Annual Review 2020/21
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Welcome and update from Stuart Housden, Chair We live in challenging times and like many charities the Seabird Centre had to call upon all of its ingenuity and resources during the Pandemic. I am grateful to my predecessor David Windmill, whose leadership ensured we were well placed to meet the tests we faced, and I must pay tribute to the staff team who went the extra mile too with enthusiasm. And of course my thanks to all of you who supported us during our times of financial difficulty. The year ending 31 January 2021 required resilience and flexibility to respond to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are grateful for the emergency and recovery funding provided by the Scottish Government, and UK Government as well as support received via our public appeal, trusts and foundations, companies, individuals and members. Our Visitor Attraction was closed (20 March to 22 July 2020 and 20 December 2020 to 25 April 2021) necessitating the need to place most of our team into furlough. Despite this we maintained team morale and all welcomed the opportunity to reopen when government guidelines allowed. We also made a step change towards digital delivery.
Conservation
Conservation projects were severely disrupted by Covid-19, including our planned volunteer Wildline programme. A small number of SOS Puffin trips took place later in the year and important island biosecurity work was started; both supported by local kayakers. We continue to engage the local community in citizen science projects. These contribute valuable data to monitoring schemes that help create a picture of the state of our marine environment.
Education
Outdoor, face to face learning and wellbeing activities for children restarted in July through our Wildlife Watch and Holiday Club. These were complemented by new, digital Seaside Science resources and moving our popular Meet the Scientist events online. Our learning team launched new Dive In learning packs which are freely available on our website. These are designed to help people learn more about the importance of Scotland’s seas and the steps that can be taken to protect it.
Communities
Our volunteers provided administrative support and were among the first to welcome visitors back to the Centre, helping reassure and make them feel safe. Our beach clean loan station was established to help locals and visitors make a positive impact on the local environment. Our marine and coastal wellbeing packs, developed in partnership with Care Home providers and support groups, provided valuable engagement materials for older and isolated audiences during lockdown.
Experience
When our Centre re-opened, we remained under COVID-19 restrictions that limited visitor capacity and the exhibits available. Despite this, visitors were thrilled to have the opportunity to come to the Centre and we were delighted with the positive feedback about the team and our COVID-19 safety. We were awarded the industry standard Good to Go Accreditation. Our Wildlife Boat trips also received good reviews. Weather conditions meant no public Bass Rock landings, but we
continued management and monitoring activity on the island. We were also able to upgrade the live cameras, improving the experience for visitors and web-based viewers. I urge you to have a look via our website to see for yourself!
Looking ahead to 2021
Despite the challenges we look forward with optimism. Our Board of Trustees strengthened further and will guide our future strategy and financial sustainability. We will develop our conservation activities to support nature restoration projects and will contribute to the national debate on the policy and practice required to protect Scotland’s marine environment and internationally important seabirds. We see COP15 (biodiversity) and COP26 (climate) as important opportunities to turn the tide to being nature and climate positive. We will further develop our learning programmes to ensure these are relevant across the school years. The activities we offer will also help young people, through experiential learning in blue spaces, to build confidence and contribute towards a transition to greener jobs. Our role in the community remains important both in terms of the quality of the experience on offer and as a valued part of the wider network of science and discovery centres. Our wildlife interactive cameras, digital animations and popular underwater virtual reality experience will be further enhanced. We are renewed by all the support received – thank you.
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Summarised financial information The above information has been compiled using the full audited financial statements, a copy of which may be obtained on request from Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick. The purpose of this information is to provide a summary account of the activities of the group.
Income Admissions (incl. Gift Aid donation) Other DX income Membership (incl Gift Aid donation) Catering and hospitality Retail Revenue & education fundraising, donations Boat income Other income Purchases Expenditure Salaries, wages and contract staff Catering expenditure Education Administration Insurance Utilities Marketing Membership expenses Fundraising resources Discovery Experience Boat trip expenditure Bass Rock levy Professional fees Other expenditure Bad debt write off Non-recoverable VAT Bank int & chgs
Group net surplus/(deficit) before depreciation and capital grants Capital grants received Depreciation Net Surplus / (Deficit) Capital expenditure
2021 £
2020 £
37,995 1,612 39,808 164,184 67,462 769,474 92,603 102,099 1,275,237
106,575 1,350 55,177 364,653 196,797 79,599 369,906 56,911 1,230,968
73,497
188,039
550,716 5,404 210 71,473 27,874 35,337 12,843 610 43,277 10,793 79,022 17,596 1,387 46 3,879 11,272
689,679 6,456 9,206 98,252 29,597 43,810 63,008 15,205 42,953 27,656 283,177 6,000 19,421 2,754 1,848 12,024
871,739
1,351,046
330,001
(308,117)
(184,390) 145,611
460,232 (122,707) 29,408
22,982
526,326
Registered Charity SC025837
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With thanks
Trustees and Key Management
We are grateful for the vital support we have received from the Scottish Government and other Covid support funds, as well as many Trusts, companies and other organisations. Our particular thanks go to this year’s supporters (year ending 31.01.21) including:
Robert Barr Charitable Trust
All those who supported our emergency appeal
Scottish Seabird Centre Friends, Friends for Life, Members and Founder Members
Alerce Trust Baillie Gifford
Robertson Trust Russell Trust Scottish Government – Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund Scottish Government – Wellbeing Fund
BeGreen - Dunbar
Scottish Seabird Centre volunteers
Cirrus Logic
Sea Changers
Cray Trust
Selkirk Charitable Trust
Creature Candy
SSE Renewables
Cruden Foundation Ltd.
Shirley Pugh Foundation
East Lothian Council
Susan H Guy Charitable Trust
Ellem Foundation
Tay Charitable Trust
Event Scotland – Year of Coasts and Waters
Third Sector Resilience Fund
Fidra G C Gibson Charitable Trust Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust Hamish and Doris Crichton Charitable Trust Inchcape Foundation J and JR Wilson Trust KPE4 Trust The National Lottery Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund Nimar Charitable Trust Red Rock Power
Thistledown Charitable Trust Viewforth Trust Walker 597 Trust Whitley Animal Protection Trust William Dean Countryside and Educational Trust William Grant Foundation William Haddon Charitable Trust We would also like to thank the many individuals who have donated money and time, who remain anonymous, but who know we are grateful.
In line with the governance of the charity a number of longstanding trustees retired during the course of the year and the process for new appointments, in line with the new strategic direction and skills audit progressed.
Lindsays WS Company Secretary
Trustees
Helen McDonald Finance Manager
Stuart Housden Chair (appointed 21.01.2021) David Windmill Chair (resigned 21.01.2021) Fiona Alder Chris Arnold Professor John Baxter (resigned 10.09.20) Dr Stephen Breslin Juliana Delaney (resigned 19.03.19) Elizabeth Eckles (appointed 01.06.20) Martha Fleming (appointed 01.06.20) Dr Charlotte Hopkins (appointed 01.08.20) Dr Richard Lilley (appointed 01.08.20) Hamish MacAndrew Diana Murray Professor David Paterson (appointed 20.01.21) Tessa Quinn Phil Taylor Professor Steven Votier (appointed 20.01.21) Biographies online at www.seabird.org
Key Management Susan Davies Chief Executive
Jess Thompson Marketing Manager
Charlotte Bray Fundraising Manager Jill Dryburgh Business Support Officer Dora Roden Project Officer