Inspiring people to care for wildlife and the natural environment
Annual Review 2014 / 15
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 rejuvenate the town as a tourist destination • Provide a valued, respected and well-used community asset all year round
• Encourage debate and To inspire people to action on vital wildlife, appreciate, understand conservation 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 04 Conservation 06 Our supporters 08 The visitor attraction 10 The future 12 Financial report 13 With thanks
01
Introduction David Windmill, Chairman
The Scottish Seabird Centre team is committed to wildlife conservation and education, and we remain focused on communicating the importance of these activities to the local community and our visitors, in an engaging and inspiring way. This drive and commitment has been constant since the Centre opened in 2000 and forms the basis of our sustainable commercial and charitable activities. Despite a reduction in the number of boat trips, the Centre’s trading performance improved on the previous year with increased income in other key areas. The appointment of a Finance Manager, a newly created role, has significantly improved cost control and commercial awareness within the organisation. The Centre continued to market and promote its presence and activities strongly in both traditional and social media. A new Annual Review, Guide Book and Members’ Magazine were produced and a new PR Agency appointed. The Gateway Project, Scotland’s first Puffin Fest and several temporary events and exhibitions maintained a high profile in the local community as well as regionally and nationally. The Bass Rock was confirmed as the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) which gained substantial publicity for the Centre and highlighted our focus on partnership working. We are a self-financing charity and income is reinvested into the charitable work undertaken by our teams. We seek to increase the conservation and education work we do. We continually face challenges, but we move forward with positivity and commitment. The plans to create the National Marine Centre remain an important focus: we look forward to significant developments taking place over the coming year and to updating all our supporters, members and visitors on exciting times ahead.
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Right: Wildlife film-maker Gordon Buchanan launched Scotland’s Puffin Fest to highlight the importance of conserving and protecting our seabirds for future generations.
Education Education is at the core of what we do at the Seabird Centre. We welcomed over 4,300 school children to the Education Centre and they all enjoyed the opportunity to engage with nature both inside and outside, thanks to our Curriculum for Excellence linked Seaside School programme. We continued to collaborate with local schools. In the year that saw the launch of the John Muir Way we hosted an art competition, judged by local artist Mandy Thomson. Anna Lodge, a P5 pupil from Yester Primary School, was named the winner having fought off competition from hundreds of entries. The themes of Homecoming and John Muir were also in the spotlight during the Easter and summer holidays, when Professor Egghead took to the stage to educate visitors on engaging with, and how to survive in, the great outdoors.
5,210
visitors saw Professor Egghead in action over the school holidays.
Matthew Pearson, a P6 pupil from Dunbar Primary School, who featured in the school’s film about this world-renowned conservationist, was also the star of the Seabird Centre’s marketing materials. 2014 saw Scotland’s first Puffin Fest, a festival which aimed to inspire both locals and visitors alike to learn more about Scotland’s most popular seabird, while also highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting our seabirds for future generations. Over 12,400 people visited the Centre over the 10 day programme, which featured a whole host of activities ranging from art and photography workshops, to guided walks and puffin spotting cruises. Notably, our Marketing Manager, Laura Adamson, won the ASVA Marketing Award for the Puffin Fest campaign.
245
school children entered our John Muir art competition.
The end of the year was an additional education highlight as it was announced that Jenny McAllister was to be awarded an MBE for her services to education as Education Officer at the Seabird Centre. Jenny had inspired thousands of children of all ages about wildlife, sustainability and the natural environment during her time in post.
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Right: Seabird staff take climate change seriously and supported the Stop Climate Chaos campaign For the love of…
Conservation Conservation and sustainability are central to the work of the Seabird team and we proactively undertake environmental projects and look after our wildlife. In May we announced an internationally-important finding following an archaeological dig at the site of the Centre. A 1,500-year-old bone from an extinct great auk was recovered: the last was seen in Scotland on St Kilda in 1840 and the species is now globally extinct, as a result of human predation. The archaeological dig was undertaken by Edinburgh-based Addyman Archaeology, and supported by Historic Scotland and the Seabird Centre. This finding was used as a platform to highlight a useful warning from the past – we must look after our wildlife as a priority.
In July we welcomed the creation of 30 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Scotland’s coasts. Working with other environmental charities, the Seabird Centre has, for a long time, been lobbying hard for better protection of Scotland’s outstanding marine environment and wildlife.
East Lothian residents were asked to look out for seabirds in difficulty throughout September, as there were reports of people finding gugas washed-up on the beaches in and around North Berwick. After leaving their nests on the Bass Rock, the young gannets, heavier At the end of June, Zero Waste than the adults and unable to Scotland launched the Carrier fly until they lose weight, will Bag Commitment for Scottish float on the sea for several retailers at the Seabird Centre, days. Sadly many get into ahead of the introduction of difficulty, so we placed an the carrier bag charge from appeal for people to notify October. At the national launch us if they spotted them we became the first charity to along the coast. sign up to the commitment. Our SOS Puffin project continued to be successful. These volunteer work parties travel to the islands of Fidra
1,000
volunteers have supported SOS Puffin.
165,000 pairs of seabirds nest on the Forth islands.
and Craigleith, to chop down tree mallow which clogs the puffin burrows: this enables puffins to access the burrows and as a result the population has been increasing. Leader of the SOS Puffin project, and trustee of the Scottish Seabird Centre, John Hunt, was shortlisted in RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards. We worked in partnership with North Berwick in Bloom and the East Lothian Council Countryside Ranger Service on a number of beach cleans. These activities form part of our zero-tolerance approach to beach and marine litter, which can kill seabirds and other marine wildlife such as dolphins, seals and turtles. As members of Stop Climate Chaos we supported the For the love of… campaign to highlight the vital need to tackle climate change. This campaign has united millions of conservation supporters across the UK.
06_07
Right: We collaborated with other attractions and local historians for our Call of the Sea exhibition, which was so successful that it was extended for an extra three months.
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 included the Jazz Evening, Midsummer Music and several coffee mornings. 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. We have 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.
435
entries for the Nature Photography Awards.
We celebrated the launch of our 9th Nature Photography Awards. Over 400 entries were secured from all around the world and Scottish Field Editor, Richard Bath, Scottish Natural Heritage Photographer, Lorne Gill, and freelance landscape photographer, Graham Riddell, all donated their skills and expertise to collate the shortlist. 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, with retailers on our Puffin Passport, hold a central role within North Berwick Business Association, and host familiarisation visits for other local businesses.
9,700
member visits to the Discovery Centre in 2014.
Collaboration was also key for the success of our temporary exhibition Call of the Sea, a two-part living history exhibition and live event which explored the development of fishing in North Berwick and the history of the town’s harbour. The exhibition featured images, artefacts and interpretative material which took visitors on a journey from the time of the great auk, through the trading and wartime harbour, up until the 21st century. Events and Exhibitions Officer, Caroline Vevers, worked closely with East Lothian Council Museums Service, the RNLI and the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. She also engaged with local historians, notably Len Groom, Simon Fairnie and Dave Berry, and we thank them all for their support.
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The visitor attraction
Right: Following 30 original artist submissions, a public exhibition and vote, Kenny Hunter’s The Watcher was one of two winning entries selected for The Gateway Project.
Throughout the year the Seabird Centre welcomed over 271,000 visitors through the door, maintaining momentum from the previous year. 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.
Express. This proved particularly popular with younger families.
271,000
30
The popular Seabird Café features East Lothian’s only seaside sundeck. The Café provides crucial income for We continue to value the the Centre and Manager, importance of art in inspiring Helen McCaskill, works people to care for our wildlife closely with local suppliers to and the natural environment, ensure the freshest seasonal with various exhibitions and produce with the fewest food the Nature Photography Awards. miles. Helen also ensures that We unveiled the second of our food waste and packaging stunning sculptures from The recycling is always in line with Gateway Project, The Watcher, green best practice. designed and created by artist Kenny Hunter. The popularity of the online shop grew, with a whole host With the appointment of a new The Turtle & Ray Zone was of new seasonal offerings to Events and Exhibitions Officer, unveiled, giving visitors the peak shoppers’ interest while Caroline Vevers, the Centre’s opportunity to find out more also maintaining some Seabird events programme has been about these ancient creatures. favourites. Thanks to Manager revitalised with fresh new Stunning images, film footage Marion Johnstone, our Gift ideas, creativity and cohesion and top facts bring this area Shop offering remains to be of themes. of the Discovery Centre sourced from local producers, to life. With a new focus on hospitality artists and craftspeople that and catering packages, out-with are seasonally relevant to the Visitors also have the the peak season, we hosted Centre and the local wildlife. opportunity to enjoy seasonal a conference for the RSPB boat trips and to coincide with on sandeels with some of the Puffin Fest, in conjunction with country’s leading conservation our partners Seafari Adventures, experts attending. we launched a special 30 minute puffin spotting cruise – Puffin
visitors to the Seabird Centre in 2014/15.
minutes of puffin spotting fun on the Puffin Express.
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Right: With the National Marine Centre we aim to develop the awardwinning education programmes currently offered by the Seabird Centre.
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. Project Manager, Grace Martin, joined the senior management team in January 2015. Grace has a background in programme and project management. Prior to joining the Seabird Centre she worked for national charity Volunteer Scotland as Head of Programmes and previously managed a small charity based in North Lanarkshire. This involved management of a Nature Park and working directly with local communities to provide a range of practical conservation, educational and recreational activities. The National Marine Centre is a working title for the planned extension and development of the Seabird Centre. The main purpose of the project is to expand the education and conservation work of the charity and play an increasing
£2m
generated for the local economy every year.
role in highlighting the importance of Scotland’s marine environment and wildlife. 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. As well as additional facilities for both locals and visitors, the extended Centre will provide much needed additional space for the increasing number of school groups who want to visit the Centre for our awardwinning environmental education programmes. The Centre currently attracts over a quarter of million visits a year, supports over 70
70
members of staff in our fantastic team.
jobs and generates over £2million for the local economy. An extended Centre will be a significant boost to East Lothian’s tourism and Scotland’s growing reputation as Europe’s leading wildlife tourism destination.
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Summarised financial information Year ended 31 January 2015
Income
2015 £
2014 £
Admissions (including Gift Aid donation) 117,277 Other DC income 8,944 Membership 94,763 Catering and hospitality 423,418 Retail 292,511 Revenue & education fundraising, donations, Gift Aid 176,272 Other income 111,494 Bank int rec’d 523
118,843 5,118 88,847 416,943 288,742 144,959 163,590 1,274
1,225,202
1,228,316
Retail purchases Retail stock (incr)/decr Catering purchases
154,808 6,738 119,958
185,060 (18,525) 124,876
281,504
291,411
Salaries, wages and contract staff 571,244 Catering expenditure 8,015 Education 46,938 Administration 56,857 Insurance 27,806 Utilities 36,713 Marketing 51,340 Membership expenses 17,169 Fundraising resources 2,370 Maintenance 7,908 Discovery Centre 29,244 Product development 1,223 Bass Rock levy 6,000 Professional fees 40,884 Bad debt write off 195 Non-recoverable VAT 12,686 Bank int & chgs 10,780
590,539 11,928 21,635 54,691 24,082 35,019 52,732 12,507 2,063 15,203 27,701 4,825 6,000 57,306 600 7,581 9,418
933,830
Purchases
Expenditure
Group net (deficit)/surplus before depn and capital grants
927,372 16,326
3,075
Capital grants received 17,912 74,065 Depreciation (90,572) (81,516) Net deficit
(56,334)
(4,376)
Capital expenditure
48,017
75,727
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.
With thanks
Trustees and senior management
We have received vital support from many companies, organisations and trusts.
We would also like to thank this year’s other donors:
Board of trustees
Chairman
Special thanks must be given to:
Bruce Wake Charitable Trust Cairn Energy
Alastair McIntosh
East Lothian Council Scottish Natural Heritage The HB Allen Charitable Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Robertson Trust The Scottish Government
Castansa Trust Craignish Trust Cruden Foundation Ellem Foundation Helen Gilman Trust Forth Ports Frognal Trust Garfield Weston Foundation Inchcape Foundation Jean Buchan Fleming Bequest JTH Charitable Trust Lafarge Cement Mainstream Renewable Power N. Smith Charitable Settlement Nancy Roberts Charitable Trust Nimar Charitable Trust
David Windmill
Vice Chairman Diana Murray
Hamish Macandrew Hew Dalrymple Professor John Baxter John Hunt John McMillan Lauren Rodger Mary Tebble Mike Fraser Patricia Burton Tim Day David Reith
Company Secretary Special Ornithological Advisor Dr Bryan Nelson, MBE
Roger Vere Foundation
Biographies online at www.seabird.org
Scottish Enterprise
Senior management team
Slater Foundation
Tom Brock, OBE
Spear Charitable Trust
Chief Executive
SPCA International
Nigel Ward
Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
Head of Operations
Tay Charitable Trust
Penny Hand
The Enterprise Foundation The Stafford Trust Thistledown Trust William Dean Trust
Finance Manager Laura Adamson
Marketing Manager Charlie Marshall
Fundraising and Business Development Manager Grace Martin
Project Manager, National Marine Centre
Photography credits Gareth Easton, Grace Martin, Greg Macvean, Laura Adamson, Mark Jackson, Peter Dolive, Rob McDougall, Sean Bell, Stuart Murray, Tony Marsh.
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