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← Climate Outreach

2024-03-31-accounts

Climate Outreach Information Network

Company Limited by Guarantee, number 06459313 (England and Wales) Charity Number 1123315 (England and Wales)

Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2024

Five fishermen pray for a benevolent sea in Dublar, Bangladesh, one year after Cyclone Sidr hit the region. Credit: Rodney Dekker / Climate Visuals. As featured at the COP28 Virtual Ocean Pavilion, 22 November - 12 December 2023 , https://cop28oceanpavilion.vfairs.com/

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Contents

Contents
Reference and administrative details 3
Letter from the Chief Executive Offcer 4
Trustees’ Report 7
1. Climate Outreach objectives and activities 7
Our main activities in 2023-24 7
Public beneft 9
2. Our impact in 2023/2024 9
3. Plans for next year 2024/25 13
4. Financial Review 15
5. Structure, Governance and Management 16
6. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities 17
Independent Auditors’ report to the Members of Climate Outreach 18
Statement of fnancial activities for the year ended 31 March 2024 22
Balance sheet as at 31 March 2024 23
Cash fow statement for the year ended 31 March 2024 24
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 25

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Reference and administrative details

Charity reg no: 1123315 (England and Wales) Company Number: 06459313 (England and Wales)

Trustees: Camilla Born (Chair - Resigned 23rd November 2023) Susan Kuczynska (Chair - Appointed 25th September 2023) Becky Buell (Resigned 25th September 2023) Daniel Hale (Appointed 13th March 2024) Dr Eleanor Murtagh (Appointed 25th September 2023) Faiza Farooq (Resigned 30th October 2023) Dr Halima Sacranie (Appointed 25th September 2023) Ludovic Phalippou Peter Morley (Appointed 25th September 2023) Phil Bloomer Pollyanna Carr (Appointed 25th September 2023) Salka Sigurdardottir (Appointed 13th March 2024) Management: Rachael Orr, Chief Executive Officer Zoe Maclapine, Head of Income Generation Registered Office: The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE Statutory Auditor: UHY Ross Brooke Suite I, Windrush Court Abingdon Business Park Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 1SY Banker: The Cooperative Bank Business Banking M60 4EP

Climate Outreach Information Network (trading as Climate Outreach) is a registered charity (no. 1123315), incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (no. 06459313) under the Companies Act 2006. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The liability of members in the event of the charity being wound up is limited £1 each. The Charity Trustees, who are also Directors of the Company, present their annual report and the charity's financial statements for the year.

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Letter from the Chief Executive Officer

2023 was the hottest year on record. Season after season of wild weather around the world, from wildfires to extreme heat to floods, leaves us in no doubt that climate change is happening here and now.

What we have to do now is a task like no other. Societies globally need to engage and involve people and communities in the transition to a low-carbon, thriving future.

Getting it right means creating millions of decent jobs and making things fairer for everyone. We’ll end up with warmer homes, cheaper and cleaner energy, and thriving nature.

Getting it right also means building people’s trust that tackling climate change is not just possible but positive. That it is a story of progress that is already happening.

It is in creating and telling climate stories that Climate Outreach has built its reputation and expertise. Thinking about the climate story and the climate storytellers we need now has been central to our work and our thinking this year.

It has shaped a new edition of our landmark Britain Talks Climate research, conducted in early 2024 to help inform and shape the climate story in a UK General Election year. It has been central to our Climate Visuals library and the visual story we tell about climate change. The urgent need to tell a new climate story was the message we took to COP28 in December, working with key partners and negotiators. And it has underpinned an exciting programme of work in Australia which we have developed throughout this year, alongside partners.

Our team has produced a new three-year strategy, approved by our newly strengthened Board of Trustees. We are hugely grateful for the time, expertise and insight they have brought to the process.

We have been very pleased to collaborate with a number of different organisations to help shape their research and insights on climate stories, and on how to best engage different, diverse people in the climate story. We have also been invited to run workshops and training sessions with many organisations from the public, charity and private sector.

I’m really proud of the work the team has done this year. We are, as ever, hugely grateful to all the partners who chose to work with us and all of our funders who have supported us.

But there is so much more to do. We urgently need to ensure far, far more people and communities feel invited into the climate conversation. This means reaching out to them where they are, and listening to and learning from them. We need making sustainable choices to feel like the norm, not the exception. And we need talking about climate change to

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feel normal and everyday. We also need policymakers and governments to deliver a step change on how they see engaging and involving people in policymaking and policy roll-out.

This is where Climate Outreach has been focused on making progress this year - and we hope to continue to make progress on this for many years to come.

Rachael Orr Chief Executive Officer

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Highlight: Climate Visuals for a new, people-centred climate story his image from our limate Visuals library is a stark reminder of why climate change is a story about people. and not just science. It s one of many images, from a new collection. that shows the irnpact of air pollution on people like Maria, alongside solutions to dirty air. Ireel away from a mine inwjtbank Emalahle it.. Gulsh)n Khanicfi fi$uafslaean iknr Fu Climate Visuals is our platform for visual communication, and it s breaking new ground in challenging established visual narratives through ethical, evidence-based climate photography. One of the projects we are most proud of delivering this year is our Climate Visuals collaboration with Clean Air Fund on Visualising Air Pollution. This project is illustrative of our ambition and motivation to drive forward climate action through meaningful and innovative partnerships. Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to public health globally. Most of the world's population lives in places that exceed World Health Organization air quality limits. Air pollution kills over eight million people prematurely every year. Clean air has the transformative potential to improve systemic health and climate issues. In 2023-24, in response to a scarcity of accurate, compelling and accessible photojournalism highlighting the impacts of air pollution alongside solutions to the problem. Climate Visuals (part of Climate Outreach) and Clean Air Fund launched a collection of 200+ freely available images of air pollution and communities affected by dirty air. These images are now furthering our work in making climate a story about people. and moving the conversation from awareness to action.

Trustees’ Report

1. Climate Outreach objectives and activities

The objectives of Climate Outreach as set out in its governing document are " to promote any charitable purposes at the discretion of the trustees concerning climate change and its impact.

Our vision: We want everyone to be involved in shaping a more sustainable, fairer world.

Our mission: We want to ensure people trust, support and have a say in the changes we must make to tackle climate change.

Our main activities in 2023-24

An inclusive and ambitious new strategy and board

In 2023-24 we began work to launch a new strategy and board to reflect our ambition for the coming years. We took a participatory approach to strategy development throughout 2023-24, giving all staff an opportunity to co-design Climate Outreach’s future. The strategy was approved by the Board of Trustees in February 2024.

Conducting groundbreaking and impactful research on engaging and involving people in tackling climate change

This financial year we began our update to the landmark 2020 Britain Talks Climate study (which concludes in the 2024/25 financial year) funded by the European Climate Foundation (ECF) and in partnership with More in Common and Climate Barometer. W e worked with four regional partners - Keep Scotland Beautiful, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) and Development Trusts Association Wales (DTA Wales) - to conduct research on how people in Britain think and feel about climate issues. This update to previous work ensured our research remains nationally representative and relevant. We conducted collaborative scoping and research with organisations that are influential in the policy space, including: The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC).

In September 2023, our report on a UK public engagement strategy on climate change was picked up by numerous national and local media outlets, including the Independent and the Daily Mail. We worked with the International Institute for Sustainable Development to co-author a report on adaptation and public engagement . As part of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations, we contributed to the Green Alliance findings on sustaining the political mandate for climate action . In 2023, we also conducted or supported research on the centering of care in climate communications, climate action in the music industry, and engaging residents in the Northwest of England on the energy transition.

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In July 2023 we launched our Messaging Guide and accompanying animation with top tips for how to effectively communicate climate justice with young adults in Europe. These resources were developed out of our extensive pan-European research on the SPARK project - an EC funded Europe-wide consortium of 20 partner civil society organisations building awareness, capacity and active engagement of EU citizens with climate justice.

Supporting others to change their climate story

We work with people and organisations to help them change their climate story and be confident climate storytellers. In 2023-24 we trained 73 new climate science experts to become Climate Ambassadors, and supported them to carry out activities from writing blogs to public speaking to media appearances.

We carried out nearly 90 events and training workshops to support organisations to change their climate stories and share our research findings as widely as possible. This included our work for the National Lottery Fund, with seven workshops with their grantees across different expertise areas. We held several high level roundtable events in partnership with CAST roundtables, accompanied by policy briefings ( Avoiding a net-zero backlash, Supporting reduced car use). We also completed work on the innovative Climate Engagement Lab and Lab Innovation Partnership .

Our work this year furthered understanding of migration and climate change, through our work on migration as climate adaptation . Through this work we offered advice to organisations working on the intersection of climate change and patterns of human movement about messaging and narratives. We have shared our learnings through reports, blogs and events.

Climate Visuals: Shaping a new storytelling, creating new narratives on climate

We have continued to lead in ethical, evidence-based climate photography with our Climate Visuals work. We launched a new collection of over 200 photographs of air pollution, produced in collaboration with the Clean Air Fund. These photographs, commissioned by Climate Visuals from photographers in Indonesia, Poland, South Africa and the UK, form a new resource of detailed visual storytelling of the impacts of air pollution, affected communities, and mitigation efforts. The images are freely available for use in the non-profit, educational and editorial sectors and have been widely used.

We also launched a new collection of images for use on Wikipedia , published images from the Ocean Visuals open call with Google Arts and Culture and exhibited at TED2023 in Vancouver .

COP28

This year we concluded a multi-year programme designed to highlight the role of public engagement in helping countries to meet the UNFCCC Paris Agreement Targets. COP28 in December 2023 was the culmination of this bold three-year strategy, marked by the

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successful positioning of Article 12 of the Paris Agreement (ACE ) as a tool for progress towards net zero, through public participation. We collaborated with a wide range of NGOs and organisations, including UNFCCC Secretariat, She Changes Climate, Equiterre, Edelman and Amnesty International. We progressed our climate and migration work alongside our COP work. To support our international work at COP28, we published a report titled 'Resilience on the move: migration’s powerful role in creating climate resilience', outlining various policies and practices that would increase migrant safety and encourage people to see migration as a form of resilience building.

Building our programme and partnerships in Australia

This year, we have deepened our engagement with the climate movement in Australia. Through insights from research and stakeholder interviews, we made the case for why public engagement is important in Australia and identified key audiences who are not currently served by the Australian climate movement. With generous support and hosting from the Macdoch Foundation, we co-created a Theory of Change that will shape a climate narrative that resonates with and engages with underserved audiences in Australia. This work also led to the formation of key partnerships with the Multicultural Leadership Initiative (MLI), and Cricket for Climate (C4C). In February 2024 we welcomed all of our partners to the UK for a week-long workshop to build out the programme, supported by our newly appointed Country Lead for Australia.

Measuring impact: establishing benchmarks

To support our new strategy, we are investing in measuring, evaluating and understanding our impact. We set up a new team to work with the sector in researching and sharing best practice of impact evaluation on climate change communications and public engagement, so we can continue to develop evidence on what works. In the final quarter of the year, we set up new monitoring platforms to ensure we record and review our reach and engagement.

Public benefit

The Board of Trustees is satisfied that they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and that the mission, aims and activities of Climate Outreach meet with these criteria.

2. Our impact in 2023/2024

In 2023-24 we continued to make the case that we must engage and involve people in tackling climate change. We did this through our widely-shared research outputs, our partnership and advocacy work with decision-makers in government and at an international level. Here we summarise our key impacts: a more positive climate narrative that puts people in the picture, and research and advocacy to normalise public engagement on climate.

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A more positive climate narrative that will lead to greater climate action All our evidence from 20 years of research tells us we need a more positive climate story. That we can tackle climate change and address the nature crisis - and indeed that we already are. In 2023-24 we focused our work on partnerships with organisations at a national and regional level across Britain to shape and influence their climate story. Our work with Hubbub helped them change how they communicated with a community in Wigan about changing their diet. They said:

“We learned … what resonates with people around food. In particular: family, home cooking and food waste, as well as nature and community growing. And that what’s really important is trusted messengers… the value that people got from others sharing what they were doing, ‘everyday people’ in the area sharing their favourite recipe made it feel really authentic and credible.” Jess Wiles – Hubbub

We conducted research to update our landmark Britain Talks Climate study. We provided targeted early BTC briefings to over 150 advocates across political parties in the UK and Scotland, as well as policymakers, the media and NGO audiences .

A response from one user of the BTC research, a Green Party town councillor, is typical of the positive feedback Climate Outreach has received:

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“Anything that helps us communicate with our constituents is just incredibly helpful - this stuff is dynamite when it comes to talking to the huge number of people that agree with us but don't like the messaging - this is one of the best resources for change i've ever found.”

Full impact findings for the Britain Talks Climate 2024 and Trust and Influence projects (including project launch and public dissemination) will be available in the launch year 2024-25 financial report.

Climate Visuals

Our Climate Visuals photography library passed the milestone of 10,000 registered users, with users from over 160 countries around the world. Users span a wide range of sectors, from local community groups to international media houses and NGOs, to the UN, WEF and UNESCO.

“Thanks for reaching out and for your great work around the Climate Visuals project – this is a fantastic resource. The library provides great images around air quality, energy access and health which is the main focus of our unit.”

– Paul Safar, Communications Support Air Quality, Energy & Health, WHO

“Climate Visuals’ impressive track record on visualising complex climate issues and collaborative approach to project conceptualisation resulted in a highly engaging collection of images rooted in authentic storytelling. Since launch, a range of Clean Air Fund’s grantees and partners have emphasised how much-needed photos like these are and [we have] been heartened to see their use across reports, websites and social media.”

- Clean Air Fund, May 2024

Climate Visuals images continue to be widely used around the world, including by organisations such as The Guardian, UNESCO, the UN, WEF, ABC News Australia, DeSmog, Greenpeace, the LSE and many others.

Making the case for why public engagement matters in the UK and internationally We have made significant efforts this year to bring public engagement into the conversation with governments and policy makers. Whilst this work is difficult to measure, we know we have successfully reached key audiences who are in a position to act on our evidence. This includes being invited to advise the UK government, through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)’s Net Zero Council Task and Finish Group on public engagement, the Welsh Government and Scottish Government.

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Our report, Towards a UK Public Engagement Strategy , was downloaded more than 600 times by users including the Scottish Government, a number of UK government departments including DESNZ and the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Northern Ireland’s Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), as well as public sector bodies like the Environment Agency, and numerous local councils.

We met with politicians, staff and campaigners from all the major parties, most notably with the current Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband (then shadow DESNZ Secretary) and the Liberal Democrat Climate and Energy spokesperson, MP Wera Hobhouse. We presented twice to conferences run by the Conservative Environment Network (CEN).

We worked with vocal and influential actors like the Committee on Climate Change, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) and the Green Alliance to generate the evidence that can bolster action against a net zero backlash. As a member of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), we led a policy seminar on how to reduce backlash against climate policy, and produced a briefing as a result.

In Australia with the Macdoch Foundation, Sunrise and Multicultural Leadership Initiative, we built a strong evidence base to highlight the need to engage underserved communities in climate conversations. We demonstrated why it’s crucial to involve these groups and develop strategies for effectively reaching and listening to them.

Image: Multistakeholder dialogue by SHE Changes Climate at COP28. Credit: SHE Changes Climate.

At COP28 we were invited to speak at eight events across multiple themes, including one hosted by the presidency on the main Plenary floor. This was the first time an event focused on ACE - increasing public participation - was given such prominence on the main Plenary

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floor. . We worked with the UNFCCC Secretariat and the ACE Observatory to shape and deliver this event. We are now recognised as an expert on ACE at COP Conferences.ur work has helped increase the profile of the ACE negotiations in the COP Conferences, widen ACE stakeholder community and progress implementation of Paris Agreement.

Reaching new audiences

During the year, we’ve had appearances and mentions in some of the UK’s most popular media outlets including the BBC, Sky and The Guardian. Our CEO and Deputy CEO spoke to international and domestic BBC TV and radio audiences during and following COP28. We’ve had regular mentions in a number of widely-read newspapers, including a feature in the Guardian on top seascape stories, several published letters from our CEO Rachael Orr, and an article in the Big Issue magazine on how to talk about climate justice. We have also continued our collaboration with Business Green to provide bi-monthly blogs, allowing us to address a business audience that has strengthened our credibility beyond the nonprofit sector. Climate Visuals was featured on the TEDX London Climate Curious podcast ,

A partnership with Planet Reimagined has extended the work of Climate Outreach into a new cultural space. Our early research in support of a study into music audiences provided useful insights to further open new potential platforms for climate communication:

“With the participation of Ticketmaster, REVERB, and other music industry partners in the research, and advance interest from event venues, sports leagues, and other industries, there are already people clamoring to get their hands on the research results and to start implementing the recommendations [...] Not only did the Climate Outreach team bring deep expertise and experience as well as a strong sense of shared mission, they were committed, adaptable, creative, and a genuine pleasure to work with.”

– Mila Rosenthal, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Planet Reimagined

3. Plans for next year 2024/25

Our new strategy sets out our three year goals. They are:

Key activities and objectives for 2024/25:

To unleash a powerful new climate story. We’ll model effective storytelling and we’ll support

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hundreds of new advocates and leaders to inspire action. We will

To show that ambitious climate policies can be implemented more quickly if people trust, support and have a say in them. We will

To build and share our knowledge base so that Climate Outreach is seen as the go-to source of research into climate change communications and public engagement. We will

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4. Financial Review

Overview

The full year financial performance for the year ending 31st March 2024 was a deficit of £52.6k (2023: £345.7k surplus). However this was not unexpected as the 2023 surplus included restricted income received last year for expenditure partly incurred in 2024. Our total funds (restricted and free reserves) is £951.4K a small decrease of £52.6K from 2023.

Income

Secured income for the year was £1,935k (2023: £2,638k), a decrease of 26% from 2023 reflecting the more challenging fundraising conditions and the ending of some multi year funded projects that were not repeated in 2024. As with previous years the principal source of our income are amounts received as grants from trusts and foundations, £1,628K in 2024 (2023:£2,395k). This included £206k of unrestricted grants (2023: £271K) that help support core funding. Earned income fell slightly to £184k (2023:£199k), however this was more than offset by the generous support from private individual donations of £111k (2023:£42k). A major focus for 2024 and onwards is the increased diversification of our income streams.

Expenditure

Total expenditure decreased by 13% to £1,987k (2023: £2,196k). Given the nature of our work, staff costs represent 52% of our total costs (2023: 57%), and consultancy services a further 37% (2023: 32%).

Outlook

In 2024/25 we anticipate a further reduction in our grant income as competition for funding becomes more challenging in the current economic climate. During the financial year ending March 25 we have carried out a range of cost reductions to mitigate this and ensure that our cost base is appropriate to what we have considered are more attainable levels of funding. We have also put in place processes to regularly review and manage our cash flow so that we can respond and manage financial risks in a timely manner. In view of this and the availability of unrestricted reserves the trustees believe that the charity will continue in existence for the foreseeable future and continues to adopt a going concern basis in preparing its annual financial statements.

Reserves Policy

The Board of Trustees reviews the Reserves level and the amount of reserves required annually as part of the budget setting process and considers the risks that the charity is exposed to. The Trustees seek to hold a level of unrestricted funds to meet the requirements of three months’ salary costs and other core funded commitments. This is set at £300k for the year ended March 2024. At this level the Trustees feel that Climate Outreach would be able to fulfil its charitable activities in the event of any temporary drop in funding and take steps to address the situation.

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At the balance sheet date Climate Outreach had total funds of £951k, of which £606k were held as restricted. These funds represent unspent monies received from donors who have specified conditions as to their use on agreed projects. These funds are fully covered by matched assets. The remaining balance of £345k are our unrestricted reserves.

Risk Management

The Board of Trustees has assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the operations, finances, reputation and business of Climate Outreach. The likelihood and impact of material risks are reviewed as part of a risk management matrix by the Board on a quarterly basis at Trustee meetings. The Leadership team updates and assesses the risk management matrix on a regular basis, and reports on any significant changes to Trustees as they arise.

5. Structure, Governance and Management

Climate Outreach is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. All members of the organisation and Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association. Trustees must be members of the Association. Trustees meet a minimum four times a year, or more often if they so decide. These board meetings require a quorum of at least four trustees present.

An Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held within 15 months of the last one. AGM requires a quorum of a tenth of the membership, or five members, whichever shall be greater. The Trustees are listed on page 3.

Board appointments are based on the need of the Board of Trustees as a whole to have the skills and experience to agree Climate Outreach’s strategy and policies and monitor their implementation. Trustees are recruited from a wide range of backgrounds.

The Honorary Officer of the Association is the Chairperson. The officers are appointed for one year at the AGM and may stand for re-election for up to five years, after which they must stand down for at least 12 months before being eligible to stand again.

The Board of Trustees (who are also Directors of the Company) must be at least three in number. There is no upper limit to the number of Trustees. All Trustees are subject to re-election at the first AGM of the organisation, and then subject to retirement by rotation. They may be re-appointed if re-elected. They may exercise all the powers of the Association subject to the Charities Act 2011 and the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The Board appoints the Company Secretary at the AGM, to ensure statutory reporting requirements are fulfilled.

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The Board of Trustees appoint the Chief Executive Officer to lead and manage the organisation to deliver the strategy. The Chief Executive Officer is supported by a leadership team, staff and associates.

6. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Board of Trustees to prepare accounts for the financial year in accordance with the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law) which give a true and fair view of Climate Outreach’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing accounts giving a true and fair view, the Board of Directors should follow best practice and:

The Trustees are responsible for the keeping of accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of Climate Outreach and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Climate Outreach and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 29th January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Susan Kuczynska Chair of Trustees

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Independent Auditors’ report to the Members of Climate Outreach

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Climate Outreach Information Network (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Material uncertainty related to going concern

We draw attention to Note 1 in the financial statements, which indicates that the charitable company incurred a net deficit of £52,587 during the year ended 31 March 2024 and faces increased competition for funding. As stated in Note 1, these events or conditions, along with other matters as set forth in Note 1, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 17, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is

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necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We have considered:

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the areas in which management is required to exercise significant judgement, such as recognition of income. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key

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laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act and tax legislation.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/St andards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-audi tors-responsibilities-for-audit.aspx . This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Caroline Webster FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of UHY Ross Brooke Statutory Auditor Suite I Windrush Court Abingdon Business Park Oxfordshire OX14 1SY Date: 30.01.2025

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Statement of activities for the ended 31 financial year March 2024

Climate Outreach Information Network Co no: 06459313

Note
Income from:
Donations
2
Charitable activities:
3
Investment income
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income / - expenditure
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Funds brought forward:
Total funds carried
forward
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
year ended
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
£
£
£
£
347,816
1,391,115
1,738,931
549,824 1,888,196
2,438,020
179,807
4,671
184,478
194,394
4,573
198,967
11,240
-
11,240
792
-
792
538,863
1,395,786
1,934,649
745,010 1,892,769
2,637,779
108,743
-
108,743
96,579
-
96,579
491,681
1,386,812
1,878,493
428,746 1,766,882
2,195,628
600,424
1,386,812
1,987,236
525,325 1,766,882
2,292,207
(61,561)
8,974
(52,587)
219,686
125,886
345,572
(19,310)
19,310
-
20,180
(20,180)
-
(80,871)
28,284
(52,587)
239,866
105,706
345,572
425,939
578,063
1,004,002
186,073
472,357
658,430
345,068
606,347
951,415
425,939
578,063
1,004,002

22

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2024

Climate Outreach Information Network Co no: 06459313

Note 31-Mar-24 31-Mar-24 31-Mar-23 31-Mar-23
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 10 - - - 1,291
Current assets:
Stock - 0
Debtors 11 35,214 41,231
Cash at bank and in hand 999,947 1,059,733
Total current assets 1,035,161 1,100,964
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year		 12 (83,746) (98,254)
Net current assets 951,415 1,002,710
Net assets 951,415 1,004,001
The funds of the charity: 13,14
Restricted funds 606,347 578,063
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted income funds
Total charity funds		 345,068
951,415
~~Me~~		 425,939
1,004,002
~~———~~

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee and authorised for issue on 29th January 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:

Susan Kuczynska

Chair of Trustees

The notes on pages 25 to 34 form part of these financial statements

23

Cash statement for the ended 31 March flow year 2024

Climate Outreach Information Network Co no: 06459313

Notes
Cash used in operating activities
17
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest income
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2024
£
(71,027)
11,241
-
11,241
(59,786)
1,059,733
999,947		 2023
£
313,606
792
(2)
790
314,396
745,337
1,059,733

24

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Going Concern

Increased competition for new sources of grant funding in the current economic climate, has meant that the charity is now facing material uncertainties that may cast doubt over our ability to continue to operate as a going concern. A range of cost reductions to mitigate this have been put in place and we are actively diversifying our sources of income to be less reliant on grant funding. We also have in place processes to regularly review and manage our cash flow so that we can respond and manage these financial risks in a timely manner. Based on the circumstances described above, the financial statements are prepared on the assumption that the entity is a going concern.

Fund accounting policy

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Income from donations and grants is deferred if the resources are conditional on a grant condition that has not yet been met, which can include a time-based condition (e.g. agreement specifies that delivery of the service will take place during a future financial year), or if there is material uncertainty over the charity's entitlement to the resources.

Income from tax reclaims are included in the statement of financial activities at the same time as the gift to which they relate.

Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.

Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned (as the related goods or services are provided) under contract.

Expenditure

25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specific service or output.

Grants payable without performance conditions are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity.

Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.

Governance costs

Governance costs include costs of the preparation and audit of the statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.

Pensions accounting policy

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost represents the amount of contributions payable to the scheme in one year.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Fixed assets

Individual assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £400. Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation.

The website is considered to be a tangible fixed asset, and expenditure is capitalised where changes to the structure or features of the website will benefit the charity for a period of more than one year. The costs of website content changes are not capitalised, and are instead treated as an expense in the year they are incurred.

Depreciation

Depreciation on tangible fixed assets is calculated to write down the cost in equal instalments over their expected useful lives. The cost of office and computer equipment is written off over 3 years.

Capitalised website expenditure is written off over 3 years.

Debtors

Debtors are measured at their recoverable amounts (the amount the charity anticipates it will receive from a debt of the amount it has paid in advance for good or service).

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand is held to meet short-term cash commitments as they fall due rather than for investment purposes. Cash equivalents are short term highly liquid investments that have a maturity of three months or less.

Operating leases

26

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged in the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.

2. Income from donations

Grants from foundations, trusts and
other groups: Research and Engagement
Ashden Climate Solutions
Cambridge Past Present & Future
Cardiff University
Centre for Climate Change and Social
Transformations - University of Bath
Centre for Climate Change and Social
Transformations - University of East Anglia
Clean Air Fund
Climate Emergency Collaboration Group
Cumbria Action for Sustainability
Foundation Erol
European Climate Foundation
Foundation for International Law for the
Environment
The Involve Foundation
JJ Charitable Trust
John Ellerman Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
KR foundation
Marmot Charitable Trust
Ebor Charitable Trust DAF on behalf of
Macdoch Foundation
Network of European Foundations
Oxfam Novib
Postcode Green Trust
Stichting IKEA Foundation
Stiftung Mercator
Tabula Rasa Lab
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Unbound Philanthropy		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
£
£

-
-
3,828
4,615
4,615
-
-
9,734
42,840
42,840
-
19,247
19,247
-
87,075
87,075
-
-
-
141,700
7,000
7,000
2,000
-
-
122,907
134,000
134,000
18,306
71,744
71,744
78,900
5,070
5,070
4,916
-
-
55,000
-
-
125,000
31,470
31,470
69,604
-
-
(6,716)
-
-
25,000
644,568
644,568
932,710
-
-
17,542
119,956
119,956
94,072
-
105,000
105,000
300,000
-
-
69,895
-
-
541
-
-
40,730
150,000
150,000
20,000
31,470
1,391,115
1,422,585
2,125,669

27

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

Income from donations continued

Grants from foundations, trusts and
other groups: Core
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Doris Field Charitable Trust
Ht & LB Cadbury Charitable Trust
Jo Musker-Sherwood
Patsy Wood Trust
Polden Puckham Charitable Trust
Postcode Green Trust
Samworth Foundation
The Sulney Field Charitable Trust
Vovos Better World
Donations from individuals:
Income Others
Total income from donations		 130,000
-
130,000
70,000
500
-
500
500
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
2,681
-
-
-
5,000
62,500
-
62,500
-
-
-
190,000
10,000
-
10,000
-
2,500
-
2,500
-
-
205,500
-
205,500
270,181
110,846
-
110,846
42,170
110,846
-
110,846
42,170
347,816
1,391,115
1,738,931
2,438,020

3 Income from charitable activities

Consultancy fees
Sales
Miscellaneous other income
4 Investment income
Interest on cash deposits		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
£
£
179,807
4,671
184,478
197,767
-
-
-
1,200
-
-
-
-
179,807
4,671
184,478
198,967
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
£
£
11,240
-
11,240
792

28

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

5 Cost of raising funds

Staff costs
Direct fundraising costs
Other fundraising costs		 Unrestricted
£
18,100
90,643
108,743		 Restricted
£
-
-
-		 Total
Total
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
18,100
95,227
90,643
1,352
-
-
108,743
96,579

6 Cost of charitable activities including grants payable and activities undertaken directly by the charity

Research and
Engagement
Core costs		 Governance
1,920
5,701		 Staff
costs
582,799
450,696
1,033,495		 Project
activities
586,743
42,003
628,746		 Office
costs
20,967
61,707
82,674		 Support
costs
57,574
68,384
125,958		 31-Mar-24
1,250,002
628,491
1,878,493		 31-Mar-23
1,555,372
640,256
7,621 2,195,628

6b Core costs allocation

Core costs have been allocated to activities based on staffing costs

Research and Engagement
7 Governance costs
Audit Fee
Other governance costs		 Direct costs
1,250,002
1,250,002
Unrestricted
£
4,000
3,621
7,621		 Core Costs
628,491
628,491
Restricted
£
-
-
-		 Total cost
1,878,493
1,878,493
Total
Total
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
£
£
4,000
4,000
3,621
1,671
7,621
5,671

7 Governance costs

29

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

8 Employees’ remuneration

Wages and salaries
Pensions costs
Social security		 Total
31-Mar-24
£
909,188
43,250
98,575
1,051,013		 Total
31-Mar-23
£
987,738
42,829
104,897
1,135,464

The average number of staff employed during the year was 22 (2023: 27)

9 Taxation

The company is a registered charity and is, therefore, exempt from Corporation Tax. Climate Outreach is however VAT registered.

10 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
As at 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 March 2024
Depreciation
As at 1 April 2023
Disposals
Charge for the year
As at 31 March 2024
Net book value
As at 31 March 2023
As at 31 March 2024		 Office
furniture
31-Mar-24
£
2,861
2,861
2,861
-
2,861
-
-		 Computer
equipment
31-Mar-24
£
14,677
14,677
13,387
-
1,290
14,677
1,290
-		 Website
31-Mar-24
19,297
19,297
19,296
-
1
19,297
1
-		 Total
31-Mar-24
£
36,835
36,835
35,544
-
1,291
36,835
1,291
-		 Total
31-Mar-23
£
36,835
0
-
36,835
26,629
-
8,915
35,544
10,206
1,291

30

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

11 Debtors

11 Debtors
Project debtors
Cycle Loan scheme
Other debtors
Prepayments		 Total
31-Mar-24
£
26,961
-
22
8,231
35,214		 Total
31-Mar-23
£
29,803
215
3,555
7,658
41,231

12 Creditors

Accounts payable
Accruals
Payroll liabilities
Pensions liability
VAT liability
12b Receipts in advance
Brought forward 1 Apr
Released during the period
Added during the period
Carried forward 31 Mar		 Total
31-Mar-24
£
39,689
16,365
20,204
6,202
1,286
83,746
31-Mar-24
0
-
-		 Total
31-Mar-23
£
58,582
5,000
26,502
8,170
-
98,254
31-Mar-23
40,000
(40,000)
-
-

12b Receipts in advance

31

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

13 Analysis of funds

Designated funds
Research and Engagement
Training and Consultancy
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Research and Engagement
Training and Consultancy
Incubation
Total restricted funds		 Balance at 1
April 2023
£
-
-
425,939
425,939
578,052
-
11
578,063		 Income
£
-
-
538,863
538,863
1,395,786
-
-
1,395,786		 Expenditure
£
-
-
(600,424)
(600,424)
(1,386,812)
-
-
(1,386,812)		 Transfers
£
-
-
(19,310)
(19,310)
19,310
-
-
19,310		 Balance at 31
March 2024
£
-
-
345,068
345,068
606,336
-
11
606,347

The purposes of these funds are as follows:

Research and engagement produces a range of evidence-based briefings, guides, resources and toolkits for various audiences that include campaigners, policymakers and communications professionals, under the themes of our current 6 programmes; communities, lifestyle changes, policy & just transition, impacts & adaptation, visuals & media and science communications.

Training and consultancy services range from strategic guidance for governments running major campaigns to interactive workshops for charities. We aim to support the best possible strategic decision-making around target audiences, narratives and messaging.

13b Prior year movement of funds

Designated funds
Research and Engagement
Training and Consultancy
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Research and Engagement
Training and Consultancy
Incubation
Total restricted funds		 Balance at 1
April 2022
£
148,862
67,530
(30,319)
186,073
472,346
-
11
472,357		 Income
£
-
-
745,010
745,010
1,892,769
-
-
1,892,769		 Expenditure
£
-
(10,657)
(514,667)
(525,324)
(1,766,882)
-
-
(1,766,882)		 Transfers
£
(148,862)
(56,873)
225,915
20,180
(20,180)
-
(20,180)		 Balance at 31
March 2023
£
-
-
425,939
425,939
578,052
-
11
578,063

32

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

14 Analysis of net assets by funds

14 Analysis of net assets by funds
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets		 Unrestricted
£
-
345,068
345,068		 Restricted
£
-
606,347
606,347		 Total
31 March 2024
£
-
951,415
951,415

15 Financial commitments

As at 31st March, the charity had the following commitments from operating lease agreements on an office building

<1 year
1 to 5 years
>5 years
Total		 31-Mar 24
£
14,908
29,816
44,724		 31-Mar 23
£
13,336
13,336
-
26,672

16 Trustee remuneration, key management personnel and related party transactions

No member of the board of trustees received any remuneration during the year.

The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2022: nil).

Two Trustees were reimbursed a total of £421 for travel and subsistence costs (2023: £1,534).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £80,971 (2022: £80,130).

Two employees had total employee benefits in the range £60,000 to £70,000.

There were no related party transactions during the year. (2023; nil).

33

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

17 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net movement in funds
Add back depreciation charge
Deduct interest income shown in
investing activities
Decrease (increase) in debtors
Increase (decrease) in creditors
Net cash used in operating activities		 2024
£
(52,587)
1,291
(11,241)
6,017
(14,507)
(71,027)		 2023
£
345,572
8,915
(792)
63,021
(103,110)
313,606

34