Accounts for the Year ended March 31st 2024 unt Current Year Previous Year Receipts (to nearest £) (to nearest £) Administration EF grant funding Donations 88,300 44,150 Data requests Conference income Project income Subscriptions & Fees Bank interest 9,000 606 67 TOTAL RECEIPTS 88,906 53,217 Payments Administration Conferences & workshops Staff costs & sub-contractors Office & overheads {websites, hosting, storage) Insurances 1,447 55,680 2,312 1.358 13,716 2,702 25 25,814 1,200 1.323 864 402 Equipment Travel & Volunteer costs Other (bank fees) TOTAL PAYMENTS 77,240 29,603 Net surplus/[deficit) Opening funds TOTAL FUNDS AT YEAR END 11,666 31,317 42,983 23,614 7,703 31,317 Cash at bank (315t March) Assets cost 42,013 970 30,207 970 TOTAL ASSETS 42,983 31,317 Asset register (>£500 per individual item). No of Items Item No. l Description (Telescope) 970 970 Signed by Trustees". Dr Eimear Rooney Notes to the Accounts Mr Paul Larmor Dr Marc Ruddock
Restricted Funds The group held no specifically restricted funds during the year and where funds are restricted for usage these are clearly identifiable and traceable. Trustees. Ex No expenses were paid to any of the Trustees during the year except to reimburse them for purchases made on behalf of the group. In line with the reporting and notification to Charity Commission Northern Ireland, (under Charities Act 2011 a single Trustee i.e. a minority of the Trustees (l of 3; 33 % ) were paid to complete work on behalf of the group (ER) as the Raptor Officer enses Trustees, Indernni Insurance No charitable funds have been used to purchase insurance to indemnify the Trustees against the consequences of any neglect or default on their part. The group had in place the necessary insurance policies for the operation of the group through the nominated broker. nti Po icie Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 permits a charity to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities where gross income in the financial year does not exceed £250,000, therefore receipts and payments accounts, and a statement of assets and liabilities has been prepared and presented for the year ended March 31st 2024. Bank interest is included separately and identifiably as income parameter. All income, including grants and investments is recorded when received to the bank account. All expenditure is recorded when paid from the bank accounL Gift aid reclaimable on donations is included in the amounts of income once received. All transactions are process by online banking and no cheques have been issued or received during the reporting period. Basis of Valu Valuations have been provided for assets held for functional use; where possible the brand new purchase price/replacement cost is given. If this is not readily available a second-hand purchase price is given. Inde endent Ex minati In the year ended March 31¢ 2024. gross income did not exceeded £250,000 and therofore, in accordance with the sections 144 & 145 ofthe Charities Act 2011 an independent examination is required and this scrutiny was duly conducted (see Independent Examiners Report). ment rch 2024 At 31sr March 2024 there were no payments issued which had not cleared at the bank At 31st March 2024 there were no payments received which had not cleared at the bank. Approved and adopted by a meeting of the Trustees on 31 March 2025. Dr Eimear Rooney Mr Paul Larmor Dr Marc Ruddock
Administrative Details Charity Name The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group also known as NIRSG. Charity Number Registered Charity in England & Wales, No .1064103 Castle Archdale Countryside Centre 346 Killadeas Road, Irvinestown Co. Fermanagh, BT94 IPP Charity Trustees as of March 31st 2024 Dr Eimear Rooney Mr Paul Larmor Dr Marc Ruddock Other Charity Trustees in the year to March 31$t 2024 There were no otherTrustees duringthe reportingyear. MrA Ferguson stepped down as a Trustee during the reporting year. Trustees all indicated their willingness to serve for a further term and have identified the aspiration for recruiting, and nominations are always open for, additional trustees for the future. Patrons as of March 31st 2024 There are no appointed patrons or honorary members. Banking Santander Business Banking Operations Sunderland, SP,43 4FW Insurance Broker & Underwriter We'resure Motor, Home & Business Insurance Unit C. Carrowreagh Business Park Dundonald. BT16 IQQ East Kent Underwriting Limited (EKU). 2nd Floor, Knightrider Chambers 12 Knightrider Street Maidstone, Kent ME15 6LP
Structure, Governance, and Management The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group, founded in 1991, is a network of voluntary raptor fieldworkers who monitor and record the fortunes of birds of prey across Northern Ireland. We collect information by visiting known raptor breeding and wintering sites each year to check for occupancy and to record the status, distribution and breeding success of each species. We also visit previously un-surveyed areas to search for and to document new sites. We promote and encourage the conservation of Northern Ireland's raptors by working in partnership with many others including landowners, statutory agencies, industry, academic researchers, educators, raptor rehabilitators and non-governmental organisations. The species we monitor include peregrine falcon, hen harrier, buzzard, merlin. kestrel. sparrowhawk. goshawk, red kite, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, barn owl, long-eared owl. short-eared owl. marsh harrier, hobby, honey buzzard and osprey. The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group comprises skilled volunteer raptor workers that operate to study, research, survey and monitor raptors (birds of prey) across Northern Ireland and to encourage the conservation of raptors in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. In addition the group aim to provide information on breeding raptors to relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies in Northern Ireland and to raise the awareness and profile of all native raptor species and the issues facingthem. The group and its expertvolunteers aim to inform and assistthe protection and wildlife agency and the police regarding suspected illegal persecution of raptors and to collaborate with other researchers and research organisatlons to develop our raptor research and monitoring programmes. The NIRSG understand that the public benefit criteria apply to our activities which include (i) the advancement of environmental protection or Improvement since the data collected byvolunteers are utilised to inform conservation management at various spatial and temporal scales for statutory, non-statutory and the wider public and through the wider consenration and protection of raptors through our training. outreach. events. advice. education, surveys. reporting and research activities; and for (li) the advancement of anim21 welfare through best practice, advice. reporting and research in particular the expertise of volunteers in the detection. prevention and reporting of raptor crimes and the groups participation in the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW NI) and production of strategic mapping aD_d analytical research and publications on the awareness of illegal raptor killing and crimes that occur in Northern Ireland. These efforts can be demonstrated through the extensive efforts of volunteers in survey, monitoring. analysis. education. training, reporting and ultimately in conservation of birds of prey and through building an enduring mechanism and network of citizen-scÉentists to protect raptors for current and future generations alongside providing volunteers the tools, skills, support and education and field skills to optimise the raptor network and conserve these protected species for all members of all communities and all parts of society to enjoy the natural heritage of birds of prey. The work of the NIRSG benefits the range of raptor (bird of prey) species that occur in Northern Ireland and also benefits the volunteers who monitor these species across Northern Ireland. The general public also benefits from wider awareness and understanding during any outreach activities. Volunteers may benefit from increase access to the countryside and recreational activities generating wider physical aiid mental health benefits.
The charity's purposes ('the purposes,) are: to study, research, survey and monitor raptors (birds of prey) across Northern Ireland to encourage the conservation of raptors in Northern Ireland and elsewhere to provide information on breeding raptors to relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies in Northern Ireland to raise the awareness and profile of all native raptor species and the issues facing them to inform and assist the protection and wildlife agency and the police regarding suspected illegal persecution of raptors to collaborate with other researchers and research organisations to develop our raptor research and monitoring programmes The NIRSG is an unincorporated association and is governed by a constitution which is to be found atAppendix l. The Group is managed by the Management Committee which consists of volunteer Trustees. A minority of trustees also hold offices within the group. The Trustees are in regular contact with one another via email and phone and met regularly during the year to 31st March 2024. In relation to payments the Trustees only make payments when two, or more, Trustees approve the payment. Payments are made only by online banking from a single bankaccount. Full members, who do not pay a subscription fee, are afforded voting rights. Applications for Full membership are considered by Trustees via email following referee checks also conducted via email. The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are prepared and approved by the Trustees and then presented to the members at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). Typically the terms and conditions of grant-aid funding received, which funds the activity of the group set the work plan of the group and the associated spending in delivering the purposes.
Independent Examiners Report Independent examiner's report to the charity trustees of Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG) We report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024, which are set out on pages I to 5 above. Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner: As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is our responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)b) of the Charities Act state whether particular matters have come to our attention. Basis of independent examiner's report We have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and our examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9 of the Charities Act. Our examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters. Our role is to statewhether any material matters have come to our attention giving us cause to believe: l. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Independent examiner's statement We have completed our examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (l} to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the DirectÈons of the Charity Commission for hern Ireland, we h e found no matters that require drawing to your attention. Neeson Chambers Ltd 123-125 Main Street Bangor BT20 4AE Date: 31 March 2025