Annual Review 2017/18
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Welcome and update from David Windmill, Chairman
................................. I would like to extend my sincere thanks, on behalf of all of us, to our many donors, visitors, members and volunteers. Your ongoing commitment is very much appreciated. It is only with your support that we are able to continue delivering and developing our important education and conservation work. We remain extremely proud of our education programmes, which continue to grow and inspire even more young people. Our education outreach re-commenced this year and we enjoyed the opportunity to work with partners like the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery, Marine Conservation Society and Local Wildlife Rangers service, to provide a rich, engaging learning experience. Our Seabird Holiday Clubs and North Berwick Wildlife Watch continue to be popular, with members enjoying activities like wildlife surveys, shelter building, science experiments and arts and crafts.
Our programme of public science events is also growing. The Bryan Nelson Memorial Lecture is now a recurring feature. We also hosted our first Meet the Scientist event, ‘Sharks, Skates and Rays’. Professor John Baxter (formerly with Scottish Natural Heritage) and Dr Lea-Anne Henry (Heriot Watt University) shared cutting-edge research taking place throughout Scotland. Our Live Science Shows engaged a record audience of over 2,200, mainly families with young children. This year we introduced a science puppet show for very young children, alongside the usual science shows for ages 6 and above, which was hugely successful. SOS Puffin continues to make a positive impact on local puffin populations. We also worked in partnership to protect our stunning local environment, via beach cleans, ‘nurdle’ (plastic) hunts and wildlife surveys. Removing all single use plastic from our Centre is just one of the steps we have taken to ensure our own organisation has a positive impact on the environment. We are delighted with the continuing strong performance of our trading operations, which raise vital income for our charitable work. The café, gift shop and Discovery Centre remain popular destinations. We were pleased to be recognised by VisitScotland’s ‘Taste Our Best’ for our café and the addition of a 3D Theatre helped provide visitors with an exciting, immersive experience.
Our guided boat trips are always a huge draw, although we faced many challenges with the unpredictable climate. We are especially pleased to hear the many positive reviews about the knowledge and friendliness of our staff and volunteers, whose enthusiasm and loyalty is crucial to our success and in continuing to deliver a 5-star experience. Our ongoing focus on collaboration will inform our work throughout 2018. Partners include charities, conservation organisations, Science Centres and education bodies, including Universities and Science Festivals. We look forward to supporting one another to deliver important education, science engagement and conservation work throughout Scotland. Public interest in the marine environment has escalated, following the success of high profile campaigns like Blue Planet 2 and plastic pollution. Whilst we were disappointed not to receive planning permission for our proposed building works, the Trustees remain committed to extending our vital environmental education and conservation work, to meet the growing interest and need for marine science education and conservation. Work planned for 2018 will include new education, outreach and events, delivered at the Centre and throughout Scotland, in addition to educational resources and support for teachers, volunteering and partnership work. We look forward to sharing news of our continuing growth in these areas with you over the coming year and remain grateful to all who have supported us to date.
Thank you.
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Summarised financial information Year ended 31 January 2018 Income
Admissions (including Gift Aid donation) Other DC income Membership (including Gift Aid donation) Catering and hospitality Retail Revenue and education fundraising, donations Other income Bank interest received Purchases Expenditure
Salaries, wages and contract staff Catering expenditure Education Administration Insurance Utilities Marketing Membership expenses Fundraising resources Discovery Centre Product Development Bass Rock levy Professional fees Bad debt write off Non-recoverable VAT Bank interest and charges
2018 £
2017 £
128,705 108,907 2,216 4,957 100,862 91,945 432,638 430,277 277,608 277,860 366,340 193,663 131,840 126,000 170 466 1,440,378 1,234,075 254,927
265,890
622,434 602,753 7,539 10,133 14,598 11,457 88,306 64,587 21,254 23,149 39,573 38,498 60,333 50,209 18,821 20,256 44,047 35,102 42,876 47,477 – 750 6,000 6,000 14,461 13,091 33 459 10,072 9,119 4,743 5,045
995,090 938,085
Group net surplus before depreciation and capital grants
190,361
30,100
Capital grants received Depreciation Net surplus/(deficit)
– – (91,396) (93,580) 98,965 (63,480)
Capital expenditure
15,698 23,121
This 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.
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With thanks We are grateful for the vital support we have received from many Trusts, companies and other organisations. Our particular thanks go to this year’s supporters, including: AEB Charitable Trust Bothwell Charitable Trust Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust
Trustees and senior management Scottish Enterprise Scottish Government Scottish Natural Heritage Seton Sands Holiday Village Seven Pillars of Wisdom Trust
This year was a period of change for our organisation. Many Trustees chose to stand down after several years of loyal service. Others were specifically appointed to reflect the need for particular expertise or knowledge in key areas. We are grateful to all our Trustees, staff and volunteers for their continuing dedication and enthusiasm.
Shirley Pugh Foundation for the Welfare of Animals
Trustees
Senior management team
Sir James Miller Edinburgh Trust
David Windmill
Chairman
Tom Brock, OBE.
Hew Dalrymple
(retired 04.07.18)
Stafford Trust
(resigned 15.10.17)
Coastal Communities Fund
St Mary’s Charity
Cray Trust
Mary Tebble
Tay Charitable Trust
Cross Trust
John Hunt
T D Paton Trust
Cruden Foundation Ltd.
Mike Fraser
Tennant Southpark Charitable Trust
Tim Day
William Dean Countryside and Educational Trust
John McMillan
Wolfson Foundation
Professor John Baxter
Dulverton Trust East Lothian Council Eda Lady Jardine Charitable Trust Ellem Foundation Enterprise Holdings Foundation Forth Ports Gannets’ Deli Gannet and Guga Garfield Weston Foundation Geoffrey Clark Charitable Trust Hamish and Doris Crichton Charitable Trust Heritage Lottery Fund Hugh Fraser Foundation Inchcape Foundation
(resigned 15.06.17) (resigned 15.06.17)
Patricia Burton
We would also like to thank Diana Murray the many individuals who Lauren Rodger have donated money and (resigned 15.10.17) time, who remain anonymous, but who know we are grateful. Hamish Macandrew Dr Stephen Breslin
Marketing Manager (resigned 16.03.18)
Heather Blair
Finance Manager (resigned 26.10.17)
Charlotte Bray
Fundraising Manager Grace Martin
Project Director, NMC (resigned 20.04.18 – end of contract)
Graham Reid
Finance Manager (appointed 09.02.18)
Nigel Ward
Head of Operations (appointed Interim CEO, 05.07.18)
Katie Mackie
Jess Thompson
(appointed 01.05.17)
Marketing Manager
Chris Arnold
(appointed 18.06.18)
(appointed 10.08.17)
Biographies online at www.seabird.org
Juliana Delaney (appointed 10.08.17)
Dr Bill Sanderson (appointed 10.08.17)
Phil Taylor
Lindsays Charitable Trust
(appointed 21.03.18 as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People)
N Smith Charitable Settlement
Laura Adamson
(appointed 22.03.17)
JTH Charitable Trust Mackintosh Foundation
Chief Executive
Erin McFadden
Robert Barr’s Charitable Trust
(appointed 21.03.18 as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People)
Robertson Trust
Alastair Keatinge
Company Secretary
Photography credits Jan Ferguson, Andrew Grieveson, Gavin McDougall, Rob McDougall, Phil Wilkinson Scottish Seabird Centre The Harbour North Berwick EH39 4SS 01620 890202 info@seabird.org www.seabird.org