Scottish Seabird Centre Annual Review 2013/14

Inspiring people to care for wildlife and the natural environment

Annual Review 2013 /14

The Scottish Seabird Centre The Scottish Seabird Centre is more than a visitor attraction. We are a conservation and education charity and all income is invested in our charitable work undertaken by our committed team of staff and volunteers.

Our mission

Our objectives:

Contents

• Inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to engage positively with wildlife, the natural environment and conservation

01 Introduction from Chairman, David Windmill

• Help to revitalise the North Berwick harbour area and to contribute to the rejuvenation of the town as a tourist destination • Provide a valued, respected and well-used community asset all year round

To inspire people to • Encourage debate and appreciate, understand action on vital wildlife and environmental issues. and care for wildlife and the natural environment.

Conservation and education are at the heart of what we do – we aim to inspire, inform and educate a large and diverse audience in a way that is fun, engaging and interactive.

02 Education in action 04 Conservation 06 Our supporters 08 The visitor attraction 10 The future 12 Summarised financial information 13 With thanks 13 Trustees and senior management

01

Introduction David Windmill, Chairman

At the Scottish Seabird Centre we love wildlife and the marine environment. At the heart of what we do is educating and inspiring people about the essential conservation that must be done to ensure future generations can enjoy, explore, appreciate and care for the natural world around us.

The Seabird Centre was established as a charity in 1997 and since then our drive has remained the same – however, we are constantly researching, developing and evolving to ensure we remain at the top of our game.

Over the last year we have welcomed a number of improvements.

We consolidated our operations: retail, catering and boat trip activities all performed well. We are a self-financing charity and income is reinvested into the charitable work undertaken by our teams.

In the Discovery Centre we launched a new camera on the island of Fidra and diversified our exhibitions with the new Turtle and Ray Zone.

Our new 55-seat catamaran took to the seas and the first of our Gateway sculptures was unveiled to the public. We also published an excellent academic book detailing the significant finds from extensive archaeological excavations.

We continue to win awards including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise (for the third time) and we retained our five star quality accreditation from VisitScotland.

All of this provides an excellent platform to look to the future, and the plans to extend and create the National Marine Centre remain an important focus: we look forward to developments taking place over the coming year and to updating all our supporters, members and visitors on exciting times ahead.

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Education in action

Right: Our popular Professor Egghead shows enabled us to engage with family audiences in an accessible way.

2013 was a phenomenal year for education at the Scottish Seabird Centre. Jenny McAllister, Education Officer, secured the title of Teacher of the Year at the Scottish Education Awards 2013.

The Awards are backed by the Scottish Government and the Daily Record to recognise and celebrate the achievements taking place within Scottish education, including the dedication and commitment of teaching staff and education supporters.

Jenny secured this amazing accolade as she inspired 5,000 children of all ages about wildlife, sustainability and the natural environment in an imaginative and interactive way: core values for the Seabird Centre.

5,000

children have enjoyed our education programmes.

Our focus on education is not limited to the classroom.

At www.seabird.org teachers and educational professionals can access a range of specially designed resources linked to the Curriculum for Excellence, plus editable topic plans to ensure we can engage with all educational institutions.

The North Berwick Wildlife Club, which boasts 66 members and a lengthy waiting list, offers a fun and engaging group for aspiring wildlife stars of the future to cultivate their passion for conservation. The Club was a finalist in the Nature of Scotland Awards and came third in the Wildlife Trusts’ UK Wildlife Club Awards.

66

members of our popular Wildlife Club.

Professor Egghead returned for the school holidays, providing an entertaining and interactive experience for families to get a taste of science first hand.

This was supported by a new science lab where there were chances to see live experiments and complete science challenges.

04_05

Right: Our Puffling Rescue Service hit the headlines across the country.

Conservation We highlight the importance of conservation and sustainability, proactively undertake environmental improvements and look after our wildlife.

In the Discovery Centre, we have increased the number of talks led by our expert guides. Breaking news from the interactive cameras and the reality of nature unfolding live, has ensured that we can highlight how everyone’s actions can impact on the natural environment.

Puffins also hit the headlines in 2013 as they had been omitted from Scottish Natural Heritage and VisitScotland’s Big Five species in celebration of the Year of Natural Scotland.

We launched a high profile campaign about the omission of Scotland’s seabirds from this list and launched the People’s Big Five vote to In 2013 we built on the success highlight the international of our award-winning SOS importance of wildlife around Puffin campaign to increase Scotland’s coasts. This the puffin populations on the successfully engaged large islands of Craigleith and Fidra. numbers of people throughout Rapid and significant growth Scotland and beyond. of tree mallow (linked to climate change) on the islands had Momentum was continued clogged burrows, preventing with our Puffling Rescue puffins from nesting. Hundreds Service: pufflings leaving their of work parties, all voluntary, burrows are disorientated by have travelled to the islands the lights of North Berwick to cut down the tree mallow and end up under cars in the enabling puffins to access town. We launched a campaign their burrows again. Other to raise awareness of this and nesting birds such as eider successfully rescued a number ducks and fulmars have also of pufflings, releasing them benefited. back into the wild from our boats. In autumn a campaign was also launched for gugas (juvenile gannets), which were in need of help.

130

people took to the beach to turn the tide on litter.

5,500

apparently occupied puffin burrows on Craigleith.

We worked in partnership with national environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, and the Marine Conservation Society on a Scotland-wide zero-tolerance campaign on beach and marine litter, which can kill seabirds and other marine wildlife such as dolphins, seals and turtles.

This was further supported by a collaboration with North Berwick in Bloom and the East Lothian Ranger Service as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s national ‘Beachwatch Big Weekend’: over 130 people took to the beaches of North Berwick to turn the tide on litter.

Widespread national and international coverage of all these initiatives, supported with targeted online and social media engagement, ensured our conservation and wildlife messages successfully reached many people.

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Right: Isla Sneddon, age 8, won the Public Choice Award at the Nature Photography Awards.

Our supporters Support from our volunteers and members, as well as donations from other individuals, organisations and trusts, are key to the Seabird Centre’s survival and ongoing success.

Our volunteers organise a range of events throughout the year, which not only raise sizable funds but enable the Centre to positively and successfully engage with the local community. Popular events in 2013 included the Jazz Evening, Midsummer Music and several coffee mornings.

In 2013 we had the support of over 6,000 members. As well as supporting the important work of the charity, members benefit from exclusive discounts, enewsletters, magazines and special events, such as an exclusive preview of our Nature Photography Awards exhibition and a Christmas Shopping Evening.

Sandy Forrest is the head of our volunteer group: she is supported by people of all ages who not only ensure a high quality fundraising programme, but work side-by-side with our Discovery Centre team, engaging with visitors, securing memberships and acting as ambassadors.

Community engagement is central to our success and we collaborate as much as possible. We work in partnership with events such as Fringe by the Sea, hold a central role within North Berwick Business Association, host familiarisation visits for other local businesses and demonstrate support for the Yacht Club and Rugby Club.

7

11,700

events were organised by the volunteers.

member visits in 2013.

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The visitor attraction

Right: In the Discovery Centre visitors of all ages can zoom in on amazing wildlife action.

Throughout 2013/14 the Seabird Centre welcomed over 272,000 visitors through the door, an increase of 6,000 on the year before.

With the appointment of a new Gift Shop Manager, Marion Kerr, this area of the Centre has been revitalised, with new items - predominantly sourced from local producers, artists and craftspeople - that are seasonally relevant to the Centre and the local wildlife.

We ensure all suppliers send us their sustainable and green policies and that all retail waste is recycled.

The popular Seabird Café features East Lothian’s only seaside sun deck. The Café provides crucial income for the Centre and the manager, Helen McCaskill, works closely with local suppliers to ensure the freshest seasonal produce with the fewest food miles.

Recycling food waste and packaging is also key.

Visitors are invited to ‘fly down’ to the Discovery Centre: admission enables visitors to come and go

150,000

gannets on the world-famous Bass Rock.

throughout the day. In 2013 the new Discovery Centre Manager, Andy Dickson, supported by the newly appointed Head of Operations, Nigel Ward, embarked on a full review of the Discovery Centre offering, enhancing and developing new areas such the Turtle and Ray Zone. A new camera was also installed on the island of Fidra.

The interactive live cameras remain the stars of the show: these solar powered cameras, located on the islands of the Firth of Forth and at Dunbar Harbour, enable visitors to see the natural world in action without any disturbance to the wildlife in any way. Visitors can zoom in on gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants, shags, eiders, terns, guillemots, razorbills, seals and more, at different stages of the breeding season.

525

entries for the Nature Photography Awards.

Supporting talks, activities, events and information points highlight the importance of our wildlife and the need for conservation.

Visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy seasonal boat trips and in March 2013, in conjunction with Seafari Adventures, we launched a custom-built 55-seat catamaran to cruise out to the island of Craigleith and on to the world-famous Bass Rock.

We continue to value the importance of art in inspiring people to care for our wildlife and the natural environment, with various exhibitions and the Nature Photography Awards.

We unveiled the first of our stunning sculptures from The Gateway Project – the Gannet Gateway – designed and created by Diane Maclean.

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Right: We aim to build on our successful education role to ensure Scotland’s seas are looked after for future generations.

The future We recognise the importance of constantly needing to evolve and develop – not only to ensure our sustainability, but to ensure we stay relevant and of interest to visitors, supporters and members.

Plans for the National Marine Centre continue to progress, as we build on our success since opening in 2000. The aims are to further develop the charity’s education role, provide a platform for increased conservation activity and further enhance the experience for both locals and tourists.

With the extended Centre, we want to demonstrate the increasing role of the charity in highlighting the international importance of Scotland’s outstanding marine environment and wildlife, as well as raising awareness of the need to ensure that Scotland’s seas, coasts and marine wildlife, including seabirds, are properly looked after for future generations.

271,400 visitors in 2013.

As well as additional facilities for both locals and visitors, the extended Centre would provide much needed additional space for the increasing number of school groups who want to visit the Centre for our award-winning environmental education programmes.

The Centre currently attracts over a quarter of million visits a year, supports over 70 jobs and generates over £2million for the local economy. An extended Centre would be a significant boost to East Lothian’s tourism and Scotland’s growing reputation as Europe’s leading wildlife tourism destination.

70

members of staff in our fantastic team.

In 2013, we welcomed further opportunities to consult and work with other wildlife organisations from around the world, including the Galapagos Conservation Trust which is currently leading a project in collaboration with the Seabird Centre and the Galapagos National Park to bring the innovative technology used by the Seabird Centre to the Galapagos.

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Summarised financial information Year ended 31 January 2014

Income

Admissions (including Gift Aid donation) Other DC income Membership Catering and hospitality Retail Revenue & education fundraising, donations, Gift Aid Other income Bank int rec’d

Purchases

2014 £

2013 £

118,843 127,626 5,118 9,415 88,847 91,561 416,943 402,942 288,742 267,801 144,959 140,002 163,590 103,437 1,274 1,309 1,228,316

1,144,093

Retail purchases Retail stock (incr)/decr Catering purchases

185,060 139,499 (18,525) 18,172 124,876 117,277

291,411

Expenditure

274,948

Salaries, wages and contract staff Catering expenditure Education Administration Insurance Utilities Marketing Membership expenses Fundraising resources Maintenance Discovery Centre Product Development Bass Rock levy Professional fees Bad debt write off Non-recoverable VAT Bank int & chgs

590,539 538,330 11,928 10,541 21,635 16,877 54,691 54,629 24,082 17,288 35,019 32,732 52,732 59,954 12,507 19,834 2,063 2,011 15,203 12,559 27,701 20,738 4,825 16,954 6,000 6,552 57,306 45,908 600 0 7,581 12,116 9,418 6,950

933,830

873,973

3,075

(4,828)

Group net (deficit)/surplus before depn and capital grants

Capital grants received Depreciation Net deficit

74,065 26,409 (81,516) (107,271) (4,376) (85,690)

Capital expenditure

75,727 37,280

This financial 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.

With thanks

Trustees and senior management

We have received vital We would also like to thank support from many companies, this year’s other donors: organisations and trusts.

Bruce Wake Charitable Trust

Board of trustees

Special thanks must be given to: East Lothian Council

Scottish Natural Heritage The HB Allen Charitable Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Robertson Trust The Scottish Government

Cairn Energy Castansa Trust Craignish Trust Cruden Foundation Forth Ports Frognal Trust Helen Gilman Trust Inchcape Foundation Jean Buchan Fleming Bequest JTH Charitable Trust Lafarge Cement Mainstream Renewable Power Nancy Roberts Charitable Trust Naturesave Nimar Charitable Trust N. Smith Charitable Settlement Roger Vere Foundation

David Windmill

Chairman

Alastair McIntosh

Vice Chairman Diana Murray

Hamish Macandrew Hew Dalrymple Professor John Baxter John Hunt John McMillan Lyle Crawford Mary Tebble Mike Fraser Patricia Burton Tim Day David Reith

Company Secretary Dr Bryan Nelson, MBE.

Special Ornithological Advisor

Scottish Enterprise

Biographies online at www.seabird.org

Slater Foundation

Senior management team

Spear Charitable Trust

Tom Brock, OBE.

SPCA International

Chief Executive

Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust

Charlie Marshall

Tay Charitable Trust The Enterprise Foundation The Stafford Trust Thistledown Trust William Dean Trust

Fundraising and Business Development Manager Laura Adamson

Marketing Manager Nigel Ward

Head of Operations

Photography credits Greg Macvean Jane Barlow Laura Adamson Malcolm McCurrach Rob McDougall Sean Bell

View our Annual Review and Accounts online at www.seabird.org

Scottish Seabird Centre The Harbour North Berwick EH39 4SS 01620 890202 info@seabird.org www.seabird.org