Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
for the year ending 31 December 2022
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 resigned April 22 Chris Arlett-Johnson from April 22 Secretary Vacant 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 | Vacant |
| Horncastle | Graham Carrott |
| North Lincs | Frances Ross |
| Market Rasen | Lesley Burnsresigned Jan 22 |
| Vacant from Jan 22 | |
| Grimsby | Vacant |
| Grantham | Vacant |
| 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
ADM Delegate Examinations Officer Education Coordinator Publicity Officer
Simon Castleman € Mike Seal resigned April 22 Andy Cursons from April 22 Vacant Keith Baker €
Principal contact address
The Lodge, Rennisons Carr Farm Elsham Carr Road, Elsham Lincolnshire DN20 0BF
Email Website Independent Examiner
secretary@lincsbka.org.uk https://www.lincsbka.org.uk/
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 2022.
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.
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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 2022 was a year of getting back to running courses for beginners, improvers and advanced beekeepers and attending events back after the hiatus and uncertainty during covid. All districts recommenced face to face meetings during the summer months holding meetings at district apiaries and other beekeeping venues. With the introduction of zoom meetings during covid, many districts continued to hold zoom meetings through the winter, which enabled presenters who would not usually venture into Lincolnshire available to present to members. Many districts are opening their meetings to all Lincolnshire members, which has meant good attendance at most meetings with great speakers. Continuing that theme central council took the decision that winter meetings (Oct/Jan) would be held via zoom and summer meetings (April/July) would be held in person. The AGM in 2022 was held via zoom.
The beekeeping tent was back at the Lincolnshire show after a 2-year cancellation. It is the busiest tent at the show and incorporates both our annual honey show and a fantastic display of all aspects of beekeeping, making it very accessible to the general public. Within the region of 60,000 visitors attend the event and allows us the ability to demonstrate and educate them by presenting the art of beekeeping, giving everyone the opportunity to see bees inside hives working, how bees and beekeepers produce honey and other hive products. Entries for the honey show were up on the previous year, which again meant we qualified as a BBKA blue ribbon event. It was also noted that many new members entered and won some of the prizes. Many thanks to all members who volunteered in the setup of the tent, those who volunteered to man the tent for the 2 days, all the honey show entrants and judges who had some difficult judging decisions to make. All districts were represented by the volunteers. Thanks, must also go to the show committee who spend a great deal of their time arranging and organising the event. As a testament to all the hard work, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society also awarded the marquee with “The Gamekeepers Cup”, this is awarded to the most effective and well laid out display in the countryside area of the agricultural show.
Districts have also been busy, Louth had a full year of events, including a craft day and honey show. They attended the Revesby Show with Horncastle district in addition to other local shows in Covenham, Market Rasen and Willoughby. They ran a successful beginner’s course introducing over 20 new people to the craft and made full use of the new distirct apiary at Hallington which continues to
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association
grow (there are now 4 members using the site on a full-time basis). The site has also been supported by the Butterfly Conservation Trust who have surveyed the site in addition to suggesting beneficial planting. Finally, a new district website was launched this year.
Sleaford had another successful year; 24 new beekeepers were trained on the beginners’ course including 10 from RAF Digby. Membership of the club increased again and was also good to see some older members becoming more active in the club once again. Their monthly meetings were varied and well supported by the members and other districts. The club apiary continues its development and thanks to a contribution from Lincs Co-op they have been able to purchase a top bar hive. The committee also purchased a WBC hive from Thornes. The purpose of these different hives is to allow new and existing members to trial different hive types to see if it suits their needs before committing to purchase equipment for themselves. Thanks to a donation, about 100 native trees were planted on the apiary site.
Market Rasen had a presence at two shows in 2022, Countryside Lincs in April and Open Farm Sunday in June. The stand was well attended at both events, many candles were rolled and honey sold. The district website mrdbk.org.uk got up and running. All upcoming events with photos and news are posted. Education continues to be an important part of the district and two members took the basic assessment and two took the Honey Bee Health assessments and all were successful.
Overall, in Lincolnshire education continues to be an important part of membership. Details of the achievements of the districts in 2022 can be found below.
| District | Exam. | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Sleaford | Junior x 1 |
1* Pass |
| Boston | Module 2 x 1 | 1* Credit |
| Basic Certificate x 3 | 2* Credit | |
| 1* Distinction | ||
| Market Rasen | Module 7 x 2 | 1* Pass |
| 1* Credit | ||
| Honey Bee Health x 2 | 2* Pass | |
| Basic Certificate x 2 | 2* Credit | |
| Louth | Basic Certificate x 2 |
1* Credit |
| 1* Distinction | ||
| Horncastle | Basic Certificate x 6 |
4* Credit |
| 2* Distinction | ||
| N Lincs. | Module 7 x 1 |
1* Pass |
| Grimsby | Basic Certificate x 1 |
1* Distinction |
A total of 21 assessments were taken across 7 districts achieving 5 passes, 11 credits and 5 distinctions.
Reserves policy
Unrestricted financial reserves of the charity continued to increase and stood at £73.7K at 31 December 2022 (£70.0K at 31 December 2021), comprising monies held centrally and those distributed across its ten district branches and the 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
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association
subscriptions and bulk purchases resold to members. LBKA’s consolidated unrestricted reserves at the year-end were equivalent to 38 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 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 4[th] April 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
…………………………………..
Catherine Lake (Treasurer)
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Receipts and Payments Account Year ending 31 December 2022
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2022 2021
2 £ £
Receipts
Donations & grants (inc. Gift Aid) 2,889 2,220
Fundraising receipts 4 20,619 690
Members' subscriptions 9 15,609 16,315
Training events 6,884 5,494
Meetings & social events 1,115 179
Sales 8,321 8,657
Bank interest 17 1
Sundry income 1,722 189
57,175 33,744
Payments
Fundraising costs 4 16,631 -
Subscriptions to BBKA/BDI 12,074 10,764
Bulk purchases for resale 8 7,017 6,981
Meetings & social events 2,991 1,498
Equipment & books 509 1,648
Training & education 4,647 1,737
Quarterly Review & Directory - -
Donations & grants 1,384 602
Postage, stationery & bank charges 258 276
Honey shows 2,379 249
District apiaries 4,055 2,231
Accounts & Charity Ind. Examination 400 400
Sundries 919 1,009
53,263 27,395
Net receipts (payments) for the year 3,912 6,349
Cash & bank balances brought forward 69,790 63,441
Cash & bank balances carried forward 73,702 69,790
----- End of picture text -----
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Statement of Assets and Liabilities Year ending 31 December 2022
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2022 2021
£ £
Monetary Assets
Current accounts 51,261 50,370
Deposit accounts 22,056 19,030
Cash 385 390
Total Monetary Assets 73,702 69,790
comprising:
Restricted Funds - -
Unrestricted Funds 73,702 69,790
Total Funds 73,702 69,790
Non-monetary assets
Investment
Shareholding in Beecraft Ltd 6 - -
Fixed assets for the charity's use at
valuation
Equipment costing 7 26,010 31,765
Stock 8 - -
Monetary liabilities
Subscriptions to BBKA/BDI 9 - -
----- End of picture text -----
Approved by Central Council on 4[th] April 2023 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
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31 December 2022
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 01/01/22 Receipts Payments Closing balance at 31/12/22 £ £ £ £ 5,033 11 - 5,043 64,757 57,165 53,263 68,659 |
|---|---|
| 69,790 57,175 53,263 73,702 |
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. In 2021 the annual auction was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
| Auction receipts from buyers less payments to sellers Net receipts |
2022 2021 £ £ 12,139 - 9,783 - 2,355 - |
|---|---|
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Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31 December 2022
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 Iain Burnley 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 31/12/22 £ 26,010 |
Estimated value at 31/12/21 £ |
|---|---|
| 31,765 |
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 2023 BBKA membership and insurance. These sums will be paid on to BBKA/BDI in 2023 but have not been separately evaluated for the accounts.
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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 2022 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:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
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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 significant matters of concern have come to my attention. This gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the following requirements have been satisfied:
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I. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act, and
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II. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have been met; or
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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
- 4 April 2023
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