The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
THE BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION
(Limited by Guarantee)
Company Registration Number 898651
Charity Registration Number 251681
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31stMAY 2009
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Number: 251681
Scottish Charity Number: SCO40061
Company Number: 898651
Principal Office
High Holborn House, 52 – 54 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6RQ
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the Foundation are its trustees for the purposes of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees.
The trustees during the year were:
Professor S. Bingham BSc MA PhD FMedSci
Mr RJ Fletcher BSc
Professor K Fox PhD
Professor AE de Looy BSc PhD SRD (Chairman until 26th November 2008)
Mr CJ Hart BSc MSc FIFST
Mr PE Hebblethwaite BSc MSc CSci CEng FIFST FIChemE(Chairman w.e.f. 26th November 2008)
Miss A Heughan SRD
Professor ADB Malcolm(appointed w.e.f. 26 November 2008)
Mr RA Marsh CSci BSc MSc FIFST
Mr R Rees MBE(resigned w.e.f. 26 November 2008)
Professor T Sanders BSc PhD DSc
Mr JW Sutcliffe BSc(resigned w.e.f. 26 November 2008)
Professor C Williams BSc PhD(appointed w.e.f. 26 November 2008)
Senior Staff
Director General:
Professor JL Buttriss BSc PhD Dip.Diet RPHNutr
Deputy Director General:
Ms SJ Valentine MA DipEd DipAdDev FRSA
Company Secretary:
Mr T Barclay
Professional Advisors
Solicitors:
Richards Butler, Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street, London, EC3A 7EE
Auditors:
Kingston Smith LLP, Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AD
Bankers:
Barclays Bank, Knightsbridge Business Centre, PO Box 32014, London, NW1 2ZG
Constitution and Objectives
Purpose
The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) is a charity established in 1967 for the purpose of promoting the wellbeing of society through impartial interpretation and dissemination of scientifically based nutritional information for the public benefit. Its registered office is at High Holborn House, 52-54 High Holborn, London WCIV 6RQ (Charity No. 251681), and it is registered as a company limited by guarantee (No. 898651).
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
Constitution
The Foundation is constituted by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Foundation dated February 1967, as altered by Special Resolutions passed in March 1973, November 1978 and November 2004. The latest amendment to the Memorandum and Articles of Association revised the voting system at AGMs. Prior to the amendment, corporate members had the right to cast multiple votes depending upon the size of the donation made. It was felt that this could give a small number of the major donors the opportunity to exert undue influence at an AGM. Under the new Articles of Association, this system has been changed to one member one vote. The other major area of change was the establishment of a Board of Trustees of 12 members in place of the larger Council of up to 34, which had previously been responsible for governance. The larger Council has been kept in an advisory and audit role, and is responsible for appointing the Board of Trustees. The opportunity was also taken to review the objects and to revise the wording of the Memorandum and Articles of Association to modernise the documents and to give the trustees some additional powers, including the power to purchase trustee indemnity insurance. The changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Association were approved by the Charity Commission on 22nd November 2004 and by the Members at the Foundation’s AGM on 23rd November 2004.
Statement of Corporate Governance
Policies
The British Nutrition Foundation is a registered charity established over 40 years ago. It delivers objective, evidence-based information on food and nutrition in the context of health and lifestyle. The Foundation’s work is conducted and communicated through a unique blend of nutrition science, education and media activities. The Foundation works in partnership with academics and research institutes, the food industry, educators and Government.
The principal activities of The British Nutrition Foundation fall under the broad headings of providing scientifically based nutritional information and advice, supporting and encouraging excellence in all aspects of food and nutrition education in schools and elsewhere and disseminating current scientific understanding through numerous publications, its website and through the high quality conferences and seminars that it organizes. Public interest in, and awareness of, matters concerning food, diet and health continue to grow apace, and the Foundation’s staff are experienced in providing balanced advice and impartial scientific interpretation, which is the bedrock of its existence. BNF resources are used by government, healthcare professions, educators, the media, industry and the general public. The Foundation enjoys the active support of eminent scientists and others from the academic, educational and medical worlds, as well as from industry. A new strategy, BNF Strategy Towards 2012, has been produced since the last report.
Management
The Council consists of Scientific, Industrial and General Governors, and Council acts in an advisory and audit role. Council is also responsible for appointing the 12-member Board of Trustees from amongst the Members of Council. Members of the Board of Trustees are Directors and Trustees of the Foundation. The Royal Society of London appoints one Scientific Governor. The Director General and her staff are responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the Foundation.
Candidates for General and Scientific Governors can apply directly to the Foundation or may be approached on the recommendation of Council should a vacancy arise. The Foundation’s industrial members provide a source of candidates whenever a vacancy for an Industrial Governor arises.
All Council members are required to sign a Declaration of Interests form, in accordance with the Foundation’s Conflict of Interests Policy. They are also obliged to sign a Trustees Declaration Form, which obliges them to undertake their responsibilities in good faith and in accordance with the law and to act within the Foundation’s strategic objectives, purposes and values.
The Council meets three times a year and the Board of Trustees meets four times per year. Meetings are conducted in accordance with the Articles of Association. All policy decisions are recorded in the minutes.
The Foundation has a written Ethical Policy which sets out the Foundation’s values and lays down specific policy guidelines to ensure that the Foundation adheres to its charitable objects, behaves ethically and maintains its independence and scientific integrity.
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
Members of Council and members of the Board of Trustees have adopted a code of practice with regard to their behaviour. The code includes the role of Council and Board of Trustee members, handling conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
A Scientific Advisory Committee and an Industrial Scientists Committee, which meet jointly, are also established to advise the Foundation on scientific issues. There is an Education Advisory Committee for each of the four UK regions to advise the Foundation on educational issues. An Editorial Advisory Board is also established to oversee the Foundation’s scientific and learned journal, Nutrition Bulletin. Task Forces are established to prepare reports, which aim to gather the very latest scientific consensus on specific topics, for publication.
Employee Involvement
Employees are kept informed on a regular basis through staff meetings which discuss the work of the Foundation and future plans and provide a forum for employees to put forward suggestions for improving the performance of the Foundation and other forums which allow staff to participate in decision making processes including, for example, the development of strategy and the content of the website. Feedback from employees is also received through the annual appraisal process.
Employment Policies
The Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, religious beliefs or disability. Candidates for employment are considered on the basis of their ability, experience and qualifications. The Foundation has a staff handbook which contains its employment policies, together with its disciplinary and grievance procedures and other items of information.
RISK ASSESSMENT
The major strategic business and operational risks, to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed during the year and systems have been put in place to mitigate these newly identified risks. The risks identified include:
- Potential confusion regarding the roles and functions of the Board of Trustees and Council and a lack of distinction between these two groups and these roles and functions will be agreed by discussions between the Honorary President, the Chairman and the Senior Management Team.
- Risks associated with unpredictable cash flow
- Reduction or loss of Member company satisfaction. Control measures to mitigate these risks have also been identified.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The key business objectives established for the year were:
General Strategic Goals
The Foundation’s strategic goals for 2008/09 were:
To continue to influence the debate on the relationship between diet, physical activity and health by providing impartial and objective scientific advice and resources for consumers, government departments, health professionals, schools/colleges, industry, the scientific community and the media.
To provide up-to-date educational resources for teachers and pupils throughout the UK through our Food – a fact of life programme.
To establish a new strategy for external communications.
To increase the Foundation’s influence in Europe.
Strengthen support for schools throughout the UK
Develop, pilot and launch an early years and secondary school area on creating a unique resource for schools throughout the UK.
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
Continue to work in partnership with the SpecialistSchools and Academies Trust and the Design and Technology Association tofurther develop and cascade theDCSF-funded nationalLicence to Cook programme to all secondary schools throughout England.
Work as a core partner, in collaboration with theSpecialistSchools and Academies Trust, the Design and Technology Associationand National Primary Headteachers, runningthe DCSF funded Foodin Schools programme.
Disseminate nutrition education information
Runa series of nutrition education conferences throughout the UKto support forthcoming changes to the curriculum in primary and secondary schools.
Streamline and maintain regulartargeted communications about the education programme via the Foundation’s websites, and ; BNF Education News;BNF News; andrevised comprehensive e-mail updates.
Promote the use of newer technologies with schools and health professionals to communicatekey nutrition messages to schools, particularly through audio and video podcasts.
Extend opportunities for the acquisition of practical skills by schoolchildren
Continue to collaborate with the School Food Trust and other partnerson the successful implementation of Let’s Get Cooking, a national network of out-of-school cookery clubs.
Undertake educational project work for government departments, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Food Standards Agency.
Undertake additional educational projects, compatible with the Foundation’s charitable objectives, in collaboration with member companies.
Prepare impartial scientific information on issues of topical interest
Commence work on a new Task Force Report and publish two new Briefing Papers.
Continue to extend the influence and reach of Nutrition Bulletin, with its expanded number of pages and increased representation from North America and Europe on the Editorial Advisory Board.
Complete the systematic review on the impact of early life exposure to peanuts for the FSA on schedule and proactively seek new reviews to undertake.
Disseminate impartial scientific information on issues of topical interest to a range of audiences, in particular the scientific community, general public and member companies
Launch the Task Force Report on healthy ageing.
Maximise opportunities afforded by existing EU contracts (Lipgene, EuroFIR and ProSafeBeef) to showcase the work of BNF, through events, associated press activity, targeted materials and public project websites.
Continue to review and revise the nutritional content of the main BNF website and write new and topical material in a timely manner.
Introduce new technologies and formats to maximize the value of science resources to target audiences, e.g. electronic versions.
Expand BNF’s influence in Europe
Contribute to relevant external committees across Europe.
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
Develop educational links across the EU to share good practice in schools.
Proactively seek new EU contracts.
Proactively engage with aligned organizations across Europe.
Enhance BNF’s communications with its stakeholders
Implement the new external communications strategy.
Review and up-grade the website, and consider out-sourcing the website server.
Interact proactively with high quality broadcast (TV, radio, internet) and print media via the Duty Nutrition Service.
Continue to develop the emerging issues/ horizon scanning function and associated service.
Review and enhance our strategy and procedures for liaising with member companies.
Install a new telephone system.
Ensure budgeted outcome for the year is met or improved upon
Increase membership with both UK and European companies.
Proactively seek new project income.
Continue to review sources of funding.
Enhance BNF’s resistance to business disruption
Review BNF’s server (on-site and off-site) and IT backup functions to ensure effective business continuity in the event that access to High Holborn House is denied.
Continue to develop and improve the Business Continuity Plan, which will enable BNF to continue functioning in the event that access to High Holborn House is denied.
Implement BNF’s new strategy for 2008-2012.
Enhance BNF’s Internal Procedures
Review and revise financial procedures, including the style and content of Management Accounts Reports.
Upgrade to modern and robust accounting software that is appropriate to the size and activities of the BNF.
Review, revise and update human resource management procedures and the staff handbook.
All of the objectives for the year were achieved. BNF Towards 2012, to carry the organisation forward and outlining the organisation’s strategy for the next few years was produced, and approved by the Board of Trustees in March. A full review and revision of the Foundation’s financial procedures took place, and the Trustees reviewed existing investment arrangements. Sage 50 accountancy software was introduced and replaced the previously used TAS Books 2. A new, revised website is at an advanced stage of preparation and is soon to go ‘live’. Recruitment of new members companies has been a successful activity with four new members recruited. Links have been established between the Foundation and other similar organisations across Europe.
The Food –a fact of life website has continued to grow and flourish, extending into both pre-school and secondary schools areas. Together with our main website which has been undergoing a major overhaul, these sites willreach tens of millions of people each year with evidence based information on diet, nutrition and lifestyle and a wide range of exciting resources.
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The British Nutrition Foundation
Report of the Board of Trustees as at 31st May 2009
The Foundation was also delighted to be awarded a series of contracts including extension of the highly influential Licence to Cook and Food in Schools programmes for the Department of Children, Schools and Families and the FoodRoutes project for the Food Standards Agency.
The Nutrition and Healthy Ageing Task Force report was the focus of a highly successful conference in January 2009. For the Science Group, as well as a number of new activities and the continuation of some more established projects, this year has seen the completion of the Lipgene Project in which BNF was responsible for dissemination activities. Two Briefing Papers have been published: one on Culinary Oils in the Diet and the other on Satiety. A major systematic review was undertaken on behalf of the Food Standards Agency and a new Task Force was initiated. The Nutrition Bulletin has undergone a ‘face-lift’, and is in the process of moving to an online submission process. During the year, the Duty Nutrition service has provided expert comment on a wide range of nutrition topics. Nutrition Scientists have been interviewed on many major UK national TV and radio news channels and have regularly been quoted in the UK national and regional press and the horizon-scanning function of the organisation has been expanded. The nutritional content of the website is under continuous review and a number of pages have been updated to take into account new research findings and new UK and EU policy.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
General
The Foundation ended the year with an apparent loss of £35,054. However, when the additional expenditure authorised by the Board of Trustees for the development of a new website is factored in, then the organisation actually operated with a surplus of £32,446. This represents a substantial achievement at a time when the country as a whole is encountering so much financial uncertainty. New membership income was £100,647. Project income as well as total incoming resources held up remarkably well, and much of this project income will carry forward into work in the next financial year.
Reserves
The Foundation has an established policy whereby the unrestricted funds, not invested in fixed assets, should be sufficient to fund the activities of the Foundation for a minimum of six months, in the absence of any further income. Because of the very narrow funding base of the Foundation, the Board has agreed that, as a long-term objective, the free reserves held by the Foundation should be increased to one year’s non-discretionary resources expended, and we are working towards this in a realistic manner. The purpose of this reserve is to enable the Foundation to continue its activities in the event of a significant gap arising in the funding it receives. This is particularly important in view of the substantial impact that the loss of one or two major donors could have. The reserves policy is reviewed by the Trustees annually, at the same time as the presentation of the budgets for the following year. This allows the Trustees to make whatever decisions are required to enable the reserves to be maintained at the appropriate levels. As at 31st May 2009, the Foundation’s reserves, as defined in this paragraph, were £752,244.