## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts**
## **for the year ending 31 December 2020**
Page
- 2 Administrative Information 4 Trustees’ Annual Report 7 Receipts & Payments 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities 9 Notes to the Accounts 11 Independent Examiner’s Report
## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
## **Administrative Information**
**Working name** LBKA **Charity registration number** 500360 **Honorary Patron** Francis Dymoke
**Trustees** (currently and for the whole period reported unless shown otherwise)
Charity Officers and LBKA trustees:
|Chair|Iain Burnley||
|---|---|---|
|Vice Chair|Richard Harrison||
|Secretary|Clare George||
|Treasurer|Catherine Lake||
|Membership Secretary|Graham Luckhurst||
|Lincolnshire Show Committee Secretary||Richard Harrison|
District Representatives and LBKA trustees:
|Lincoln|Neill Gardener||
|---|---|---|
|Boston|Peter Vergedaal||
|Louth|Will Hamilton||
|Horncastle|Graham Carrott||
|North Lincs|Frances Ross||
|Market Rasen|Lesley Burns|_(from Jan 2020)_|
|Grimsby|Vacant||
|Grantham|Andrew Watkins||
|Sleaford|Keith Baker||
|Wragby|Gill Smith||
## Other elected posts
(If marked € are Central Council members but neither trustees nor voting members in the capacity below.)
Honorary President
Gill Smith €
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## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
Other elected posts
Lincolnshire Show Committee Treasurer Diane Harrison ADM Delegate Andrew Watkins € Examinations Officer Mike Seal Education Coordinator Vacant Publicity Officer Keith Baker €
**Principal contact address** The Lodge, Rennisons Carr Farm Elsham Carr Road, Elsham Lincolnshire DN20 0BF
**Email** secretary@lincsbka.org.uk **Website** https://www.lincsbka.org.uk/ **Independent Examiner** Mr B. Gibbon BSc. Hons ACMA CGMA
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## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
## **Central Council Trustees’ Annual Report**
Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association (LBKA) is an unincorporated charity originally constituted on 18 March 1967 and registered with the Charity Commission (number 500360) on 21 September 1970. Its constitution was last amended 15th March 2020.
LBKA Central Council submits the Trustees’ Annual Report and consolidated accounts, for the charity, its ten districts and annual honey show, covering the year ending 31 December 2020.
LBKA is affiliated to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), also a charity.
## **Objects**
The main objects of LBKA are to:
- Encourage, improve and advance apiculture, primarily but not exclusively within Lincolnshire, to the public good.
- Advance the awareness of the public in the importance of bees in the environment.
## **Public Benefit**
The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance and have taken it into account when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
## **Review of activities during the year**
For LBKA 2020 was a challenging year. Covid 19 has restricted many of the usual activities during the course of the year and most of the monthly social and training events, country shows we would normally participate in, and our annual honey show at the Lincolnshire Show, were cancelled. We hope that normal levels of social events, shows etc., will resume sometime in 2021.
The LBKA AGM was held in March just before lockdown, at the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Centre and was well attended. The guest speaker was Andrew Durham who spoke about the threat of the Asian hornet to the UK and the experience of French and Spanish beekeepers and how UK beekeepers can assist with defences in the apiary and the management of their bees under predation.
To coincide with BBKAs’ Asian Hornet week (Sept 7-13) our Asian Hornet Coordinator organised a press release and contributed to local radio shows and was interviewed by local press throughout the week raising awareness with the public on how to spot and report a Asian hornet.
In spite of lockdown, Sleaford District were able to set up their district apiary in 2020, due to the kindness and generosity of members both past and present, Woodhall Spa Rotary Club and the Coop. They now have a total of 8 hives of varying types for members and beginners to gain experience and widen their beekeeping knowledge.
They were lucky in that their beginners’ course of 10 participants was completed just before the first lockdown and when it lifted, they were able to allow very small groups to use the apiary for the practical course.
Although their meetings were curtailed, they have kept their membership in contact with each other through regular newsletters and have run all of the usual bulk purchases during the year for the benefit of their active beekeepers’.
Horncastle held a training course for 17 participants in 2020, even though they had an unscheduled pause, caused by the first lockdown during the theory sessions. Even with these difficulties they managed to keep all but two of the course members as new members of the district, and one of them has signed up for the 2021 course.
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## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
Their new apiary is now well established and has proved to be a useful addition to the quality of training for the beginners’ course, allowing participants to gain experience and confidence when handling bees. During the easing of restrictions during the summer they held a socially distanced “meet the bees” for 12 members of the public.
They collected 50 swarms during 2020 and strangely find that social distancing isn’t usually a problem when they want to catch a swarm!
Market Rasen had a good turnout for their AGM and social at the beginning of the year and an excellent talk with Peter and Glynis on producing the prefect mead in February. Mike, Brian and Lesley took a trip down to the BBKA Asian Hornet Conference which although they were unable to present feedback at a meeting, managed to post electronically to all. In March, Sue gave an insight and informative talk on swarm collecting. Once in lockdown Brian ran Q and A email sessions which hopefully gave those in need of a solution or tip to help them along and give some support.
Their 2020 Beginners’ course was cancelled and for the same reason any additional training and members’ access to the apiary was not possible. Even without a lockdown, social distancing round a bee hive is not really manageable. Some of the Beginners’ course applicants were refunded but the majority asked that their fees should be deferred to 2021.
Grimsby managed to hold 2 monthly meetings before lockdown and held meetings via video conferencing later during the year. Being locked down appears to have resulted in more enquiries regarding the taking up of beekeeping and hopefully worthwhile advice has been passed on.
Positive Activities Charity who is managing a £1m Humberston Eco Conservation project got in contact asking if Grimsby district were willing to be involved with beekeeping on the site. They have offered advice and will hopefully get more involved when the lockdown eases.
The annual auction of bee items in March hosted by Lincoln District had to be cancelled as was their beginner’s course. They continued to encourage new and inexperienced beekeepers by phone and email and hope that most will stick with the hobby and will hope to participate fully in activities once they are back up and running in 2021.
## **Reserves policy**
Unrestricted financial reserves of the charity continued to increase and stood at **£63.2K** at 31 December 2020, comprising monies held centrally and those distributed across its ten district branches and honey show committee.
In the past Central Council has considered, but never formally ratified, a charity reserves policy of holding sufficient funds to cover 18 months’ normal running costs excluding self-funded items such as subscriptions and bulk purchases resold to members. LBKA’s consolidated unrestricted reserves at the year-end were equivalent to 35 months’ coverage on that basis, so the charity is in a very strong position to carry out its primary objectives.
## **Administrative responsibilities**
The charity’s trustees comprise its 6 officers (as listed above), one representative for each of its 10 districts. These trustees are elected, as appropriate, at either its central or districts’ Annual General Meetings to serve until the next AGM. Additional members to fill casual vacancies or otherwise may be co-opted during the year. The names of the current trustees and all who have served as trustees during the year being reported, are shown on page 2.
LBKA Central Council comprises its trustees and additional post holders, who are not trustees, elected at the charity’s AGM or co-opted. Whilst Central Council broadly co-ordinates and administers many
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## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
of LBKA’s activities, the trustees meet separately to address matters specifically relating to the charity’s management and regulation.
The trustees recognise their joint responsibility for keeping proper accounting records and preparing financial statements each year. The appended accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and have been independently examined with the examiner’s report included as part of these financial statements.
Approved by Central Council on 6[th] April 2020 and signed on its behalf by:
…………………………………..
Catherine Lake (Treasurer)
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## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Receipts and Payments Account Year ending 31 December 2020**
|**Notes**
2
**Receipts**
Donations & grants
Fundraising receipts
4
Members' subscriptions
9|**2020**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
2,463 5,234
130 26,431
14,986 16,235|
|---|---|
|Training events
Meetings & social events
Sales
Bank interest
Sundry income
**Payments**
Fundraising costs
4
Subscriptions to BBKA/BDI|3,345 5,745
335 1,192
7,417 7,638
9 4
1532,141|
||**28,837 64,619**|
||513 20,852
10,912 10,263|
|Bulk purchases for resale
8
Meetings & social events
Equipment & books
Training & education
Quarterly Review & Directory
Donations & grants
Postage & stationery
Honey shows
District apiaries
Accounts & Charity Ind. Examination
Sundries
**Net receipts (payments) for the year**
Cash & bank balances brought forward
**Cash & bank balances carried forward**|411 2,462
2,165 2,906
6,449 8,070
710 1,711
- 1,350
888 500
724 538
434 5,390
2,942 1,733
500 1,027
561 1,803|
||**27,20858,604**|
||**1,629 6,015**
61,66255,647|
||**63,291 61,662**|
|||
**Page 7**
## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Statement of Assets and Liabilities Year ending 31 December 2020**
Approved by Central Council on 6[th] April 2020 and signed on its behalf by:
…………………………………………… Iain Burnley Chair …………………………………………… Catherine Lake Treasurer
The notes on pages 9 to 10 form part of these accounts.
Registered Charity No. 500360
**Page 8**
## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31 December 2020**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
## **Fund accounting**
## **Unrestricted fund**
The unrestricted general fund represents the net income received, which is applied in furtherance of the objects of the charity.
## **Restricted funds**
Restricted funds are funds, which are used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by funds providers. The aim of any restricted fund is set out in these notes to the accounts.
## **2 Presentation of accounts**
There being no restricted funds received, retained or expended during the current year, the Receipts and Payments Account shows only unrestricted funds.
## **3 Reserves Statement**
|**Unrestricted funds**
Robert Park Legacy
General fund|**Opening**
**balance at**
**01/01/20**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
**Closing**
**balance at**
**31/12/20**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
5,028
4
-
5,032
56,785
28,833
27,208
58,409|
|---|---|
||**61,813**
**28,837**
**27,208**
**63,442**|
A £3.3K legacy from the estate of Robert Park in 2002 was, by decision of an AGM of the charity, topped up to £5,000 and invested in an interest-bearing bank account with the intention of leaving the principal sum untouched. This sum was draw upon in 2018 and reinstated in 2019. There are no restrictions on the use of that money beyond that AGM decision which is thus open to being reversed at a future general meeting.
## **4 Fundraising receipts & costs - annual auction**
Within the fundraising receipts are the proceeds of an annual auction of beekeeping items. These have been shown net of the sums paid to the sellers of the items auctioned, which are consequently excluded from fundraising costs. The previous year's comparative figures have been restated to the same basis. In 2020 the annual auction had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
|Auction receipts from buyers
less payments to sellers
**Net receipts**|**2020**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
-
18,406
-
14,792
-
**-**
**3,614**|
|---|---|
**Page 9**
## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31 December 2020**
## **5 Payments to Trustees**
No remuneration was paid or payable, directly or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity for the year to any member of the executive committee or to any person or persons known to be connected to them.
## **6 Investment**
The charity owns 59 fully paid shares of £1 in Bee Craft Limited. These shares are held for the charity in the names of nominee shareholders: Mr Daniel Bayes and Mr Graham Carrott. As the shares are not listed, a valuation is impractical.
## **7 Equipment**
As per total valuations provided by districts.
|**Estimated**
**value at**
**31/12/20**
£
29,562|**Estimated**
**value at**
**31/12/19**
£|
|---|---|
||29,772|
## **8 Stock for resale**
Unsold bulk purchases of consumable stock (e.g. feeding or treatment products for bees) for sale to members has not been separately evaluated for the accounts.
## **9 Monetary liabilities**
Subscriptions include monies received in advance for 2021 BBKA membership and insurance. These sums will be paid on to BBKA/BDI in 2021 but have not been separately evaluated for the accounts.
**Page 10**
## **Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association**
## **Charity Independent Examiner’s Report**
Report to the Trustees of Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association on its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 as set out on pages 1 to 10.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of its accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. Consequently I do not express an opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and my report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
My examination directly focussed on only the charity’s central accounts and its consolidation of central and district accounts. I have relied upon other independent examiners’ reports for confirmation of the veracity of accounts for each of the charity’s 10 districts, seeking verification only where district returns were unclear or inconsistent with other information seen.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
This year, no matters of concern have come to my attention. This gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- I. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act, and
- II. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have been met; or
- III. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr B. Gibbon, BSc. (Hons.), ACMA, CGMA
21 March 2021
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