## **Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society** ## **Annual Report & Statement of Accounts** For the year to April 30[th] 2023 ## **Contents** **Reference and Administrative Details ................................................................................ 3 Charity Name ............................................................................................................................. 3 Charity Number ......................................................................................................................... 3 Charity Trustees as of April 30[th] 2023 ......................................................................................... 3 Past Trustees ............................................................................................................................. 3 Advisors ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Structure, Governance and Management .......................................................................... 4 Governing Document and Constitution ...................................................................................... 4 Trustee Selection and Management ........................................................................................... 4 Related Organisations ................................................................................................................ 4 Objectives and Activities .................................................................................................... 5 Charitable Objects ..................................................................................................................... 5 Public Benefit Statement ........................................................................................................... 5 Summary of Main Activities ....................................................................................................... 5 Achievements and Performance ................................................................................................ 6 Community Educational Outreach ............................................................................................. 7 Public Events ............................................................................................................................. 8 Meeting Programme .................................................................................................................. 8 Members Events ........................................................................................................................ 8 Website and Social Media .......................................................................................................... 8 Media ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Membership ............................................................................................................................. 10 Financial Review .............................................................................................................. 11 Financial Management .............................................................................................................. 11 Accounts for the year ended April 30[th] 2023 .............................................................................. 13 Other Points .................................................................................................................... 13 Child Protection Policy .............................................................................................................. 13 Risks and Accidents ................................................................................................................... 13 Chairman’s Note .............................................................................................................. 14** 2 ## **Annual Report for the year ended April 30[th] 2023** The Trustees of the Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society are pleased to submit their report and accounts for the period 1[st] May 2022 to 30[th] April 2023. ## Reference and Administrative Details ## Charity Name Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society also known as NIAAS ## Charity Number Registered Charity in Northern Ireland, No. NIC100233 Inland Revenue Charity No. XT18196 ## Charity Trustees as of April 30[th] 2023 ## **Mr Jonathan Bingham** ## **Chairman** Mr Jason ChrisKe Vice- Chairman Mr Stephen Beasant Secretary Mr Philip MatcheP Treasurer/Webmaster Mr Lawrence Hanna CommiPee member Dr Jacqueline Crosby CommiPee member Mrs Geraldine Gribben CommiPee member ## Past Trustees There have been no resignaKons during this season. ## Advisors Banking Santander PayPal (UK) Limited 54 Main Street 5 New Street Square Larne London Co.Antrim EC4A 3TW BT40 1SS Insurance Public Liability Insurance supplied by Policy Bee 3 ## Structure, Governance and Management ## Governing Document and Constitution The Society is unincorporated, governed by a consKtuKon adopted on 5[th] January 2009 and last amended 15[th] May 2014. The Society is run enKrely by its members who pay an annual membership donaKon ## Trustee Selection and Management The Society is managed by an elected commiPee, which consists of all the appointed trustees. The commiPee is elected at the AGM by the method noted in the consKtuKon. A number of trustees also hold offices within the society as noted in the list of current trustees. The commiPee typically meet at least four Kmes in the society year. recent acKviKes and planning of future acKviKes. Outreach events and our programme are also normally on the agenda. The commiPee also hold discussions on the running of the society in a private secKon of our forum. The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are approved by the trustees and then presented to the commiPee at the Annual General MeeKng. ## Related Organisations The NIAAS is a member of the Irish FederaKon of Astronomical SocieKes. Mr Stephen Beasant and Mr Jonathan Bingham are the society’s representaKves with this organisaKon. The society’s lectures are held at Ballyclare High School. The NIAAS hires the Lecture Theatre in the school from the school board. 4 ## Objectives and Activities ## Charitable Objects The object of the society as set out in its consKtuKon is the advancement of educaKon for the public benefit in astronomy and its associated sciences. The society aims to promote astronomy as a recreaKonal acKvity for its own sake but also aims to promote public awareness and understanding of science and the scienKfic method. ## Public Benefit Statement with their duty regarding the Charity Commission’s Guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has been fulfilled in the acKviKes of the society in the year ending April 30[th ] 2023. share an interest in astronomy and its associated sciences. While we would encourage those with an interest in astronomy to join our ranks, we also strive to make our services and knowledge available to non-members. ## Summary of Main Activities The core acKviKes of the society are: - Delivery of a monthly meeKng programme during our season covering a wide range of astronomical topics - - Holding public events at key astronomical moments throughout the year - Providing an outreach programme available to other organisaKons faith. Although the society programme of meeKngs takes place in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim the society strives to hold events in all areas in Northern Ireland. We do regular outreach events with organised groups such as schools, Scouts, BB, GB and more increasingly with NaKonal Trust locaKons. As well as doing talks at these organisaKons we also strive to bring our telescopes and do some visual observing. We do not charge any fees to these organisaKons however voluntary donaKons at the events are readily accepted. 5 ## Achievements and Performance ## **Burr Point Event** We held a successful evening of astronomy outreach in conjuncKon with Ards and North Down Borough Council on Thursday 22nd September 2022. The society provided 8 telescopes with 100 people in aPendance that were treated to views of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, along with a host of other objects in the sky on a beauKful clear September’s evening. The event was a huge success and planning is in progress for another event this late summer at Burr Point. 6 ## Community Educational Outreach A great example of our educaKonal outreach events, took place at four children’s organisaKons this year. On Friday 24th November 2022 the NIAAS held a stargazing event for Bangor Scouts/Cubs Group. 15 to 20 children had the opportunity to see the night sky through our telescopes. As well as enjoying the views, they were treated to a live guided tour by our most experienced member. On Friday 2[nd] December the NIAAS gave a talk to 25 very enthusiasKc P3 children in Ballycraigy Primary School, it was enjoyed so much we were invited back on Monday 23[rd] January to give a talk to another 25 children of the P6 class. On Friday 17[th] February 2023 the NIAAS visited the Coleraine Scouts. Unfortunately the evening was cloudy and wet so the telescope was set up inside. We gave an interacKve presentaKon to over 20 children who were really enthusiasKc and asked lots of quesKons. At the other side of the age spectrum, our Secretary was invited to give talks at Bangor and Portstewart U3A groups. These are always well received and have become a bit of an annual event. We have already been booked for more of these types of outreach events next season. 7 ## Public Events We took part in two big public events this season: 22[nd] September 2022 – Burr Point Event (Details above) 23[rd] March 2023 – Irish Astronomy Week, stargazing at Armagh Planetarium ## Meeting Programme This season the society has put together another great mixture of speakers on varying subjects relaKng to astronomy. We had four new speakers to the society this season. 2022/2023 Season September 5[th] - Stevie Beasant (NIAAS) – Autumn Skies and Observing October 3[rd] - Dr. Meg Schwamb (QUB) - Satellite constellaKons and the impact on our night sky November 7th – Prof. Chris Watson (QUB) - Habitability beyond our solar system November 28[th] – NIAAS Beginners Night December 5[th] - Dr. Samuel Grant (QUB) - Observing the modern sun January 9[th] - Prof. Michael Burton (Armagh) - History of Armagh, Birr and Dunsink Observatories February 6[th] - Prof. Francis Keenan (QUB) - The science of superheros March 6[th] – Dr. David Eden (Armagh & UK) - Star formaKon in the milkyway and beyond April 3[rd] – Dave Lillis (Limerick Astronomy Society) - Where is everybody? May 15[th] – Members Talk – Derrick McCourt, Quiz – Philip MatcheP & AGM We are enjoying another good year of turnout at our meeKngs with an increase to an average of 35/45 aPendees per night. ## Members Events Ballinskelligs Star Party (Kerry): 3 of our members travelled together and aPended this star party this year. They reported back that they had another enjoyable Kme here. ## Website and Social Media The website and social media side of the society is a great way to communicate with the public and highlight what the society is all about! All these avenues are free to the public and open to all! 8 Forum: Our Forum is showing over 500 members and new members are joining to seek help and advice on equipment. This is also the place that society-observing sessions are announced. the society here and find out our contact details and the programme of meeKngs and events. We have a massive secKon on astronomy arKcles in our learning zone and an ever-growing gallery containing images, mostly taken from N.Ireland. Facebook: We have over 1000 followers on Facebook now and this is a fantasKc avenue for the society to adverKse its events. As well as puong details of our events online, we also put up the latest astronomical news from around the Internet. It is a great way to noKfy people instantly of ‘happening now’ events like aurora noKces. We get great feedback from our followers, and plenty of help is given out to quesKons such as ‘what should I buy as my first telescope?’ TwiPer: Our TwiPer following is also growing steadily, we now have over 300. As with Facebook the same informaKon is shared here! ## Media This year we have been adverKsing our meeKngs on the ‘What’s On NI’ website. The media is an important way of geong the NIAAS name out to the public and leong people know what we do. 9 ## Membership Total membership numbers are greatly increased on previous years. This year we welcomed a total of 67 members of whom 36 were new to the society. This is the highest number of members for many years. We are really pleased that there is sKll this high level of interest in astronomy and the NIAAS, especially since we haven’t been able to hold any events for over 2 years because of Covid. This year we awarded two long Kme members with honorary member status. In September 2022 Mr Ralph Gault and Mr Derrick McCourt were presented with giqs for their contribuKon to the society. They join our other two honorary members: Mr Robert Dick and Mr John McConnell. ## **Membership Trend Over the Last Six Seasons** **----- Start of picture text -----**
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2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 2019/2020 2022/2023
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10 ## Financial Review ## Financial Management and in such will be undertaken in accordance with their requirements. The General Fund is unrestricted and is used for the day-to-day running of the society. was claimed in January 2023 and I’d like to thank our members for allowing us to collect this on their tax paid. Outreach donaKons came in at £560 and I’d like to thank these organisaKons for their very generous contribuKon. As always, we pride ourself as an organisaKon in not charging to hold events but are always welcome of donaKons to the society. As expected, our largest expenditure this season was for speaker fees (Hotels, travel etc), this was £250.03 for the season. One point to note, which offsets these figures is that no payment has been made for hire of the school lecture theatre. This payment is always made in July/August and is paid post meeKngs, and since there wasn’t any meeKngs last season, the finances are higher than they would normally be. I would also like to again thank our website hosKng company 34SP.com. They provide our website hosKng for free, which is an annual saving of over £120. 11 Income NIAAS Income 281.25 SS.80 18.62 . Membershlp Membership frorn Paypal • Amaion Charlty Donatlon5 . Donatlon Bucket . Outreach Donatlor Glft Ald Expenditure Expenditure 750 03 134 • Dom•ln N•me INIAASxfyth) • T•• & •ic • PU Irw•Ke • Speaker Fees T¢nv 12 ## Accounts for the year ended April 30[th] 2023 ## Other Points ## Child Protection Policy The Society runs a child protecKon policy, with Mr Philip MatcheP and Mrs Geraldine Gribben being the two named officers. I am pleased to say there have been no reported incidents! ## Risks and Accidents The society endeavours to carry out a risk assessment for any of their events and for the meeKngs at Ballyclare High School, Mr Jonathan Bingham and Mr Derrick McCourt are the named fire officers. We have a sign in book at every meeKng in the event of a fire. We are pleased to report that there haven’t been any reported accidents this year! 13 ## Chairman’s Note Aqer a two-year abeyance of holding our meeKngs due to covid 19 restricKons, I am pleased to say we got the club back up and running, holding monthly meeKngs this 2022/2023 season. It was heartening to see a good interest in the club with regular and new members coming back to enjoy the friendly, relaxed atmosphere the club prides itself with! An excellent programme of speakers were provided and went down well with the members. Our beginner’s night was a great success with a good variety of scopes on display and many quesKons answered. Our bi-monthly newslePer Azimuth is produced throughout the season. I would like to thank both Mr. Stephen Beasant who is the editor and Mr Philip MatcheP the publisher for their conKnued hard work. The observing group made it out on a few occasions this season, with visits to Newferry and a new venue of Davagh OM Dark Sky Park outside Cookstown, this is a purpose-built facility with an observatory housed in its main building. There are purpose built observing areas in the carpark which suits our needs perfectly. It’s an excellent site and central to all for members to meet up for observing sessions. All members are encouraged to aPend these sessions and to join the observing group. I look forward to the 2023/2024 season ahead and especially welcoming back our members for another exciKng season of meeKngs and events. Thank you for your ongoing contribuKons and support of the NIAAS. Jonathan Bingham NIAAS Chairman 14