The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 3 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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)".
RABDF is a charitable company limited by guarantee and does not have any share capital. The Association was incorporated under Licence of the Board of Trade on 1 st October 1879 and registered as a charity on 5 th December 1961 (No.213782). The company was established under Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £5.
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company’s Articles known as members of the Council. Members to retire will be those that have been longest in office since their last election or appointment. All members of the Council must be active within the dairy farming Industry. RABDF Members are annually approached as to whether they are interested to stand for election onto council. Any new trustee undergoes a relevant induction process which focuses upon their role and responsibilities.
The Council of Management acts as the Board of Trustees and is responsible for the overall governance of the charity. It meets at least 4 times a year in addition to the AGM.
The Board requests the Chairman’s committee to meet more frequently with appropriate members of staff to ensure the efficient running of the charity. Other committees from within the Board are formed usually using a “task based” approach to carry out certain duties. Two standing committees – one on Remuneration & Audit and the other on Investments meet as and when.
Risk Management
This has become much more important in recent times and the Trustees have conducted their own review of the major risks to which the charity is likely to be exposed and put in appropriate systems to deal with such eventualities.
The Association’s charitable aims and objectives are to encourage the development of a successful, sustainable and profitable dairy farming sector in the UK. It does this by a series of relevant activities, the main one of which is the running of Dairy-Tech.
RABDF are the only national dairy membership association with the freedom and capacity to lobby. We have unique and well-established relationships up and down the whole dairy supply chain and we are the only dairy organisation holding a Royal Warrant and the influence and access to funding that brings.
Our short-term goal is to deliver a COVID safe Dairy-Tech 2022, we also intend to grow the stand and sponsorship revenue, by increasing the sellable event space contracted from the venue, by circa 2,000sq/m, this will take the form of a new outdoor machinery area. We will be monitoring the performance and success of this short term goal by utilising sales plans, sales targets and key performance indicators. The increased stand revenue will help further fund RABDF’s charitable aims and objectives by allowing us to allocate more resource into our policy activity.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
RABDF, like most organisations, has had to navigate itself through the COVID-19 Pandemic, to date doing this successfully. When the first lockdown was implemented in 2020, RABDF used its industry knowledge and informed Government of the correct facts and figures surrounding ‘milk tipping’ that was occurring at various UK dairy farms. This action resulted in Government launching the Dairy Response Fund for dairy farms that fitted their criteria. RABDF constantly informed the dairy industry, Government and the wider press of the various issues that the Pandemic presented for UK dairy farmers.
RABDF continued to be at the forefront for informing and influencing the issues surrounding the reliance of overseas labour on dairy farms. Earlier this year RABDF submitted its updated findings to Government including various short-, medium- and long-term solutions and recommendations relating to this major issue.
RABDF influencing activities continue with regular meetings with DEFRA, where we have informed them on topical industry issues surrounding on-farm staffing resources, TB and AMR. RABDF has offered feedback and guidance to DEFRA on their Livestock Improve Programme (LIP). RABDF continues with the joint secretariat, with Dairy UK, of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dairy, which allows issues and concerns to be raised by the Group to influential parliamentarians.
RABDF have also formed an Industry Strategy Group with a working mandate to address any of the urgent issues that face UK dairy farming. To date this Group has been extremely successful in bringing the industry together to look at issues and discuss potential solutions.
Sadly, the COVID pandemic and another lockdown meant that RABDF were not permitted to deliver a physical Dairy-Tech in 2021 at Stoneleigh Park. However, RABDF delivered an extremely successful ‘Dairy-Tech Online’ instead. This on-line event consisting of conferences, webinars, new product launches and workshops lasted for 14 days with each day’s activity focussing on a different aspect of the industry. The series of events were well received by the industry, with over 6,000 attendee bookings for the various online sessions. All KPI’s were exceeded for this online event with revenue driven by sponsorship and exhibitor sales.
RABDF has very successfully organised and run several knowledge transfer events such as a farm open day, meetings and has continued the well established and appreciated Entrepreneurs in Dairying training programme for young people recently out of college/university who want to increase their business skills. This is a joint initiative between RABDF, AHDB, NFU and Andersons and plans are well advanced for the 2021 course to run on a similar basis.
Plans for the future
We have found success in a collaborative approach and have refused to work on projects that duplicate others work. The unique work focused on overseas labour and antibiotic reduction has been well received by the whole of the dairy industry. We will continue with the successful mantra of collaborate, rather than duplicate, and inform and influence on the biggest issues affecting the industry, we also plan to extend our policy work, focusing on areas that the board of trustees see fit.
The trustees consider they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit, as published by the Charity Commission, in exercising their powers and duties.
Covid 19 and specifically restrictions on holding large events and conferences have had a material impact upon our income during the year. Revenues to the charity were reduced as our Gold Cup event and conferences were cancelled or moved on line. Similarly income earned by our subsidiary Events For You Ltd was materially impacted by our decision not to organise a Dairy-Tech event in 2021. Although their costs were also significantly reduced, they were not able to make an operating profit and no funds were available to gift to the charity.
Immediately upon deciding that it would not be possible to deliver Dairy-Tech as planned, the Trustees met to take action in order to mitigate the financial impact. The resulting decisions to move the event on-line and to critically review and reduce overhead costs meant that we were able to reduce operating costs by £106,561 and maintain some revenue streams. Despite this, the overall result has still left us with a deficit on our charitable activities of £158,297.
The deficit was partly offset by a gain in the value of our investments of £100,794 and as a result our reserves fell by £57,503 to £837,441 - a result which the Trustees deem to be acceptable in the exceptional circumstances of the financial year. Our plans for the current financial year include a positive contribution from Dairy-Tech 2022 and this, together with a resumption of other activities, should ensure that we are able to report an operating surplus and rebuild our reserve position. Throughout we have been able to maintain adequate short term cash balances to enable us to meet our day to day obligations.
The Trustees continue to examine the Association’s requirements for reserves. The events of 2021 show that they have been sufficient to enable us to adjust the business to changing circumstance. Our policy remains to maintain sufficient reserves to continue to trade and allow time for operating costs and income steams to be adjusted as we respond to any further impacts on our business. We consider that the current level of reserves and short term cash remain adequate.
Our policy on Investments remains to maintain a balanced low to medium risk portfolio viewed as a ten year investment appropriate to our charitable status. That policy has seen the value of our investments recover from the market’s negative reaction to economic data in 2020 and enables us to report the gain in value as stated above. Our investment policy was reviewed by the Trustees during the year.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Royal Association Of British Dairy Farmers 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; 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' r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Royal Association Of British Dairy Farmers (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2021.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) . In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Insurance
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Sundry expenses
Premises expenses
Membership costs
Conference, events and awards
Policy advisors remuneration
Bank charges and interest
Investment brokers fees
Legal and professional fees
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The charity had no debt during the year.
The Royal Association Of British Dairy Farmers is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Stables, Church Walk, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4BL, United Kingdom.
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', 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 the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
The charity has opted to report the expenditure on the basis of the nature of expenditure, rather than on an activity basis.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Membership subscriptions are apportioned over the period they relate to.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares.
Management charges relate to amounts recharged to other entities in relation to expenses incurred on behalf of those entities.
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 to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year . Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
Other investments are measured at cost less impairment.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost less impairment.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity 's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future p aymen ts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity ’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Dividends and interest earned
Management charges
Independent Examiners' fees
Accountancy services
Council members' expenses and meeting costs
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
Trustees were reimbursed travel expenses of £Nil during the year (2020: £6,834).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £78,632 (2020: £79,615).
These financial statements are separate charity financial statements for The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
Details of the charity's subsidiaries at 31 March 2021 are as follows:
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £21,397 (2020 - £20,263).
These are endowment funds funds which are material to the charity's activities made up as follows:
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Revaluations, gains and losses
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Revaluations, gains and losses
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the current economic climate and it's significant economic impact has been considered when preparing the year end accounts.
P J Alvis, J Brierley, D R Wastenage who are trustees of The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) are also directors of Events For You Limited. RABDF also holds 100% of the shares in Events For You Limited.
Included in management charges income is £78,582 (2020: £124,344) charged to Events For You Limited for expenses incurred on behalf of the company. Events For You Limited gifted its taxable surplus for the year of £Nil (2020: £281,642) to RABDF.