2021-12-31-accounts - The British Neuropathological Society

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Charity Commission Registration No. 286363

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY	THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
LEGAL AND ADMISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees	Tim Dawson (President)
	Stephen Wharton (Vice President)
	Daniel Du Plessis (Treasurer)
	Tammaryn Lashley (Secretary)
Accountants	Nabarro
	Chartered Accountants
	Nabarro Accountants Limited
	34-35 Eastcastle St
	London W1W 8DW
Bankers	Bank of Scotland
	174 Byres Road
	Glasgow G12 8SW
	COIF Charity Funds
	CCLA Investment Management Ltd
	St Alphage House
	2 Fare Street
	London EC2Y 5AQ
Principal Address	34-35 Eastcastle St
	London W1W 8DW
Charity Commission	286363
Registration Number

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

TRUSTEES REPORT

The Trustees present their annual report on the affairs of the Society together with the financial statements and independent examiners report for the year ended 31st December 2021.The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014.

Legal & Administrative

Objects

The object of the Society is to further the study of neuropathology, to promote the exchange of scientific information by means of regular meetings, lectures and demonstrations, and to provide the opportunity for discussions between neuropathologists in Britain and other countries.

The trustees consider that by meeting these objectives they will also meet the Public Benefit test applicable to all Charities. The financial statements of the Society provide details of major activities undertaken and how the activities have been financed.

The Society has three restricted funds the objects of which are: -

Dorothy Russell and Alfred Meyer Memorial Funds

To provide scientific symposium and lectures in alternate years

NEQAS Fund

To provide quality assurance in relation to neuropathology, to improve and standardise diagnostic neuropathology.

Trustees

The Trustees are listed on page 1.

Organisation

The Society relies, and will continue to rely, on the voluntary work undertaken by the trustees, members of committees and other volunteers. The Society has no employees.

The trustees are elected by the members and, following election, serve a fixed term at the end of which they may stand for reelection if there are no other candidates. Trustees undertake their own training to ensure they achieve their fiduciary duties.

The trustees meet at the Society’s business meetings twice a year at which time strategic decisions are taken.

The trustee and committee meetings are designed to promote and concentrate the educational and scientific value of the Society's activities.

The trustees have a policy to widen representation of the members on committees.

The Society is affiliated to various European bodies but no formal responsibilities to those organisations exist. There are no related parties or subsidiaries.

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

TRUSTEES REPORT

Investment Powers

The trustees are permitted to make any investment that they see fit, but in view of the current financial climate consider the best arrangements for surplus funds are with the Charities Investment Fund.

Risk Management

The Trustees regularly review the charity’s activities and consider the opportunities available to the charity to enable it to meet its objectives and the risks to which it is exposed. As part of this process the trustees review the risks which the charity may face, establish systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified and implement procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of those risks materialise.

The systems are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

They include regular consideration of financial results, variance from budgets, segregation of duties and the identification and management of risks.

Reserves

The Committee are conscious that in recent years the reserves of the Society have increased to a greater level than would be required to maintain activities even if funding from the journal were to reduce considerably. It is the Trustees intention that unrestricted funds should be reduced to approximately £250,000 over forthcoming years. This will be achieved by an increase number of research grants where suitable projects are proposed and increased academic, training and educational activities. It is also hoped to achieve digitalization and computerisation -online- for society meetings and EQAs, for this a training programme for some members has already begun.

Responsibilities of Trustees

Charity Law 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 results of the Charity for the period, together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the period and adequately distinguish any material special trust or other restricted fund of the charity. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

State whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the appropriate SORP on Accounting by Charities and the Accounting Regulations and with applicable accounting standards, 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 which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice and the regulations made under s44 of the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

TRUSTEES REPORT

Review of the Year

The 121st BNS meeting in 2020, was probably one of the last face-to-face medical scientific meetings before the Covid-19 pandemic lock down of 2020. Owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, like many medical meetings during this period, the 122th Annual Society Meeting on 3rd – 4th March 2021 was the first on-line virtual meeting held in the history of the Society. The Society engaged a specialist event organiser (Abbey Events) for this process.

Despite the uncertain novelty of this process and changing the meeting to one day of scientific presentations and posters followed by a half day Symposium, the meeting attracted a record registration numbers. Given the difficulties the pandemic presented to all disciplines and grades in achieving their educational goals, the Society decided to waive the registration fee for trainees, nurses and early career scientists and cap the fee for all other grades and support the meeting as a charitable project.

There was a full day of scientific paper presentations on Wednesday 3rd followed by the EQA and Society meetings. The afternoon of Thursday 4thwas dedicated to a Symposium. The scientific presentations covered cerebrovascular disease, biology of brain tumours, neurodegeneration and dementia. Papers were presented both as short orals and via an online poster room.

The Alfred Meyer prize lecture was given by Professor Gabor Kovacs of University of Toronto and University Health Network, Canada, on the Wednesday. Professor Kovacs gave an excellent Lecture on the “Neuropathological Landscape of Tau-related conditions”. There was also a diagnostic update, introduced in previous years as a means of improving general clinical practice, this year on skeletal muscle pathology by Dr R Phadke and Professor Sewry.

The theme of the Symposium on the 4th of March was Brain Tumours 2021: Challenges and Opportunities. It was an overwhelming success with an excellent series of internationally renowned speakers included Roel Verhaak (The Jackson Laboratory, USA), Joanna Joyce (University of Lausanne and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Switzerland), Michelle Monje (Stanford University, USA), Giuseppe Battaglia (UCL, UK) and Silvia Marino (QMUL, UK).

The virtual scientific meeting also worked well and there were lessons learnt in improving future face-to-face meetings.

The Society’s aim of providing continued further education via the organisation of meetings and symposia for its members and invited non-members was also challenged in this pandemic period. It was decided to postpone the society’s Summer School, which is held every two years at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester until social interaction was more permissible.

The society trustees’ stated vision to broaden attendance at meetings and forums relevant to clinical neuropathology and applied neurobiology was also difficult to address during this financial year due to the prevailing conditions.

The Society was able to continue its bursary schemes but given the contraction in research, the number of small research grants and travel bursaries awarded were reduced compared to previous years. Clinical trainees also continued to receive support through the provision of financial subsidy of educational/training meetings, particularly with the BNS buying 4 places on EuroCNS training courses, many of which were also transitioned to virtual presentations in the conditions.

The Society continued to support other educational activities The Royal College of Pathology (Virtual) Summer School. The society further supports the International Society of Neuropathology (ISN) and the European Neuropathology Society (EuroCNS) via payment of yearly per capita member subscription fees, which allows BNS members to engage with these bodies and its activities/publications. In addition, the Society is setting aside signidicant funding to support the European Congress of Neuropathology 2027 in Edinburgh .

The Society remains affiliated to the Joint Neurosciences Counsel of the United Kingdom. The Society continues to fund its BNS website, which highlight the activities of the Society and provide an easily accessible portal for junior members to access bursaries. The society’s finances continue to benefit from royalty generated by its journal, Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. The journal is published on behalf of the society by Wiley Blackwell. Royalties received constitute the bulk of the society’s annual income as in the past. The Society subsidises members’ subscription to NAN (both the online and paper copies of the journal). No fund raising activities are undertaken by the society however it has been agreed by the membership to increase membership fee over the next few years to reduce or eliminate the need for the Society to subsidise some membership benefits..

The Society continues to provide substantial support to maintaining diagnostic neuropathology as a GMC-recognised independent medical speciality with considerable engagement in the recruitment, curriculum setting and assessment activities relevant to the speciality. The Society funds a model External Quality Assurance (EQA) Scheme, which is fully digitised. High level participation and continuous review of the scheme ensures continued public confidence in the national neuropathology service.

Signed on behalf of the Committee on 10 January 2024 2021

Professor Timothy P Dawson BSc(hons) MB BCh PhD(Wales) DipRCPath FRCPath President

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 6 to 9.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiners’ report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiners’ statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with s130 of the Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting
• requirements of the Act

have not been met; or

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of 2 the accounts to be reached.

M F Gibbons FCA Nabarro 34-35 Eastcastle St Chartered Accountants London W1W 8DW

xxxxxx 2022

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021

INCOME & EXPENDITURE

FUND BALANCES CARRIED NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR Fund balances brought forward TOTAL EXPENDITURE Committee expenses 6 Bank Charges Accountancy Website design Administrative costs EQA costs Support Direct charitable Subscriptions 5 Cost of journal Cost of meetings 3 4 Grants & sponsorship Surplus from Journal Interest receivable Incoming resources Subscriptions		Unrestricted Funds £ 10,882 132,332 33 143,247 16,492 58,245 11,386 86,124 0 4,560 925 2,730 8,215 94,339 48,908 527,990 £576,898		Restricted Funds £ 420 5 425 7,638 7,638 0 7,638 (7,213) 56,749 £49,536		Total 2021 £ 11,302 132,332 38 143,672 0 16,492 58,245 11,386 7,638 93,762 0 4,560 925 0 2,730 8,215 101,977 41,695 587,380 £629,075		Total 2020 £ 11,194 128,788 844
								140,826
								0 5,927 12,331 50 349
								18,657
								904 4,319 0 72 2,580
								7,875
								26,532
								114,294 470,446
								£584,740

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2021

Note 7 Creditors 8 2 NET CURRENT ASSETS Total assets less current liabilities Cash deposits Dorothy Russell Memorial Fund Alfred Meyer Memorial Fund NEQAS Fund Restricted Funds Represented by: Unrestricted Funds General Purpose Funds CURRENT ASSETS LESS: CURRENT LIABILITIES	£ £ 643,130 643,130 16,696 626,434 £626,434 576,898 4,582 44,388 567 49,536 £626,434 2021	£ 587,320	£ 584,740 £584,740 527,991 56,749 £584,740 2020	£ 584,740 £584,740 527,991 56,749 £584,740 2020

		587,320
		2,580
		4,581 44,383 7,785
				£584,740
				527,991 56,749
				£584,740

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on xxxxxx 2022

D DuPlessis Treasurer

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)

These accounts reflect all funds held by the charity, which are governed by the Bye Laws, adopted on 14th July 1977 as amended on 11th January 1991 and 3rd March 2021. The funds held are utilised in accordance with the trusts under which the Trustees are empowered in the Bye Laws.

(b)

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014.

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.

(c)

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention on an accruals basis and include income and expenditure as they are earned or incurred rather than as cash is received or paid, except in the case of the surplus from journal, which is accounted for when received from the publisher.

2. ANALYSIS OF RESTRICTED FUNDS

Income Interest received Expenditure Lecture costs Laboratory costs Online subscription Fund Balance Brought Forward FUND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD Net Income For Year Subscriptions receivable	Dorothy Russell Memorial Fund Alfred Meyer Memorial Fund EQA Fund TOTAL £ £ £ £ 420 420 1 5 5
	1 5 420 425
	0 7,638 7,638 0
	0 0 7,638 7,638
	1 5 (7,218) (7,213) 4,581 44,383 7,785 56,749
	4,582 44,388 567 49,536

THE BRITISH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021

2021 £ 3. MEETINGS Meeting costs 22,738 (6,246) Summer school 16,492 10 18,378 39,367 500 58,245 Euro CNS 6,176 5,210 11,386 0 499,269 100,117 4,364 1,213 38,168 643,130 16,696 16,696 Creditors 6. TRUSTEES EXPENSES International Society of Neuropathology Sponsorship Unrestricted journal fund 4. GRANTS & SPONSORSHIP Alfred Meyer Memorial Lecture 8. CREDITORS Unrestricted general funds Committee travel and subsistence Committee room hire The trustees received no remuneration during the year (2020: nil) NEQAS Restricted fund Number of Awards Research grants & bursary's Dorothy Russell Memorial Lecture 5. SUBSCRIPTIONS Sponsorship of Brain UK 7. CASH DEPOSITS Surplus from meeting Trainees training day	£	2020 0 0 4,866 1,062
		5,928
		6
		8,300 4,031
		12,331
		0 50
		50
		906
		906
		436,257 100,105 4,363 8,431 38,164
		587,320
		2,580
		2,580