Review and forward look from Stuart Housden, Chair
We were pleased that visitor levels continued to recover. Visitor support for our trading activities (café and retail) in turn provide essential funds to help support our charitable activities.
Our team continue to strive to be a positive force for nature, and to ensure that all our projects inspire people, so they are more empowered to take positive action for nature. Our natural world needs more champions!
Conservation
Our conservation programme continues to tackle the twin crises of climate change and nature loss. Volunteers play a significant part in these activities through surveys, research, habitat management and the biosecurity work we undertake on local seabird islands. The practical seagrass restoration activity, as part of the WWF-led Restoration Forth partnership, is also supported by our staff and volunteers.
We are committed to building a wider network of community champions for nature. This sits alongside our national advocacy work where we respond to policy consultations, development proposals and support for Scottish Environment Link campaigns.
Education
Our learning and outreach activities, with local and national partnerships, help to bring different expertise together to raise awareness of the marine environment.
We pride ourselves on intergenerational learning opportunities, using our local coastal environments and the development of our digital offering to ensure that those who cannot visit our Centre also have access to educational resources and experts. More of our engagement sessions focus on the wellbeing benefits of being out in nature and we see the demand for these increasing.
Communities
Embedded in East Lothian we are encouraged to see the level of interest that people have in looking after their local environments increase; especially as people become more aware of storm effects and the warming of our seas due to climate change. We help facilitate local ‘activism’ through organised and self-led beach cleans, citizen science surveys and practical habitat management and restoration projects.
Our programme of events ensures that our visitor attraction is an asset for both the local community and visitors from further afield. Events create a valuable touchpoint for deeper conversations about protecting our natural world.
Experience
Our flagship Discovery Experience was severely damaged at the start of 2024 due to an internal flood. This was hugely frustrating and impacted a key channel for our visitor interactions. Our team did well to face these challenges head on, adapting our delivery approaches and working hard with contractors to re-instate the Experience. We were delighted to reopen and to welcome members and visitors back in mid-October.
Throughout the summer our wildlife watching boat experiences and guided wildlife tours and rockpool rambles remained popular.
Looking Ahead To 2025
As we turn the page on another calendar year we will see a change in the leadership of our Charity as our CEO, Susan Davies, moves on. She has ably led the Charity through some challenging times. We are grateful for her dedication over the last six years. Firmer foundations are now in place, not least with the generous resilience and sustainability support we are receiving from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the future.
Partnership working with Government, businesses, stakeholders and communities will continue to be at the heart of our approach, as we develop our activities and increase the impact we have for nature and the benefits that a healthy environment brings for people.
As our Charity enters its 25th year we can reflect on the changes we have seen, celebrate fantastic initiatives and plan for a bright future. We hope you will join us in these celebrations. Raising awareness and understanding of the value of nature remains a vitally important activity and your continued support is warmly acknowledged and remains as important as ever.
Summarised financial information
The information on this page has been compiled using the full audited financial statement for the Year ended 31 January 2024, a copy of which may be obtained on request from the Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 4SS. The purpose of this information is to provide a summary account of the activities of the Group.
With thanks Trustees and Key Management
The Trustees would again like to thank all our volunteers, members and supporters –individuals, charitable trusts and foundations, public bodies and corporate organisations who have supported our work.
These include:
AEB Charitable Trust Awards for All
Aviva Community Fund
Baillie Gifford
Cirrus Logic International UK
Cruden Foundation
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Foyle Foundation
Garfield Weston Foundation
Graham and Henrietta Somervell’s Wildlife Trust
Hamish and Doris Crichton Charitable Trust
Horace and Helen Gillman Trusts
Hugh Fraser Foundation
Jardine Charitable Trust
J & JR Wilson Trust
MEB Charitable Trust
Mindsets and Missions
Mrs JB Woods Charitable Trust
New to Nature (National Lottery Heritage Fund)
North Berwick Trust
Puffin Kitchen
Restoration Forth
Sandra Charitable Trust
Scottish Marine
Environmental Enhancement Fund
Stafford Trust
Swire Charitable Trust
Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
Tay Charitable Trust
TD Paton Trust
The Frognal Trust
The Mackintosh Foundation
The National Lottery Community Fund – Platinum Jubilee Grant
The Slater Foundation
The William Haddon Charitable Trust
Thistledown Trust
Treasure Charitable Trust
William Grant Foundation and in memoriam and legacy donors.
With thanks also to the Scottish Seabird Centre Core Volunteer Group and to the many other corporates, trusts and individuals who support us through our online appeals.
Trustees continue to ensure that the Charity is well governed and bring skills and expertise aligned with the strategic direction. Trustees
Stuart D Housden
OBE (Chair)
Chris Arnold
Stephen Breslin
Elizabeth Eckles (retired 31 July 2023)
Charlotte Hopkins (Resigned 11 April 2023)
Kim Kjaerside
Richard Lilley (Resigned 31 July 2023)
SAJ (Hamish) Macandrew (Retired 31 July 2023)
Heather McFarlane
David Paterson
Neil Stoddart (Joined 28 June 2023)
Philip Taylor
Tessa Quinn
Steven Votier
Key Management
Susan Davies Chief Executive Officer
Helen McDonald
Finance Manager (To 30 June 2023)
Chief Operating Officer (from 1 July 2023)
Jess Thompson Marketing Manager
Dora Roden
Project Manager
Jill Dryburgh Business Support Officer (Retired 28 April 23)
Fiona Unsworth Business Support Officer (Joined 17 May 2023)
Frances Hill Finance and Business Support Assistant