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Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Annual Report and Accounts 2018-2019

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Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Annual Report and Accounts 2018-2019 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Annual Report and Accounts 2018-2019 Version: 14/08/2019 12:22:29 Protecting Wildlife for the Future Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts CONTENTS for the year ended 31 March 2019 Page Overview of the Year 2 Trustees’ Report 3 - 20 Auditors’ Report 21 - 22 Accounting Policies 23 - 25 Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 26 Consolidated and Society Balance Sheets 27 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 28 Notes to the Financial Statements 29 - 44 Page | 1 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR AND POLICY REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2019 It has been an extraordinary year with a sudden change lives across the UK. The young people uprising in environmental awareness and direct involved agreed upon three priority policy changes action on the streets by new groups such as they wanted to see and some took part in two Extinction Rebellion. But in Westminster, Brexit fabulous Parliamentary receptions. Over a hundred continued to dominate political debate with all the young environmentalists had a chance to influence risks it brings to our existing environmental their MPs in Parliament. We were also delighted to protections. As part of the coalition Greener UK we win a £6.4m bid to the Westminster Government for won an historic amendment to the Withdrawal Act Nature Friendly Schools which we started work on which forced the Westminster Government’s hand as the year ended. on environmental legislation. This, combined with a more ambitious and energetic Secretary of State for 68,000 people signed up to the fourth year of 30 the Environment, had a remarkable effect. The first Days Wild and a Care Home in Nottinghamshire part of a Westminster Environment Bill was blazed a trail by involving its residents in a random published in draft (although it was too weak in terms act of wildness every day in June. The positive of the proposed watchdog) and a relatively impact of time outdoors connecting with nature led progressive Agriculture Bill started its passage in to reduced agitation and falls in the Care Home and Parliament. Neither this or the Fisheries Bill inspired a 30 Days Wild Care Home pack for 2019 completed their journey however due to wider taken up by nearly 600 Homes. political deadlock. We were pleased at the growing profile we were Throughout this, The Wildlife Trusts sustained calls securing for our cause in the mainstream press and for a truly ambitious approach to nature’s recovery in social media and `also with our long-term Westminster and the devolved nations. The latter partnerships with businesses including Jordan’s was led by the Trusts in those nations who continue Cereals, Siemens, Vine House Farm, and Aggregate to influence their own decision-makers during a Industries. particularly difficult time for the Union. In Westminster, we presented the challenge paper We continued to roll out a new Customer Towards a Wilder Britain to 48 MPs calling for Nature Relationship Management system and, along with a Recovery Networks in law. We also held a major group of Trusts, we moved to a new finance system. conference of over 250 Wildlife Trust people in We developed our Talent and Skills programme for September and developed a brilliant two-minute people in our movement and continued with our animated film of Wind in the Willows, viewed over 1.6 annual conferences, open days, seminars and million times. The aim being to engage new webinars. This year TWT Council also undertook a audiences in calling for a Wilder Future, people who full Stakeholder Review, with a trustee visiting every share our belief that nature is valuable in its own Trust and holding confidential structured interviews. right, as well as being essential for our existence. An independent consultant analysed these views and we shared her report. Over the new year we secured brilliant broadsheet and tabloid coverage of our marine review of the Finally, we were sad that our wonderful President year. By securing 22,000 signatures for our Wave of Emeritus Professor Aubrey Manning OBE passed Support campaign we helped encourage the away in October. We were pleased the great man Westminster Government to designate a full third had full recognition in the Obituaries and on Radio batch of marine protected areas off the coast of 4’s Last Word. England. We tackled the growing threat to marine wildlife from expansive proposals for offshore wind turbines by talking to the industry and government. Whilst very supportive of renewable energy generation, it has real impacts on our remaining Peta Foxall Stephanie Hilborne, OBE harbour porpoises and kittiwakes as well as raising Chair Chief Executive concerns for the seabed and coastal habitat damage from cabling. We deepened relations with the National Lottery Heritage Fund as it went through a strategy review and continued to support major initiatives in the Trusts. People’s Postcode Lottery’s substantial unrestricted funds helped Trusts run Forest Schools in various locations. Our Bright Future, a major youth and environment programme funded by the National Lottery Communities Fund continued to Page | 2 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR AND POLICY REPORT TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2019 for the year ended 31 March 2019 It has been an extraordinary year with a sudden change lives across the UK. The young people uprising in environmental awareness and direct involved agreed upon three priority policy changes REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS action on the streets by new groups such as they wanted to see and some took part in two Extinction Rebellion. But in Westminster, Brexit fabulous Parliamentary receptions. Over a hundred continued to dominate political debate with all the young environmentalists had a chance to influence Registered name Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) risks it brings to our existing environmental their MPs in Parliament. We were also delighted to protections. As part of the coalition Greener UK we win a £6.4m bid to the Westminster Government for Also known as The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) won an historic amendment to the Withdrawal Act Nature Friendly Schools which we started work on which forced the Westminster Government’s hand as the year ended. Previously known as Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR) on environmental legislation. This, combined with a Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation (SPNC) more ambitious and energetic Secretary of State for 68,000 people signed up to the fourth year of 30 Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) the Environment, had a remarkable effect. The first Days Wild and a Care Home in Nottinghamshire part of a Westminster Environment Bill was blazed a trail by involving its residents in a random Registered charity number 207238 published in draft (although it was too weak in terms act of wildness every day in June. The positive of the proposed watchdog) and a relatively impact of time outdoors connecting with nature led Trading subsidiary The Wildlife Trusts Services Limited progressive Agriculture Bill started its passage in to reduced agitation and falls in the Care Home and Parliament. Neither this or the Fisheries Bill inspired a 30 Days Wild Care Home pack for 2019 Head office address The Kiln completed their journey however due to wider taken up by nearly 600 Homes. Waterside political deadlock. Mather Road We were pleased at the growing profile we were Newark NG24 1WT Throughout this, The Wildlife Trusts sustained calls securing for our cause in the mainstream press and for a truly ambitious approach to nature’s recovery in social media and `also with our long-term Principal bankers NatWest Bank Westminster and the devolved nations. The latter partnerships with businesses including Jordan’s 225 High Street was led by the Trusts in those nations who continue Cereals, Siemens, Vine House Farm, and Aggregate Lincoln LN2 1AZ to influence their own decision-makers during a Industries. particularly difficult time for the Union. In Investment managers Sarasin & Partners LLP Westminster, we presented the challenge paper We continued to roll out a new Customer Juxon House Towards a Wilder Britain to 48 MPs calling for Nature Relationship Management system and, along with a 100 St Paul's Churchyard Recovery Networks in law. We also held a major group of Trusts, we moved to a new finance system. London EC4M 8BU conference of over 250 Wildlife Trust people in We developed our Talent and Skills programme for September and developed a brilliant two-minute people in our movement and continued with our Pension scheme administrators Capita Employee Benefits Ltd animated film of Wind in the Willows, viewed over 1.6 annual conferences, open days, seminars and 65 Gresham Street million times. The aim being to engage new webinars. This year TWT Council also undertook a London EC2V 7NQ audiences in calling for a Wilder Future, people who full Stakeholder Review, with a trustee visiting every share our belief that nature is valuable in its own Trust and holding confidential structured interviews. Solicitors Andrew & Co LLP right, as well as being essential for our existence. An independent consultant analysed these views St Swithin’s Court and we shared her report. 1 Flavian Road Over the new year we secured brilliant broadsheet Nettleham Road and tabloid coverage of our marine review of the Finally, we were sad that our wonderful President Lincoln LN2 4GR year. By securing 22,000 signatures for our Wave of Emeritus Professor Aubrey Manning OBE passed Support campaign we helped encourage the away in October. We were pleased the great man Auditor Saffery Champness LLP Westminster Government to designate a full third had full recognition in the Obituaries and on Radio 71 Queen Victoria Street batch of marine protected areas off the coast of 4’s Last Word.
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