Scottish Seabird Centre Annual Review 2018/2019

Annual Review 2018/19

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Welcome and update from David Windmill, Chairman outreach, science communications and conservation activities.

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I begin by thanking you for your support. From members and donors, to dedicated staff and volunteers, you have helped us achieve significant outcomes this year and made it possible to plan ahead for a bright future for Scotland’s marine environment and our charity.

2018 was a year of change. Our CEO, Tom Brock, retired after 20 years and we wish him well. We were pleased to appoint Susan Davies as his successor at the start of 2019. Susan has extensive knowledge and experience of wildlife conservation and will lead the development and implementation of our future plans which I have outlined below.

We were delighted when our hardworking volunteers won the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service. 2018 was also significant for SOS Puffin. The project, which has had a positive impact on puffin numbers and biodiversity on the islands, celebrated its 300th work party with over 1200 volunteer days contributed.

We are also investing in our Centre. We raised the funding required to refurbish and upgrade our welcome, learning and exhibition spaces. The plans, being guided by Glasgow Science Centre, will be implemented in stages throughout 2019 and will have a beneficial impact on our education,

Partnership work in 2018 included hosting events with Fringe by the Sea, supporting Marine Conservation Society Scotland’s beach cleans and campaigns, designing curriculumlinked learning resources with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and taking part in the National Whale and Dolphin Watch. These are just some of the growing partnerships we are continuing to establish, locally and with partners throughout Scotland.

It is heartening to see the Centre’s trading continue to perform, in an increasingly difficult climate. Staff work hard to ensure our café, retail, Discovery Centre and boat trips continue to provide a 5-star visitor experience. Our Trading subsidiary - Scottish Seabird Centre Limited - is a non-profit venture with any surplus income raised channelled back into our charitable activities. Staff and volunteers continue to receive positive reviews from visitors; their enthusiasm and expertise are key to our success.

Membership, together with revenue and fundraising, is essential in ensuring the continuing success of our charitable activities. We received the best printed publication from the IOIC Scotland awards 2018 for our members’ magazine and are delighted with the continued growth in, and engagement with, our online social media presence which helps raise awareness of our work. We are looking at ways to further invest in our digital platforms and content in the years ahead.

Education had another successful year delivering high quality, curriculum-based learning experiences to schools. New additions to our programme included marine loan boxes for schools, as well

as marine-themed science events delivered in partnership with Science Festivals throughout Scotland.

Following the success of our first Dr Bryan Nelson memorial lecture in 2016, this has now become a regular feature.

This year we also introduced a series of Meet the Scientist events, giving audiences the opportunity to hear about cutting-edge research at first-hand from experts. Targeted at a younger age group our Live Science Shows continued to engage visitors in interesting science topics in an entertaining and humorous way. These included our first Christmas themed Science Shows which proved to be very popular.

The Scottish Seabird Centre is dedicated to inspiring and educating people about the Scottish marine environment, motivating them to care for it, and supporting conservation projects. We have been encouraged both by the increase in public awareness of the effects of climate change and other threats to the marine environment, and the willingness of people to take or support action to address these. With this in mind, a review of our strategic direction was undertaken throughout the year, exploring how best to extend our role of increasing awareness about the importance of Scotland’s marine environment. This work will result in a new five-year strategic plan 2019-2025, to set out our future direction around the pillars of conservation, education and community whilst also continuing to maximise our tourism assets for the benefit of locals and visitors.

We look forward to a period of positive change over the coming years and are grateful for all you have enabled us to accomplish.

Thank you.

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Summarised financial information Year ended 31 January 2019

2019 2018 This information has

£ £ been compiled using the full audited Income financial statements, Admissions (incl Gift Aid donation) 139,103 128,705 a copy of which may Other DC income 1,250 2,216 be obtained on Membership (incl gift aid donation) 83,394 100,862 request from Catering and hospitality 409,057 432,638 Scottish Seabird Retail 266,454 277,608 Centre, The Harbour, Berwick. The Revenue & education fundraising, donations 177,075 366,340 North purpose of this Other income 130,689 131,840 information is to Bank int rec’d 2,151 170 provide a summary account of the

1,209,173 1,440,378 activities of the group.

Purchases 245,333 254,927

Expenditure Salaries, wages and contract staff 630,203 622,434 Catering expenditure 8,428 7,539 Education 12,462 14,598 Administration 109,785 88,306 Insurance 24,448 21,254 Utilities 34,256 39,573 Marketing 54,043 60,333 Membership expenses 21,191 18,821 Fundraising resources 42,422 44,047 Discovery Centre 32,951 42,876 Product Development - Bass Rock levy 6,000 6,000 Professional fees 33,202 14,461 Bad debt write off - 33 Non-recoverable VAT 9,417 10,072 Bank int & chgs 9,468 4,743

1,028,276 995,090

Group net surplus before depreciation and capital grants (64,436) 190,361

Capital grants received 90,922 Depreciation (84,761) (91,396) Net Surplus / (Deficit) (58,275) 98,965

Capital expenditure 84,373 15,698

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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:

Trustees and key management North Berwick Trust

Trustees

Key Management

N Smith Charitable Settlement

David Windmill

Susan Davies

Robertson Trust

Mary Tebble

(appointed 14.01.19)

Russell Trust

John Hunt

Tom Brock, OBE,

Scottish Enterprise

Mike Fraser

Seton Sands Holiday Park

(resigned 25.04.19)

(retired 04.07.18)

Professor John Baxter

Bothwell Charitable Trust

Sir James Miller Edinburgh Trust

Castansa Trust

St Mary’s Charity

Diana Murray

Cirrus Logic

Tennant Southpark Charitable Trust

Hamish MacAndrew

Astor Foundation

Coastal Communities Fund Cray Trust Cross Trust Cruden Foundation Ltd. David Doig Foundation DS Smith Foundation Ellem Foundation Enterprise Holdings Foundation Ernest Cook Trust Forth Ports Gannets’ Deli Gannet and Guga Café Garfield Weston Foundation Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust Hamish and Doris Crichton Charitable Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation Inchcape Foundation J and JR Wilson Trust JTH Charitable Trust McCarthy and Stone Mackintosh Foundation Montague Panton Animal Welfare Trust

Tesco: Bags of Help T D Paton Trust

Chair

Patricia Burton

Dr Stephen Breslin Katie Mackie (resigned 26.02.19)

Chief Executive Chief Executive

Jess Thompson

Marketing Manager (appointed 18.06.18)

Laura Adamson

Marketing Manager (resigned 16.03.18)

Helen McDonald

Finance Manager (appointed 01.01.19)

Tori Ratcliffe Art

Chris Arnold

Scottish Natural Heritage

Juliana Delaney

Sea-Changers

Dr Bill Sanderson

(resigned 01.08.18)

Shirley Pugh Foundation

Phil Taylor

Charlotte Bray

Spear Charitable Trust

(appointed 21.03.18)

Fundraising Manager

Stafford Trust

Erin McFadden

Grace Martin

(appointed 21.03.18, resigned 01.03.19)

Project Director, NMC (resigned 20.04.18 - end of contract)

Lindsays WS

Nigel Ward

Susan H Guy’s Charitable Trust William Grant Foundation William Haddon Charitable Trust Wolfson Foundation

Company Secretary Biographies online at www.seabird.org

Graham Reid

Finance Manager

Head of Operations (appointed Interim CEO, 05.07.18)

Interim CEO (effective between 05.07.18 and 13.01.19)

Jill Dryburgh

We would also like to thank the many individuals who have donated money and time, who remain anonymous, but who know we are grateful.

Business Support Officer Dora Roden

Project Officer

Photography credits: Gareth Easton, Rob McDougall, Phil Wilkinson, Greg Macvean, Andrew Grieveson and John Hunt

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