Avon Beekeepers Association Registered Charity no. 271717
Trustees’ Annual Report for the Period 1st November 2023 to 31st October 2024
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the objectives of the charity set out in its governing document
The Association’s objectives are to advance the science of apiculture and to promote and foster the education of the public therein.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects In planning our activities for the year the trustees keep in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings.
The main activities are as follows:
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ABKA stands at county shows where members of the public can find out about beekeeping and the importance of bees in the environment from practicing beekeepers,
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beginner courses for members of the public who are interested in taking up beekeeping,
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practical training for new members at one of our training apiaries,
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advanced classes for practicing beekeepers to enable them to take firstly the basic examination, and then further Module examinations run by the national beekeeping association, the BBKA, as they become more experienced,
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regular meetings and lectures by invited specialist speakers on specific aspects of beekeeping and honey bee problems,
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giving talks on beekeeping at schools, both primary and secondary, to help children’s awareness and importance of bees and other insects in the environment,
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upgrading our training apiaries to provide the best possible environment for educating our new members in practical beekeeping and, where possible, spaces for holding meetings and lectures,
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collecting honey bee swarms and while doing so helping the public to become aware of bee behaviour and their importance in the environment,
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the ABKA website (www.avonbeekeepers.org.uk), and the websites of our branches and links from BBKA website provide plenty of information on bees and beekeeping and associated events in the locality. Members are informed of forthcoming events both locally and nationally by post or email. Regular newsletters are produced to promote the importance of education for members.
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running meetings and talks via the Internet (e.g. on ‘Zoom’) where meetings at outside venues are impractical.
Many of our experienced beekeepers carry out these activities as volunteers. We also encourage young people from all backgrounds and faiths to become interested in bees and, hopefully, some will take up beekeeping as junior members of the association.
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Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
ABKA’s membership remained steady over the year. By the year end there were 467 BBKA Registered members, 31 Partner members, 20 Country, 6 Junior, 1 School and 1 BBKA Honorary member: total 526 (2023/2024 - 536). In addition each branch has a number of associate members who do not have bees. These are members who are considering taking up beekeeping and attend apiary meetings to gain knowledge.
The charity ran several talks throughout the year along with a successful ABKA Spring Day School and a two day stand at the Bath and West show.
The Association and its’ branches continue to use the online platform ‘Zoom’ to run some talks as well as committee meetings.
Financial Review
Total monetary assets at 31 October 2024 were £48,652 (2023, £62,537): £48,617 unrestricted funds after deducting designated funds specifically held for further Apiary development.
The combined unrestricted accounts for the year ended 31 October 2024 show a deficit of receipts against payments of £13,705 (2023, surplus £4,714).
Membership subscriptions remain the main source of income for the charity.
Total cash reserves of £48,652 remain at more than one year’s income from voluntary sources (£35,276) and slightly less than one year’s payments that were £79,702 – although of course this figure includes an amount of £18,376 relating to the purchase of Larkhill at Bath. Without this the expenditure would have been £61,326. This is acceptable as the expenditure is wholly within the charitable purposes of the association.
The Executive’s cash reserves have decreased by £1,839 to £12,365 (2022/23 £14,204) mainly as a result of the one off donation of £2,000 to the branches.
Reserves Policy
The overriding policy is to ensure that the Association and each of its branches shall end each year with a minimum level of reserves and available funds to enable each to cover the next year’s projected expenditure. The funds shall not be more than three times the minimum unless established to meet anticipated costs of improving or replacing apiary facilities by one or more branches. Unless there is such a proposal branches should not consider any further increase in subscription until funds are brought within the policy.
Subscription Rates
There was no change to BBKA capitation and ABKA capitation rates from 2022/23 into 2023/2024.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Avon Beekeepers Association (“ABKA”) was founded in 1974 and registered as a charitable trust with the Charity Commission (Registered Number 271717) in 1976.
ABKA is an unincorporated association administered by an Executive Committee of officers and branch delegates (trustees) in accordance with the revised Rules of Association registered with the Charity Commission, as adopted 6 March 2004 and amended 19 March 2008.
The officers of the Executive Committee are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Association in March and branch delegates are appointed annually at the AGMs of Avon Beekeepers Association 2 Reg Charity No. 271717
branches in November.
ABKA has five branches the members of which live in the local authority areas of Bath, Bristol and North Somerset and their neighbouring districts that once formed the County of Avon.
In accordance with the Rules of ABKA, separate committees run each of the five branches and their committee members are elected at branch AGMs.
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity name: Avon Beekeepers Association Other name used: ABKA Registered Charity no. 271717 Charity’s principal address: 38 Currells Lane Felton Bristol BS40 9XF
Names of charity trustees who managed the charity for 2023/24 were:
| President | Anne Rowberry | Bath Delegate | Oosman Tegally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Paul Moorhouse | North Somerset Delegate |
Eric Sortwell |
| Hon. Gen. Secretary | Chris Dudley | Bristol Delegate | Jim Daniels |
| Hon. Treasurer, Membership Sec’y & eR2 Manager |
Mark Hunter | Keynsham Delegate | Vacant |
| Publications and Public Relations |
Eric Sortwell | Weston-super-Mare Delegate |
Brenda Davis |
| Education Secretary & Newsletter |
Sue Hatton | BBKA Delegate | Neil Campbell |
| SWFC Delegate | Anne Rowberry |
The members of the Executive Committee are the Trustees of the Charity. No branch committee member is a trustee other than the branch delegate unless elected as one of the main officers of the executive. Details of branch committees are published on the website www.avonbeekeepers.co.uk.
All communications should be addressed in the first instance to the Hon. Secretary through the ABKA website.
Professional Support
ABKA’s principal banker is Lloyds Bank PO Box 1000, Andover, BX1 1LT. The branches have accounts with clearing banks as follows:Bath – HSBC (2 accounts), Bristol – Lloyds (2 accounts), North Somerset – Lloyds (2 accounts), Keynsham – Barclays, Weston-super-Mare – CAF
The Independent Examiner is Duncan Woodcock 43 Currells Lane Felton Bristol BS40 9XF
Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717
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Avon Beekeepers Association Independent Examiner's Report to the Association’s Trustees
I Report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 October 2024 set out on pages 5 to 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
N.B. I have not been responsible for the independent examination of the individual Branch Accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Duncan Woodcock
FCA
43 Currells Lane Felton Bristol BS40 9XF
20 February 2025
Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717
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Avon Beekeepers Association Accounts for the Executive, Receipts and Payments Account for the Period 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024 (General Fund)
Section A. Receipts and Payments A1 Receipts
Voluntary Sources Note no. Avon Membership (3) Donations/Interest Gift aid tax recovery Sub-total Operating Activities Introduction and training courses Insurance Sub-total
Total Receipts
----- Start of picture text -----
2023/24 2022/23
General Total General Total
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
2,455 2,540
92 32
0 0
2,547 2,572
968 502
0 0
968 502
3,515 3,074
----- End of picture text -----
A2 Payments
Direct Charitable Expenditure BBKA and BDI Education course costs Bath & West, National and SWJCC sponsorship Fund Raising Events Costs Website and newsletter costs Reimbursement for hosting ABKA AGM Educational equipment and grants for branches Donations to outside organisations Sub-total
----- Start of picture text -----
BBKA and BDI 0 0
Education course costs 1,408 2,048
Bath & West, National and SWJCC sponsorship 0 0
Fund Raising Events Costs 0 0
Website and newsletter costs 0 0
Reimbursement for hosting ABKA AGM 0 0
Educational equipment and grants for branches 2,000 2,950
Donations to outside organisations 1,821 800
Sub-total 5,229 5,798
Management & Administration Expenditure
Committee meetings 0 0
General stationery, postage, telephone 0 0
Insurance 0 0
Presidential chain repair 0 0
Bank charges 0 60
Sub-total 0 60
Professional fees
Costs for legal advice 0 0
Examination of Accounts 125 125
125 125
Total Payments 5,354 5,983
Net Receipts/(Payments) for the year (1,839) (2,909)
Opening cash and bank balances 14,204 17,113
Closing cash and bank balances (8) 12,365 14,204
----- End of picture text -----
Section B. Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the General Fund at year end
| B1 Monetary Assets Lloyds Bank interest bearing account (8) Total for General Funds B2 Non-Monetary Assets Educational Assets at insured values 47 Beecraft shares valued at cost Total |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,365 | 14,204 | |||
| 12,365 | 14,204 | |||
| 0 47 |
0 47 |
|||
| 12,412 | 14,251 |
Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717
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Combined Executive and Branches Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Period 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024
Section A. Receipts and Payments
| A1 Receipts Voluntary Sources Note no. Membership (3) Associate membership Members’ BDI additional colony insurance Advance subscriptions for 2024/25 Major Grants (4) Swarms Other grants and donations Gift aid tax recovery Sub-total Operating Activities Introduction and training courses Advance payments for 2025 courses (5) Fundraising events proceeds Hire of books and equipment All risks insurance Apiary items sold to members Apiary honey sales ABKA Reimbursement for Avon AGM Sub-total Income from Assets– Interest/sale of assets Total Receipts A2 Payments Direct Charitable Expenditure BBKA (3) Bee Diseases Insurance Teaching Apiary Building and Equipment (6) Teaching apiary costs (6) Educational courses costs Educational Expenses Purchase of Larkhall (6) Fundraising event costs AGM & other meetings inc speakers costs ABKA Reimbursement for Avon AGM Website and newsletter costs Costs of apiary items for sale to members Donations to other charities, organisations Agent’s fee for site valuation Sub-total Management & Administration Expenditure Committee meetings General stationery, postage, telephone Insurance (7) Presidential chain repair Bank Charges Honoraria Sub-total Professional fees Costs for legal advice Examination of Accounts Total Payments Net receipts/(payments) for the year |
2023/24 General Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 21,099 21,099 989 677 989 677 0 5,000 500 0 5,000 500 1,845 1,845 5,166 35,276 0 0 5,166 35,276 11,933 0 11,933 0 6,903 6,903 265 265 0 9,630 0 9,630 1,127 0 29,858 0 0 1,127 0 29,858 863 0 863 65,997 8 0 65,997 |
2023/24 General Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 21,099 21,099 989 677 989 677 0 5,000 500 0 5,000 500 1,845 1,845 5,166 35,276 0 0 5,166 35,276 11,933 0 11,933 0 6,903 6,903 265 265 0 9,630 0 9,630 1,127 0 29,858 0 0 1,127 0 29,858 863 0 863 65,997 8 0 65,997 |
2023/24 General Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 21,099 21,099 989 677 989 677 0 5,000 500 0 5,000 500 1,845 1,845 5,166 35,276 0 0 5,166 35,276 11,933 0 11,933 0 6,903 6,903 265 265 0 9,630 0 9,630 1,127 0 29,858 0 0 1,127 0 29,858 863 0 863 65,997 8 0 65,997 |
2023/24 General Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 21,099 21,099 989 677 989 677 0 5,000 500 0 5,000 500 1,845 1,845 5,166 35,276 0 0 5,166 35,276 11,933 0 11,933 0 6,903 6,903 265 265 0 9,630 0 9,630 1,127 0 29,858 0 0 1,127 0 29,858 863 0 863 65,997 8 0 65,997 |
2023/24 General Funds £ Designated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds £ 21,099 21,099 989 677 989 677 0 5,000 500 0 5,000 500 1,845 1,845 5,166 35,276 0 0 5,166 35,276 11,933 0 11,933 0 6,903 6,903 265 265 0 9,630 0 9,630 1,127 0 29,858 0 0 1,127 0 29,858 863 0 863 65,997 8 0 65,997 |
2022/23 Total Funds £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,704 1,126 741 0 0 950 1,679 4,441 29,641 10.680 1,050 4,606 240 0 11,068 638 0 28,282 95 |
||||||
| 58,018 | ||||||
| 10,518 1,666 13,474 6,894 7,164 2,706 18,376 0 319 0 635 14,241 1,743 0 77,736 0 27 1,424 0 290 0 1,741 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
10,518 1,666 13,474 6,894 7,164 2,706 18,376 0 319 0 635 14,241 1,743 0 77,736 0 27 1,424 0 290 0 1,741 |
10.821 1,760 4,799 8,264 8,674 2,992 0 0 538 0 1,746 11,461 373 0 51,428 0 126 1,177 0 348 0 1,651 |
||
| 0 225 |
0 225 |
0 225 |
||||
| 79,702 | 0 | 0 | 79,702 | 53,304 | ||
| (13,705) | 8 | 0 | (13,705) | 4,714 |
Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717
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Avon Beekeepers Association
Combined Executive and Branches Accounts (cont’d)
| A3 Summary of Cash and Bank Movements in Year Note no. Opening bank and cash balances Excess/(shortfall) of receipts over payments Transfers between funds |
2023/2024 General Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 50,321 (13,705) 12,036 0 0 62,357 (13,705) 12,001 (12,001) 0 48,617 35 0 48,652 |
2023/2024 General Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 50,321 (13,705) 12,036 0 0 62,357 (13,705) 12,001 (12,001) 0 48,617 35 0 48,652 |
2023/2024 General Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 50,321 (13,705) 12,036 0 0 62,357 (13,705) 12,001 (12,001) 0 48,617 35 0 48,652 |
2023/2024 General Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 50,321 (13,705) 12,036 0 0 62,357 (13,705) 12,001 (12,001) 0 48,617 35 0 48,652 |
2022/2023 Total Funds £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,321 (13,705) |
12,036 0 |
0 | 62,357 (13,705) |
57,643 4,714 |
|
| 12,001 | (12,001) | 0 | 0 | ||
| Closing bank and cash balances(8) | 48,617 | 35 | 0 | 48,652 | 62,357 |
| Section B. Statement of Assets and Liabilities at end of the year 31/10/20 B1 Monetary Assets Bank balances and cash funds Bank Current Accounts (8) Cash Total Funds(8) B2 Non-monetary Assets Educational Assets at Insurance Values(11) Branch Apiary Buildings Beekeeping Equipment Apiary Equipment Educational and display equipment Trophies at insured values Total Insured Assets Honey stocks (12) Bulk purchase stocks Bristol Apiary land at registration value (13) Bath – Larkhill (14) 47 Bee Craft shares valued at cost (15) Total Other Assets Total Non-monetary Assets |
35 0 48,652 35 0 48,652 163,100 48,828 16,999 18,943 21,533 269,403 300 4,322 10,000 18,377 47 33,046 302,449 |
35 0 48,652 35 0 48,652 163,100 48,828 16,999 18,943 21,533 269,403 300 4,322 10,000 18,377 47 33,046 302,449 |
35 0 48,652 35 0 48,652 163,100 48,828 16,999 18,943 21,533 269,403 300 4,322 10,000 18,377 47 33,046 302,449 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48,617 | 35 | 0 | 48,652 | 62,357 | ||
| 48,617 | 35 | 0 | 48,652 | 62,357 | ||
| 163,100 48,828 16,999 18,943 21,533 |
163,100 48,148 16,999 18,543 21,533 |
|||||
| 269,403 300 4,322 10,000 18,377 47 |
268,323 300 380 10,000 0 47 |
|||||
| 33,046 | 10,727 | |||||
| 302,449 | 279,050 |
Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717
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Avon Beekeepers Association Notes to the accounts for the period 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024
The accompanying notes form an integral part of this Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 October 2024
1. Basis of Accounting
The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (SORP revised 2015).
2. Fund accounting
Funds held by the charity are either: -
Unrestricted general funds. These are funds that can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. These funds are termed as General Funds within this document. Designated funds. These are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific purposes or projects. They may be held within the unrestricted general funds or in a separate account.
Restricted funds. These are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.
Endowment funds. ABKA has no endowment funds.
3. Membership
Members’ subscriptions include branch fee, ABKA capitation, BBKA capitation and Basic BDI insurance. These can be claimed for Gift Aid tax reclaim by eligible members.
4. Grants
The branches received a grant of £2,000 from Avon BKA during the year. As these are consolidated accounts this amount does not show in the consolidated profit and loss account.
Bristol received a Social Impact grant of £5,000 from CMS legal services. This was for fencing to secure part of the boundary.
5. Advance Payments for Educational Courses
Deposits were received for 2025 courses of £0 (2024 £1,050)
6. Teaching Apiary building and equipment/Teaching apiary costs
- The total of £13,474 includes North Somerset costs of £3,968, Bristol costs of £6,857 and Bath costs of £2,649.
The apiary improvements of £6,894 relate to Bristol and include a mower at £4,800.
The purchase of Larkhill relates to Bath.
7. Insurance
All Risks Insurance cover is for branch apiary buildings and equipment.
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8. Bank Balances
Unadjusted Bank balances held by the branches and the ABKA Executive at 31 October 2024 were:
| 2024 2023 |
Bath North Somerset Bristol Keyns ham W-s-M Executive Total General 6,343 9,745 15,436 2,887 1,521 12,365 £48,297 Design’d 353 2 £355 |
|---|---|
| Total £6,696 £9,745 £15,438 2,887 £1,521 £12,365 £48,652 |
|
| General 7,894 9,582 14,468 2,755 1,418 14,204 £50,321 Designated 12,034 2 £12,036 |
|
| Total £19,928 £9,582 £14,470 £2,755 £1,418 £14,204 £62,357 |
- Each branch and the Executive plan to hold sufficient funds to meet their budgeted net outgoings for the following year but target not to hold funds in excess of approximately three year’s net outgoings.
10. ABKA Unrestricted Funds
The Executive funds decreased by £1,839 on the previous year.
NON-MONETARY ASSETS
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The branches can be confident that all their property is adequately covered by full replacement all risks insurance and at reasonable cost. Cover is with Aston Lark.
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Honey stocks and bulk purchase stocks are not eligible for insurance cover. Nil values are attributed to hives, colonies, or very old assets.
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Bristol’s freehold apiary site is zoned as agricultural land and was valued at £10,000 on registration in 2004. Discussions with the valuer in March 2010 indicated that there had been no material change since 2004 and the Executive consider this valuation still applies.
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Bath’s acquisition of Larkhill is shown at cost.
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At present the executive has no assets other than Bee Craft shares.
LIABILITIES
Avon Beekeepers Association has no liabilities
The Receipts and Payments Accounts and Statements of the Assets and Liabilities relating to the year ended 31st October 2024, which are set out on the pages above are as approved by the Trustees of the Association.
Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees
Mark Hunter ABKA Hon. Treasurer
7 January 2025
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Avon Beekeepers Association Reg Charity No. 271717 io