Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 For MARINElife
An overview by the Chair of the Board of Trustees
MARINElife is on track with continuous development in the monitoring of marine life activity.
We are monitoring cetacean activity on nine ferry routes, thanks to our key partners DFDS, CLDM(Seatruck), Condor and the Lundy Landmark Trust . Together we make a very important contribution to understanding activity and changes in cetacean populations around our coasts.
We are also continuing delivery of our part in the European Seabird at Sea Programme through Joint Nature Conservation Committee funded Volunteer Seabirds at Sea Project. We continued to monitor local marine environments with the North East Cetacean Project, research cruises with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and the South Coast Small Boat Surveys Project .
We appreciate the contribution of donors for funded projects such as the promotion and education programme we implemented with The John Lewis Funding Partnership.
These increases in effort required the recruitment, accreditation, training, and development of our surveying teams . We continue to welcome more volunteers to work with us monitoring the marine environment, both on vessels and in land support activities. Our teams of volunteers have done another great job delivering the scientific data that will enable the marine environment to be properly protected.
Our financial position is currently robust, and will enable us to fund a new strategy, currently in development, in addition to supporting current operations.
The Board would like to thank our part-time staff for their great contribution to our mission, and I would like to add my thanks to the Board of Trustees for their steering and support for the charity. We record our appreciation of two retiring trustees, Georgina Fuller and Emma Sternhouse. We welcome the arrival of Kate Constable as a trustee.
Archie Robertson OBE Chair
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05057367 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1110884
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
For MARINElife
MARINElife
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 2 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 to 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 to 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 12 to 13 |
MARINElife
Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 5 April 2025
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the charity ’ s financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in March 2005.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number 05057367 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1110884
Registered office
1a Kingsbury ’ s Lane Ringwood Hampshire BH24 1EL
Trustees
R I Morris - appointed 30.04.12 C A Robertson - appointed 01.10.20 R Lofts - appointed 30.05.22 O A Mclaughlin - appointed 22.11.22 H Agosti - appointed 17.10.23 G Madge - appointed 20.10.23 K L Constable - appointed 22.07.25 E Stenhouse - resigned 31.12.24 G Fuller - resigned 13.05.25
Report of the Trustees of MARINElife For the Year Ended 5 April 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
MARINElife is a Company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 26 February 2004 as amended by special resolution on 28 July 2005, 15 December 2007, 6 March 2010, 14 October 2010 and 2 December 2010. Registration as a charity with the Charities Commission was confirmed on 16 August 2005.
There are currently 7 trustees, each of whom agrees to contribute £ 10 in the event of the charity winding up.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, preservation and protection of marine animals particularly but not exclusively dolphins, whales, porpoises and cetaceans in all forms and to advance the education of the public in the same by:
(1) Educating the public towards the need for their preservation.
(2) Undertaking research on the preservation of all species of marine animals and to publish the results, and
(3) Educating the public about their population, habitats, behaviour and threats. The main objectives for the year continue to be as stated.
The strategies employed to achieve the charity's objectives are to:
-
Educate the public towards the need for their preservation
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Undertake research on the preservation of all species of marine animals and to publish the results, and
-
Educate the public about their population, habitats, behaviour and threats.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
Reserves will continue to be closely administered to ensure financial viability and enable management progress. Any excess reserves will be channelled into our main education and research objectives.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 01/11/2025 and signed on its behalf by:
C A Robertson - Trustee
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of MARINElife
I report on the accounts for the year ended 5 April 2025 set out on pages four to twelve.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is required.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of Sections 394 and 395 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Artema Ltd
Date: 01/11/2025
MARINElife
Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| fund | fund | ||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Incoming resources from | |||||
| generated funds | |||||
| Donations & legacies | 18,615 | - | 18,615 | 19,981 | |
| Charitable activities | 2 | 63,572 | 1,154 | 64,726 | 33,877 |
| Other trading income | 86 | - | 86 | 265 | |
| Investment income | 3 | 1,433 | - |
1,433 | 1,110 |
| Total incoming resources | 83,706 | 1,154 |
84,860 | 55,233 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Costs of generating funds | |||||
| Raising funds | 1,527 | - | 1,527 | 1,758 | |
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Direct costs (education & scientific | |||||
| research) | 57,899 | 7,043 | 64,942 | 18,252 | |
| Overheads | 22,962 | - | 22,962 | 21,761 | |
| Total resources expended | 82,388 | 7,043 | 89,431 | 41,771 | |
| NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) | |||||
| RESOURCES | 1,318 | (5,889) | (4,571) | 13,462 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||
| Transfer between funds | - | - | - | - | |
| Total funds brought forward | 89,311 | 15,317 | 104,628 | 91,166 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 90,629 | 9,428 | 100,057 | 104,628 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
continued...
MARINElife
Balance Sheet At 5 April 2025
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | Total funds | |||
| fund | fund | |||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| FIXED ASSETS | ||||||
| Tangible assets | 7 | 525 | - | 525 | 750 | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||
| Accrued income | 8 | 21,158 | - | 21,158 | - | |
| Cash at bank | 69,179 | 26,426 | 95,605 | 131,902 | ||
| 90,337 | 26,426 | 116,763 | 131,902 | |||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||
| Accruals | 9 | (233) | - | (233) | (358) | |
| Deferred income | - | (16,998) | (16,998) | (27,200) | ||
| Net wages | - | - | - | (466) | ||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 90,104 | 9,428 | 99,532 | 103,878 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | ||||||
| LIABILITIES | 90,629 | 9,428 | 100,057 | 104,628 | ||
| NET ASSETS | 90,629 | 9,428 | 100,057 | 104,628 | ||
| FUNDS | 10 | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | 90,629 | 89,311 | ||||
| Restricted funds | 9,428 | 15,317 | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 100,057 | 104,628 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
continued...
MARINElife
Balance Sheet - continued
At 5 April 2025
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2025.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
-
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
-
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015).
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 01/11/2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. C A Robertson -Trustee
MARINElife
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with Section 1A of the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Companies Act 2006 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Office equipment - 25% p.a. on a straight-line basis.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
MARINElife
Notes to the Financial Statements – continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
1. DETAILED COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| 5.4.24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | |
| fund | fund | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||
| Incoming resources from | |||
| generated funds | |||
| Donations & legacies | 19,981 | - | 19,981 |
| Charitable activities | 15,777 | 18,100 | 33,877 |
| Other trading income | 265 | - | 265 |
| Investment income | 1,110 | - | 1,110 |
| Total incoming resources | 37,133 | 18,100 | 55,233 |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||
| Costs of generating funds | |||
| Raising funds | 1,758 | - | 1,758 |
| Charitable activities | |||
| Direct costs (education & scientific | |||
| research) | 15,469 | 2,783 | 18,252 |
| Overheads | 21,761 | - | 21,761 |
| Total resources expended | 38,988 | 2,783 | 41,771 |
| NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) | |||
| RESOURCES | (1,855) | 15,317 | 13,462 |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||
| Transfer between funds | 1,309 | (1,309) | - |
| Total funds brought forward | 89,857 | 1,309 | 91,166 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 89,311 | 15,317 | 104,628 |
MARINElife
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
2. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Grants | (1,346) | 18,100 |
| Contract income | 61,558 | 11,675 |
| Educational initiatives | 4,514 | 4,102 |
| 64,726 | 33,877 |
In previous years the above costs were described as fundraising initiatives
3. INVESTMENT INCOME
| INVESTMENT INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Deposit account interest | 1,433 | 1,110 |
4. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Net resources are stated after charging/(crediting):
| Depreciation - owned assets | 5.4.25 £ 225 |
5.4.24 £ 150 |
|---|---|---|
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 5 April 2025 nor for the year ended 5 April 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5 April 2025 or for the year ended 5 April 2024.
6. STAFF COSTS
| STAFF COSTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 39,504 | 25,926 |
| Other pension costs | 995 | 569 |
| 40,499 | 26,495 |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| No employees received emoluments in excess of£60,000. | 5.4.25 4 |
5.4.24 3 |
|---|---|---|
MARINElife
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| 7. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | ||||
| equipment | ||||
| £ | ||||
| COST | ||||
| At 6 April 2024 | 900 | |||
| Additions | - | |||
| Disposals | - | |||
| At 5 April 2025 | 900 | |||
| DEPRECIATION | ||||
| At 6 April 2024 | 150 | |||
| Charge for year | 225 | |||
| Disposal of depreciation | 0 | |||
| At 5 April 2025 | 375 | |||
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||||
| At 5 April 2025 | 525 | |||
| At 5 April 2024 | 750 | |||
| 8. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | |||
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accrued income | 21,158 | - | ||
| 21,158 | - | |||
| 9. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | |||
| 5.4.25 | 5.4.24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accruals | 233 | 358 | ||
| Deferred income | 16,998 | 27,200 | ||
| Wages payable | - | 466 | ||
| 17,231 | 28,024 |
MARINElife
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS Net movement in funds, included Unrestricted funds General funds Restricted funds Sea Changers CIBUS John Lewis Nature Fund Total restricted funds Total funds |
At 6.4.24 Net movement in funds £ £ 89,311 1,318 15,317 (5,889) 104,628 (4,571) in the above are as follows: At 6.4.24 Incoming resources Resources expended £ £ £ 89,311 83,706 82,388 2,500 - 2,500 12,817 - 3,389 - 1,154 1,154 15,317 1,154 7,043 104,628 84,860 89,431 |
At 5.4.25 £ 90,629 9,428 100,057 At 5.4.25 £ 90,629 - 9,428 - |
|---|---|---|
| 9,428 100,057 |
11. RESTRICTED FUNDS
Grants Receivable
The £ 1,154 restricted funding consists of £ 18,152 John Lewis Nature funds received, less £ 16,998 deferred to 2025/26 because the majority of deliverables are scheduled for the following year.
The £ 2,500 Sea Changers grant was returned to the funder as it had not been possible to carry out the project for which it was intended.
MARINElife
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
| for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 INCOMING RESOURCES Donations & legacies Donations Gift aid Subscriptions Charitable activities Grants Contract income Educational initiatives Investment income Deposit account interest Other Income Other income Total incoming resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Fundraising direct costs: Other direct costs CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Direct costs (education & scientific research) Travelling and subsistence Volunteer costs Researcher uniform Educational initiatives expenditure Vessell/Boat hire CIBUS grant expenditure VSAS/ESAS expenses Dolphin NAT expenditure John Lewis expenditure Direct wages Direct pensions |
5.4.25 £ 598 2,911 15,106 18,615 (1,346) 61,558 4,514 1,433 86 84,860 1,527 127 205 659 494 200 3389 11,023 21,760 38 26,508 539 64,942 |
5.4.24 £ 1,282 3,531 15,168 19,981 18,100 11,675 4,102 1,110 265 55,233 1,758 69 - 499 926 - 2,783 - - - 13,862 113 18,252 |
|---|---|---|
MARINElife
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 Overheads costs Wages Pensions Printing, postage & stationery Subscriptions Accountancy Consultancy fees Computer and IT Consumables Insurance Loss on disposal of assets Depreciation of tangible fixed assets Total resources expended Net (expenditure)/income |
5.4.25 £ 12,996 456 490 569 2,823 42 3,764 1,597 - 225 22,962 89,431 (4,571) |
5.4.24 £ 12,066 456 302 658 2,501 - 4,010 1,549 69 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 21,761 | ||
| 41,771 | ||
| 13,462 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements