AQUATIC_COLEOPTERA_CONSER - Accounts

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2021.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's governing document, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".

The objectives and activities of the Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust are as follows:

• To address conservation issues associated with Red List species of aquatic beetles in the United Kingdom, in particular S41 Species in England and S42 Species in Wales, i.e. as listed in Sections 41 and 42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (or NERC) Act 2006, and species of equivalent rarity and threat status in Scotland.

• To promote research on wetland beetles appropriate to the conservation needs identified in the United Kingdom.

• To raise the profile of said insects and related species by publication and specialist advice.

• To support the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) and similar UK-wide initiatives by providing data and by interpretation of data.

Relevant activities within the reporting period, as largely reported at the Annual General Meeting on 24 March 2021, and in the subsequent field season, were:

• Continuing work on species at risk of extinction in the UK

• Finalisation of the JNCC Review

• Completion and publication of the survey of Wigtownshire

• Various surveys, including Loch Còrr, Islay

• Two webinars

• Continuing identification work on behalf of others and in support of online recording effort.

Income increased in the year to £8,600 (2020 - £61), resulting in an increase in funds of £6,260 (2020 - £4,912 decrease). At the year end there was a surplus of funds of £17,453 (2020: £11,193).

All reserves of the company are general funds.

The General Fund is available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company.

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a Memorandum of Understanding originally dated 31 July 2006, and constitutes a limited company, limited guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Trustees serve a period of three years on a rotational basis, and may be invited to offer themselves for reappointment. New Trustees are recruited largely by word of mouth to identify appropriately qualified professional and amateur entomologists demonstrating enthusiasm for the conservation of aquatic Coleoptera within the UK. Potential Trustees are invited to apply to the current Trustees.

The organisational structure of the company is decided and monitored by the Board of Trustees. the Board meets once a year at the Annual General Meeting and once more within the year if required.

The day to day running of the company is the the responsibility of the Chairman/Treasurer who is accountant to the Board of Trustees.

The Treasurer and Secretary correspond on average once a week. Other Trustees are contacted in the event that all points of view are needed and a Board decision is required. We have fiscal rules such that expenditure to the value of £500 (fully receipted) may be authorised by the Treasurer alone, expenditure to the value of £1,000 by the Treasurer and Secretary and in excess of the by the whole board.

No material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the ability of the company to continue as a going concern have been identified by the trustees. The trustees are hoping to encourage a number of younger candidates to apply to become trustees

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

The Trustees, who are also the directors of Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company 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 incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, 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 operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

I report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2021, which are set out on pages 5 to 15.

The Charity’s Trustees, who are also the directors of Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeks explanations from the 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 financial statements.

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

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and

to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;

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

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 October 2021.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under historical cost convention.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£)

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated the activities on a basis consistent with the use of recourses.

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

All funds at the balance sheet date are classed as unrestricted.

Applied ecology

Stirling University

Donations

Travel and subsistence

Postage and stationery

Computer costs

Sundries

Books

Trustees' expenses

Independent examination fee

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

No expenses were paid to trustees during the year (2020: 2 trustees).

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 October 2021.

The Charity had no debt during the year.