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2024-12-31-accounts

(c) Dawn Watson & Rob Spray

Sea-Changers Annual Report 2024

(c) HWDT.org

Contents

Foreword 3
Who we are 4
Our objectives 5
Governance & management 6
2024 - The year in review 8
Volunteers 16
Financial review 1
7
Receipts and payments 19
Statement of balances 20

2

Foreword

The year of 2024 saw glimmers of hope for marine conservation, driven by international collaboration, innovative technologies, and increased awareness of ocean health. Despite this positive progress, the challenges and threats to our ocean continue, and Sea-Changers’ unique contribution funding communities in the British Isles to take action for the marine environments or species they understand best, feels more important than ever.

2024 was another year for varied grant programmes, which kept our team busy allocating and awarding grants:

Towards the end of the year we launched the latest round of our Innovation Fund, seeking to support new ideas for marine conservation, with a closing date in February 2025.

Once again, we’re proud to have funded projects all over the UK, from Cornwall to Aberdeen...and even land-locked Leicester! We also received an unprecedented number of applications that we were unable to support due to insufficient funding.

The sheer diversity of projects we fund can make it challenging to summarise, as we receive final evaluations many months after funding is received. We hope this Annual Report will give readers a flavour of our achievements in 2024. We are excited by the progress we are making and the difference we continue to make.

Thank you for your interest in Sea-Changers, and in protecting our seas.

Helen Webb MBE and Rachel Lopata MBE Co-Founders

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

3

Who we are

We believe that the best people to care for the UK's coasts and seas are the people who live, work and play there.

Sea-Changers is a unique charity run by a team of passionate sea-lovers, marine experts and conservation specialists.

We seek to harness the commitment and passion of those who enjoy the UK’s coasts and waters to improve our seas, shores and wildlife. We support everyone from grass-roots, local organisations to national, household-name charities, from Orkney to Alderney and all around the UK.

In the past thirteen years, more than £450,000 has been raised and distributed to 400+ projects, involving practical actions like beach cleaning, but also educational activities and scientific research. Our grants enable local people to care for, and raise awareness about, the coastal environments they love.

Grants programmes we run include:

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

4

Our objectives

Our charitable purpose is to promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural marine environment and promote marine biodiversity. We are meeting this purpose by:

Sea-Changers arranges partnerships with a range of marine-connected and other commercial and philanthropic organisations. We develop a range of models of partnership in negotiation with individual partners to raise funds.

This funding is then distributed, in line with set criteria, to reputable and appropriate marine conservation and protection projects throughout the UK.

To achieve our purpose, Sea-Changers has four priority actions within our business plan and under which all activities of the organisation fall:

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

5

Governance & management

Type of governing document Sea-Changers was formed through the signing of a Trust Deed (our governing document) on the 10 December 2010, amended by deeds dated 23 April 2013, 18 March 2014 and 29 September 2021.

We are managed by a Board of Trustees. The day-to-day operation of the charity’s work is undertaken by a team of volunteers, including the charity’s two co-founders. Whilst the charity has no paid employees, we do buy-in some support for the grants administration process on an ad hoc basis, using the services of a freelance, self-employed administrator. For the first time in 2024 we also brought in the services of a self-employed consultant to help us to grow our partnership income.

Trustee recruitment and appointment There must be at least three Trustees.

We offer something entirely unique in the UK’s marine conservation landscape (or seascape!) We provide a place for small, local and grassroots organisations to seek funding for marine conservation activities identified by and carried out by local communities. This is a bottom up rather than top-down approach which ensures community buy-in and has proven, time and again, to have wide ranging social, economic and environmental impacts.

Paul Martin, Chair

6

Our trustees at the close of 2024

Name Role Date
appointed
Other
trusteeships
Paul Martin Chair 10th April 2024
Tanya Ferry Trustee 20th November
2017
Chatham Maritime
Trust
Sue Holden Trustee 20th November
2017
Radnorhsire
Wildlife Trust
Leigh Morris Trustee 10th January 2023
David Tudor Trustee 10th January 2023 Rewilding Britain
Stephen Berry Trustee 10th January 2023
Penny Nelson Trustee 8th Jul 2024
Lois Calder Trustee 8th July 2024

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

7

2024 - The Year in Review

Activities, achievements & performance

We saw considerable income growth in 2022 which continued, albeit at a slower rate, in 2023. In 2024 our income reduced. This was partly due to some expected receipts towards the end of the year being pushed into 2025. We are therefore very confident we will see a return to growth in 2025.

Our total annual income in 2024 reduced by 20% as compared to the previous year. The amount of money paid out in grants, however, increased. Our relatively small grants continue to offer something vital and exceptional in the UK’s marine conservation landscape.

We remain in a unique position with our overview of the wide range of organisations working to protect and enhance the UK's coasts and seas. We also help groups and communities to make links together and encourage joined-up thinking in conservation work and activities.

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2024 Income compared
to preceding years
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2024 Demand for grants compared to preceding years

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200
150 To tal
100
Main grants
50 Sm all grants
Fountains Fund
0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
----- End of picture text -----

8

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Main & Small Grants 2024

In 2024, Sea-Changers awarded grants to 36 diverse marine conservation projects across the UK through the Main Grants Programme , supporting a broad range of initiatives focused on community engagement, scientific research, and direct conservation action.

Community Engagement: Many grants funded projects that fostered public involvement and education in marine conservation. Notable examples include:

Research: Grants supported a wide array of research projects aimed at understanding and mitigating threats to marine environments. For example:

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Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Main Grants Programme 2024

Direct Conservation Action: Many of our Main Grants enabled more practical interventions to improve marine biodiversity and wildlife welfare.

Together, these grants reflect Sea-Changers’ commitment to supporting grassroots marine conservation projects that combine innovation, community involvement, and scientific rigor to address UK marine environmental challenges and foster long-term stewardship.

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Cornwall Wildlife
Trust
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Ullapool Sea Savers

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Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
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Soft Touch Arts
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*Photo by Claire Stainfield, taken under licensed research drone, permitted by NatureScot.

10

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Small Grants Programme 2024

Our Small Grants Programme is open all year round and projects can apply for amounts of up to £500. In 2024 we received additional support for small grants aimed specifically at projects which address or prevent the accumulation of marine litter. The fund was first launched in 2022 and the number of applications received has shown steady growth (as shown in the chart below).

Many of these grants are for relatively low cost equipment to allow community based organisations to conduct direct action for the the marine environment - e.g. clean-ups, but there is a diversity of projects and ideas coming through this fund.

A few examples of projects allocated small grants during 2024 are as follows:

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Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

The Marine Conservation Social Fund

Five new and exciting projects were chosen by the Sea-Changers grant evaluation panel to receive grants from our Marine Conservation Social Fund in 2024. The fund, which was first set up in 2021 to support socially beneficial marine conservation approaches and solutions has proven very successful. Three of the projects funded in 2021 also went on to receive further support and have widened their impact - all of them showing marine conservation impacts, whilst also helping disadvantaged people and communities to connect with and improve the UK's marine environment.

Celtic Deep Conservation CIC in partnership with MARECO were given a grant to run Sharkademy – a Shark Specialist Residency programme. It was designed to inspire, nurture and retain dedicated and passionate individuals to take on domestic marine conservation challenges. This was a fully funded residency programme for students aimed specifically at people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Sharkademy Sharkademy Greyhope Bay in partnership with East Grampian Coastal Partnership, gained a grant for their ‘Coastal Calm: beach cleans for wellbeing and discovery’ project will work. The project works with groups who face barriers to spending time in blue spaces, including refugees and women in emergency housing.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust in partnership with The Eden Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust gained support to work with the community in Morecambe to engage participants in the wonders of coastal wildlife and explore how to communicate the impact recreational disturbance is having. The project is targeted at those in most need of it in the community, reaching out to those suffering from isolation and loneliness.

Newquay Wild Activities , in partnership with DISC Housing Charity were funded to run a pilot project to subsidise disadvantaged and marginalised individuals to partake in activities they may not normally have access to. DISC, helps families living on the breadline and that are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and the lack of affordable housing. DISC refer families to the project who would benefit from respite and a chance to get out onto the coast for activities that will benefit their health and wellbeing, appreciation of their local area as well as educational value for the children.

12

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

The Scottish Learning Fund funded by

The Fund

The aim of the new Scottish Learning Fund, which was launched during 2024, is to enable early-stage and / or small community-based groups in Scotland who are involved in marine conservation activities to learn, share knowledge, network and develop skills with other groups.

There are many examples of marine conservation good practice in Scotland. We can now enable organisations to learn and seek advice from one another, share good practice, network and jointly develop skills. We recognise that in-person learning and networking can accelerate the development of community projects and the spread of such good practices. However, travel between Scotland’s coastal communities, particularly those of the Highlands and Islands, can be prohibitive for small voluntary and community groups - we’re addressing those challenges with this fund.

During 2024 we began to invite applications, the first few projects had been funded by the year’s end, including:

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SMASS
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MORAY OCEAN COMMUNITY
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Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) The Marine Forum is SMASS & Whale and Dolphin Conservation's annual knowledge exchange event, bringing together dedicated volunteers, researchers, and local stakeholders to address critical challenges facing Scotland’s marine ecosystems. The Marine Forum was scheduled for Saturday the 1st of March 2025. SMASS and WDC had identified that many potential attendees face financial barriers to attending.

The grant from Sea-Changers was used to cover venue hire and to provide travel support for both volunteers and guest speakers. The support allowed many volunteers and community representatives to attend by covering their travel expenses.

Moray Ocean Community

In June 2024 nine members of Moray Ocean Community were supported to attend a snorkel and marine survey upskilling weekend with the Field Studies Council on the beautiful Isle of Cumbrae. The aim was to help encourage more volunteers along the Moray Coast to get engaged in marine community science and learn more about this incredible coastline.

“Without the Sea-Changers funding we simply wouldn’t have been able to go to the Marine Forum this year, as it is incredibly cost prohibitive for us to have to leave Orkney and travel to Edinburgh.”

13

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

The Bunzl Coastal Fountain Fund

Since launching in 2020, the Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund has enabled organisations based around the UK to install fountains in busy and/or environmentally important coastal locations. In 2024, grants were awarded to a range of organisations including County and Borough Councils and community organisations.

The locations of fountains installed so far through the programme are shown on the map (click on it to review it in more detail). Three of 2024's nine new installations are shown below:

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Majuba Beach,
Pembrey Country
Redcar Cleveland
Park, South Wales
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Ramsgate, Kent

The fund aims to tackle the increasing problem of plastic bottles, left behind along the coast as marine litter, which damage the marine environment and the species that call it home. It is anticipated that the provision of the water refill stations will significantly reduce the numbers of non-reusable plastic drinks bottles on our beaches. In fact, research suggests that providing more free drinking water in public spaces could lead to a 65% reduction in the use of plastic water bottles.

The fund is being sponsored by the specialist international distribution and services group, Bunzl plc, who are supporting this work as part of their response to the plastic challenge. The issue remains widespread on UK beaches despite the rising awareness around the impact of single-use plastic.

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Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Donors and partners

Our bespoke funding partnerships are developed to deliver against partners' environmental and social governance themes. We enable partners to track the projects funded so that they can create employee and customer pride in their support for UK marine life.

Core to our fundraising model are our partnerships with a range of partners and businesses. We are grateful to all the amazing businesses and organisations that supported our grant giving work throughout 2024. The 2024 grant money came from a number of Sea-Changers’ partners, including:

Other donors to our Main / Small Grant Funds in 2024 were:

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Image credit:
Marcus Rose,
Project Baseline
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Project baseline

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Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Volunteers

Much of our work is done through the generous donation of time and services by key volunteers, some of whom are supported to do this by their employers.

In 2024, this has included:

Sea-Changers would also like to thank:

Austin Jacobs - Automation of Evaluation Database

Experienced Digital IT Leader Austin began volunteering with Sea-Changers during 2024. His expertise has been invaluable in transforming and streamlining the way in which we collect evaluation feedback from funded projects.

“Being landlocked in Reading I'm always impatient to get back to the sea on a shared sailing yacht. I love putting my skills to use in a way that benefits the wild places which we can help to keep untarnished by humans.”

Volunteer spotlight Austin Jacobs

16 17

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Financial Review

S ea-Changers’ purpose is to raise money for marine conservation projects through working with commercial partners. Depending on the nature of the agreement in place with a commercial partner, some of the money raised through these routes goes into our restricted funds and must, ultimately, be passed on to marine conservation projects, through grants; rather than being used for charity administrations, support or campaigns.

Money raised through other fundraising: through partnerships where no restriction has been agreed about how the money should be used; and / or personal donations direct to the charity (not via a business relationship or text donation) goes into our unrestricted funds and may be used for any purpose, including for governance and general administrative purposes.

INCOME

Total Funds

Total income in 2024 was £138,239 (2023: £171,945).

Unrestricted Funds

During 2024 we received income from four main sources: personal donations, unrestricted business donations, T-shirt sales and fundraising activities undertaken by our supporters. SeaChangers also continues to generate income through mechanisms such as Amazon Smile and Give as you Live. Total unrestricted funds received in 2024 were £92,739 (2023: £83,945).

Restricted Funds

During the year 2024 we raised £45,500 (2023: £88,000) in restricted funds specifically for this use. Whilst not all funding partnerships actively restrict our expenditure, the vast majority of our unrestricted income also goes towards marine conservation projects.

Pro Bono Support

Core telecom donates a 03 telephone number to Sea-Changers.

Sea-Changers would like to give a special thank you to Sladen Consulting whose brilliant team has continued supporting Sea-Changers through their Butterfly Fund. Special thanks to Sue Firth, Loise Yates, Rob Pitt and Jeremy ‘Grogs’ Grogono.

17

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Financial Review

EXPENDITURE

Grants for Marine Conservation Work

In 2024 Sea-Changers dispersed grants totaling £158,261 (2023: £103,871). In 2024 SeaChangers dispersed grants totaling £158,261 (2023: £103,871). Of this, £78,211 of grant spending came from unrestricted funds, whilst £80,050 was from restricted funds, given specifically for regranting.

Administrative Costs

Total expenditure for administration by Sea-Changers during the year 2024 amounted to £28,210 (2023: £13,622). This covered administrative costs (insurance, travel and administration costs and purchase of merchandise and marketing materials). The increase reflects the fact that for the first time in 2024 the Board allocated some funds specifically to bring in freelance support to increase corporate partnership and fundraising activity. A further £2,941 (2023: £1,675) went towards the costs of governance.

Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration was paid by Sea-Changers to any Trustees during 2024 (2023: nil). Three trustees received payments for expenses during 2024 amounting to £1,160.02 in total for travel. (2023: £392.65).

OTHER NOTES

Reserves

Sea-Changers maintains a reserve of at least £7,500 at all times. This is held purely to allow for fluctuations in receipts / payments and to cover for unforeseen situations and requirements – i.e. as a small contingency fund. Reserve levels are regularly reviewed by trustees, since our grants are only awarded after receipt of donations it is appropriate for reserves to be small.

Deficit

There was a deficit of £51,173 for the year 2024.

Risks

Throughout the year, the Trustees continued to manage risks by reviewing key aspects of SeaChangers’ work, determining their likely impact and associated level of risk. These included: The need for funding to cover core costs;

18

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES S•a-Chang• 11421t9 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a trom oiioir2(r24 To 3111212ry24 Section A Recei tsand ments Unrestricted ft￿d$ Restricted I￿a$ ETrJow ,mnt Totd f￿d5 List y•ar IOlh¥nv4r•s¢ rwr•si£ th• Mar•5t£ iothg n￿r￿¢ A1 Re¢el In(oMe trorn Charrfatye Iniere51trcrtn Gdtho ch)n3￿n$ and ￿1$¢￿￿2r￿￿s 827 91.912 137.412 171.291 Sub lOta¥Gross irccAme for ARI nve 92.739 138.239 171,945 Subtotsl 917J9 138.239 171.918 C4rnp4igfi r05ts SupW Costs &>¥Etnanc¢ ¢osts Grants gi4En 15.351 12.852 2.941 80.050 15.35B 12.852 2.941 158.261 13.622 1.675 103.871 71.211 Sub totsl n.211 189.412 119.16B Asset and inv•stmwrt wrefas•s, Is88 table} Sub lotal 111.201 n.211 119.412 119.168 Net of receiptsllpayrnentsl A5 Tr￿SlerS betffton fund5 6 Cash fu￿1$ last 0rn1 Cash funds this yearend 118.462 32,711 51.173 $1777 57.928 74.439 1J2.367 79.590 39,46 41,7 81,194 132.367 19

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Paul Martin Trustee and Chair

Date: 18th July 2025

20

Registered Charity England and Wales No. 1142119 Scotland No. SCO43922

Charity Name Charity Name Charity Name Charity Name Charity Name No (if any) No (if any) CC16a

Sea-Changers

1142119
Receipts and payments accounts

For the period
from

To
1/1/2024 12/31/2024
Section A Receipts and payments Endowm
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
ent

Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ ~~f~~
~~d~~
to the
nearest £
to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Income from charitable activities 827 - - 827 **654 **
Interest from Gift Aid - - - - -
Donations and Miscellaneous 91,912 45,500 - 137,412 **171,291 **
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 92,739 45,500 - 138,239 171,945
~~A2 Asset and investment sales, (see~~
table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
**Total receipts ** 92,739 45,500 - 138,239 171,945
A3 Payments

Campaign costs
15,358 - - 15,358 -

Support Costs
12,852 - - 12,852 13,622

Governance costs
2,941 - - 2,941 1,675
Grants given 80,050 78,211 - 158,261 103,871
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
**Sub total ** 111,201 78,211 - 189,412 119,168
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
**Totalpayments ** 111,201 78,211 - 189,412 119,168
Net of receipts/(payments) (18,462) (32,711) - (51,173) 52,777

A5 Transfers between funds
- - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 57,928 74,439 - 132,367 79,590

**Cash funds this year end **
39,466 41,728 - 81,194 132,367
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Details Unrestric
ted funds
Restricted funds Endowment
funds
to to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Cash and balances at start of year 57,928 74,439 -
Surplus this year (18,462) (32,711) -
- - -
Total cash funds
39,466 41,728 -
~~(agree balances with receipts and~~
payments account(s))
OK OK OK
Unrestric
ted funds
Restricted funds Endowment
funds
Details to to nearest£ to nearest£
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Details which
asset
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details which
asset
Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s
own use
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to
~~which~~
Amount due
~~(optional)~~
When due
~~(optional)~~
B5 Liabilities -
-
-
-
-
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all
the trustees
Signature Print Name Date of
approval
Paul Martin 18.07.2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trusteOS Sea Changers On accounts for the y8ar ended 31" December 2024 Chorlty no (If any) 1142119 Set out on pag•s 17- 18 and in form CC16a I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (kn8 Trusf) for the year ended 31° December 2024. Responslbllllles and ba818 of r8POrt As the charitys trustees, you a￿ reswnsible for the prepar8bon of the accounts in accordance with the requi￿rnents of the Charitses Acl 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrled out under section 145 of th8 2011 Act and in ca￿￿ng out my examination, I have follcfyved all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Comrnis51on under sectson 14515){b) of th8 Acl. Independent I have complet￿1 my examination. I ￿nfirrn thal no material matt8rs have oxamlnorf8 8tatom•nt come to my attention in connection with the examinabon which gSv8s me cause to believe thal in, any mateTlal respect.. the accounting records Y￿re not k8Pt in accordance wth sectlon 130 of the Charities Act; or th8 a¢wunts did nol acLord th8 accounting ￿COrds., or the accounts did nol comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement the accounts give a 'true and fai¢ view which is not a matter considered as part of an ind8p8ndent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinats'on to which attenlion should be drawn in thls report in order to enable a proper underslandlro of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete words in the brackets if Ihey do not apply. Slgn¢d: 18° July 2025 Name: eiter Rolevant profosslonal quallficallon(s) or body (If any): Address: Sunnyside, Ford Lane Langley IER Oct 2018

CV37 OHN Section 8 Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. dir8Ctioris and guidance for examiner5). Glve horn brlaf deta118 of any Items that tho •xamln8r wlshes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018