92,045)|
||||(92,045)|
||||(6,412)|
||||32,093
265,586|
||||297,679|
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 6
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **(Registration number: 267625) Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Investments
7
**Current assets**
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
9
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**2023**
**£**
142,530
94,844
136,822
231,666
(12,110)
219,556
362,086
362,086
362,086|**2022**
**£**
128,600
31,411
145,582|
|---|---|---|
|||176,993
(7,914)|
|||169,079|
|||297,679|
|||297,679|
|||297,679|
The financial statements on pages 6 to 12 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 28/06/2024.................... and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... Dr James Read Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
The British Society For The Philosophy of Science meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement**
Under the exemption available to smaller charities the Board of Trustees has chosen not to include a Statement of Cash Flows within the financial statements.
## **Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.
## **Income and endowments**
## _**Investment income**_
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregates similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## _**Charitable activities**_
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Page 8
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Office Equipment 25% straight line
## **Fixed asset investments**
Fixed asset investments, other than programme related investments, are included at market value at the balance sheet date. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year, or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period of disposal.
Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.
## **Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Page 9
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **Borrowings**
Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
## **2 Income from charitable activities**
|Share of surplus on sale of journal & membership
fees
**3**
**Investment income**
Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
162,769
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
1,044|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
162,769
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
1,044|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
130,516|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Total**
**2022**
**£**
34|
Page 10
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **4 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|Grants, bursaries & scholarships
Journal costs
Annual conference
Other expenditure
Website
Professional fees
Subscriptions
Management charge on investments
Trustee expenses|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
43,220
62,118
3,174
1,940
-
1,110
972
560
242
113,336|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
43,220
62,118
3,174
1,940
-
1,110
972
560
242
113,336|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
35,458
52,569
200
58
1,042
1,110
1,028
580
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||92,045|
## **5 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **6 Independent examiner's fees**
During the period, the fees payable (excluding VAT) to the charity’s independent examiner are analysed as follows:
|follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|Independent examination
**7**
**Fixed asset investments**
Other investments|**2023**
**£**
925
**2023**
**£**
142,530|**2022**
**£**
925|
|||**2022**
**£**
128,600|
Page 11
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **Other investments**
|**Cost or Valuation**
At 1 January 2023
Revaluation
At 31 December 2023
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
**8**
**Debtors**
Other debtors
**9**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors||**Listed**
**investments**
**£**
128,600
13,930||**Total**
**£**
128,600
13,930
142,530
142,530
128,600
**2022**
**£**
31,411|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||142,530|||
|||142,530|||
|||128,600|||
|||**2023**
**£**
94,844
**2023**
**£**
12,110|||
|||||**2022**
**£**
7,914|
## **10 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year.
## **11 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
A total of £242 was paid in trustee expenses.
Page 12
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **Other investments**
|**Cost or Valuation**
At 1 January 2023
Revaluation
At 31 December 2023
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
**8**
**Debtors**
Other debtors
**9**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors||**Listed**
**investments**
**£**
128,600
13,930||**Total**
**£**
128,600
13,930
142,530
142,530
128,600
**2022**
**£**
31,411|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||142,530|||
|||142,530|||
|||128,600|||
|||**2023**
**£**
94,844
**2023**
**£**
12,110|||
|||||**2022**
**£**
7,914|
## **10 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year.
## **11 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
A total of £242 was paid in trustee expenses.
Page 12
## **The British Society For The Philosophy of Science**
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
## **Other investments**
|**Cost or Valuation**
At 1 January 2023
Revaluation
At 31 December 2023
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
**8**
**Debtors**
Other debtors
**9**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors||**Listed**
**investments**
**£**
128,600
13,930||**Total**
**£**
128,600
13,930
142,530
142,530
128,600
**2022**
**£**
31,411|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||142,530|||
|||142,530|||
|||128,600|||
|||**2023**
**£**
94,844
**2023**
**£**
12,110|||
|||||**2022**
**£**
7,914|
## **10 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year.
## **11 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
A total of £242 was paid in trustee expenses.
Page 12