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2021-04-05-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06771027 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1146170

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

FOR

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

McCabe Ford Williams Chartered Accountants Charlton House Dour Street DOVER Kent CT16 1BL

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Report of the Trustees 2 to 7
Independent Examiner's Report 8
Statement of Financial Activities 9
Balance Sheet 10
Cash Flow Statement 11
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 12
Notes to the Financial Statements 13 to 19
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 20

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

TRUSTEES Dr M J Fitzpatrick MD
Prof P J Hardaker
Dame B M Ogilvie FMedSci FRS
Mr N D Ross
Prof R H Lovell-Badge FMedSci FRS
Dr J K Maxton
Dr A Ahuja
Mr J Bruun
Prof J W M van der Meer FRCP(Lon) FRCP(Edin)
Mr J Wren
COMPANY SECRETARY Ms T Brown
REGISTERED OFFICE 41 Portland Place
London
W1B 1QH
REGISTERED COMPANY 06771027 (England and Wales)
NUMBER
REGISTERED CHARITY 1146170
NUMBER
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER McCabe Ford Williams
Chartered Accountants
Charlton House
Dour Street
DOVER
Kent
CT16 1BL

Page 1

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

The charity has two main objectives:

  1. To advance the education of the public in any branch of scientific research (including social science) and in particular by the dissemination of such research and useful information about such research; and

  2. To promote (for the benefit of the community) the knowledge and understanding of the public of, and to stimulate interest of the public in, the creation, presentation and use of scientific research.

Significant activities

Our charitable activities:

Much of the fund generation occurs through the day to day work of the staff and volunteers. Focused fundraising activities are carried out by the development team, including grant proposals, project and programme partnerships and public appeals.

Public benefit

The trustees of the charity have had due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. The charity's objectives and aims have been reviewed taking this guidance into consideration and the trustees have noted the extensive achievements of the charity and the contribution it makes to public life.

Page 2

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable and fundraising activities

1. Evidence Matters: Achieve recognition in public life that evidence matters, and to people in all walks of life Our goal is parliaments asking questions that reflect the public interest in sound science and evidence; public identification with evidence as a source of accountability; and governments anticipating public scrutiny.

Evidence Week in UK parliament

In November 2020, Sense about Science hosted its third Evidence Week in UK Parliament with our lead partner the Institute of Physics and communications partners, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) and Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), and Ipsos MORI. Evidence Week highlights the need for evidence-based policymaking, and equips MPs, peers and their staff with the insights and tools needed to scrutinise evidence for decision-making.

This year, more than 100 parliamentarians and their staff participated in Evidence Week. Fifteen partner organisations hosted virtual 3-minute 'evidence pod' briefings on how to handle and understand evidence across pressing policy and research areas. The briefings were viewed 392 times. The week was closed with a training session specifically designed for parliamentary staff on using evidence.

Evidence base for government Covid-19 response

As the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded, Sense about Science led public calls for transparency regarding the government's response to the situation. Our director, Tracey Brown, wrote an open letter to Boris Johnson urging him to use the May 7, 2020 review of lockdown policy to take a fresh approach to communicating with the public. Clarity and transparency would avoid undermining the public's trust in scientific advice, she argued. A campaign calling on MPs for transparency was launched shortly after.

Brown also wrote to Julian Knight, chair of DCMS committee disinformation inquiry, calling for them to 'use the power invested in parliament to insist the government communicates with the people about what it is doing and why'.

In response to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry on the Government's collection and utilisation of data, Sense about Science drew the Committee's attention to the broadening public discussion about the quality and reliability of data and models for complex decision making.

Sense about Science also published a briefing paper 'Making sense of Covid-19 testing' and a number of associated explainer graphics on Covid-19 testing which were widely shared on social media.

Transparency of Evidence

Our successful development of the Transparency of Evidence framework, which led to changes to the UK Treasury Green book, continues to inspire emulation internationally. In 2020 we conducted a spot-check with the Institute for Government of the first two phases of lockdown policies which will be published in 2021.

2. Activate communities for better science and evidence in public life

We aim to empower and equip public discussion about evidence - providing insights and materials, creating opportunities for accountability and deliberation, and winning support for the protection of open discussion about research.

Ask for Evidence: a public education campaign

Ask for Evidence (AfE), our popular public campaign that helps people request the evidence behind news stories, marketing claims and policies, continued this year.

From March 2020 onwards, as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded, the AfE campaign published a series of popular graphics warning the public about the spread of misinformation regarding the health crisis. These were widely shared on social media. A companion series, targeting parents whose children were at home due to school closures, was shared by Mumsnet as well as on the campaign's social channels.

Page 3

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

As a result of the pandemic, we and our AfE ambassadors (people from across the country who encourage their local community to ask for evidence) adapted our approaches to engaging with the public. We provided training and support for running online events and producing materials for promoting events on social media. With the virtual events we have found engagement just as high and feedback just as positive. We're also finding there is a real yearning from the public to cut through the slew of misinformation online and more demand than ever for the help ambassadors can provide to help others Ask for Evidence. This year ambassadors have written for a local-newspaper looking at the evidence behind using masks; spoken at virtual events to community, patient and business networking groups; written blogs for the AfE website; and hosted a COVID-19 Q&A podcast for young people.

Practical risk literacy

In 2020 we continued our partnership with Lloyd's Register Foundation to develop public engagement in its World Risk Poll. This work revealed two gaps: despite the proliferation of initiatives to improve risk literacy internationally, it is not defined or measurable. Furthermore, there is little relationship between people who try to help their communities understand risk and the academic and government information providers.

Evidence know-how: an international campaign for understanding reliability in evidence and data science Following publication of Data Science: A Guide for Society in June 2019, Sense about Science has begun to convene interest in change. We have drawn from lessons learned in medicine and in civil engineering, to propose the concept of Responsible Handover. In 2020 we launched the guide at American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) meetings.

We have also developed public engagement partnerships that will contribute to this effort. We have partnered with Samenweten, a Sense about Science initiative of the Dutch Academy, to produce a version of the data science guide and workshops supporting early career researchers. We have also worked with the Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IUPR) at the National University of Singapore and Korean Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) to produce the AI in healthcare guide.

3. Reshape research engagement toward responsibility and empowerment

Our goal is a research community that is willing, able and cognisant of its capacity to empower others; and recognition and increased adoption of our approach - through VoYS, public engagement partnerships and putting public empowerment at the heart of the international evidence movement.

Voice of Young Science: engaging early career researchers in public debate

The Voice of Young Science (VoYS) network is our unique network of researchers who are trained and motivated at the start of their careers to take responsibility for how evidence is portrayed in public discussion. It continued to grow in 2020/21 and now has over 4000 members.

We held four virtual Standing up for Science workshops which brought together experts to discuss how to effectively engage with the public, media and policy makers. In 2020/21, the VoYS programme were moved online due to the pandemic and these online workshops were attended by over 400 researchers around the UK. Participants met researchers who have engaged with the media, and learnt from respected journalists about how the media works, how to respond and comment, and what journalists want and expect from researchers. They also learned how evidence is used in policy, how policymakers balance facts and values, how they deal with a lack of good evidence, and how participants can get involved in bringing evidence to policy.

Quality and peer review programme

Communicating how and why scholarly research papers are different to a news headline or a political press release is central to helping society make sense of science and evidence. The Quality and Peer Review (QPR) programme encourages the public to ask the question "Is it peer reviewed?". It supports VoYS members to get involved in peer review, share the value of peer review with the public and lead public discussion about the role of peer review in society.

In 2020/21 , we were successfully transferred the programme's workshops online. Our three online QPR workshops were attended by over 250 early career researchers (ECRs). The programme included a bespoke workshop for international researchers in December 2020, in partnership with American publishers and professional societies. We also held the first peer review mentoring scheme in partnership with Nature Communications, offering 28 VoYS members a unique chance to receive one-to-one mentoring on peer review from an experienced editor.

The John Maddox Prize: Standing up for Science

Page 4

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

The John Maddox Prize recognises the work of individuals who promote science and evidence and advance the public discussion around difficult topics, despite challenges or hostility. The prize advocates for the value of an open and honest environment for societies to discuss scientific evidence.

In 2020 it was awarded jointly to Dr Anthony Fauci and Professor Salim Abdool Karim, key government health advisors in the USA and South Africa respectively, for standing up for science during the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Karim, an infectious diseases epidemiologist and Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, were recognised for going beyond the line of duty as government advisors and their exceptional communication of the science behind Covid-19 to the public and policymakers. An additional prize for an individual at an early career stage was awarded to Associate Professor Anne Abbott, an Australian neurologist who determinedly challenged traditional medical treatment of carotid stenosis.

The John Maddox Prize, in its ninth year, is a joint initiative of the charity Sense about Science and the leading international scientific journal Nature.

Public engagement partnerships

This year Sense about Science continued to expand its public engagement work using our 'public-led, expert-fed' model of engagement with a wide range of universities, research institutions and other organisations.

Insight Health Data Research hub: INSIGHT is an NHS-led partnership set up to make routinely collected eye data available for health research to benefit patients. We worked with the Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields eye hospital to involve members of the public, patients with eye disease, and professionals (data experts, researchers, healthcare providers) early in the process, to co-produce an accessible website that explains clearly: what the INSIGHT data hub is for; its data privacy processes (how INSIGHT handles, stores, and uses data); the roles of industry, academic and charity partners; and how researchers can access INSIGHT data.

Talking about Covid conspiracy theory: We worked with the University of Manchester on a UKRI-funded project to develop a guide aimed at science communication professionals to have constructive conversations with people who have adopted alternative, conspiratorial Covid theories.

Social Policy and Distributional Outcomes: We collaborated with the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics to co-create resources for public engagement about findings from the SPDO research project. This is with a view to informing the public discussion and encouraging evidence-informed dialogue between researchers and citizens.

Peritia: We are also part of a Europe-wide project, coordinated by University College, Dublin to explore how people weigh up expertise. The PEriTiA (Policy, expertise and trust in action) project will investigate how people - members of the public and politicians in particular - make decisions about evidence and expertise using a variety of research methods. Sense about Science will conduct Citizens' Assemblies to engage members of the public in testing, developing and shaping the toolkit. Along with project partners Allea, we will also produce a paper on our approach to engaging citizens in collaborative workshops.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The charity held funds at the year end totalling £284,959 (2020 - £203,317).

Reserves policy

The Trustees actively review the policy in line with planned strategy and future commitments. The trustees aspire to hold six months fixed costs in reserve, in order to support organisational resilience and sustainability, to invest in new areas of work and maintain cashflow and continuity of business. Progress is reviewed at meetings of the Governance and Planning Committee and the amount set aside is revised in accordance with projected income and expenditure.

Page 5

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Going concern and Coronavirus

The worldwide outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) resulted in the UK government requiring the British public to enter a period of lockdown on 23 March 2020. As a result, the charity immediately responded by all staff then working from home. After a careful assessment the charity did not take advantage of the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff due to the opportunity costs that outweighed the benefit. All staff remained working and continued to deliver activities and pursue funding throughout this difficult period.

The charity's staff then aimed to "future proof" funding sources and activities as much as possible, to account for the impact of Coronavirus. This included diversifying funding sources so the charity is not overly reliant on institutions whose finances are impacted by Coronavirus.

It is not practical to quantify the potential financial impact of the outbreak on the business at this stage but the directors are confident that the business has sufficient reserves and available lines of credit should it require them during this period.

The impact of Coronavirus is continuing to evolve, and therefore it is not practicable to quantify the potential financial impact on the charity at the time of writing. The trustees are confident that the charity has sufficient reserves and income streams to continue for the foreseeable future.

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.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The Deed gives the power to elect or co-opt individuals to the charity. Trustees serve a 4 year term followed by a possible renewable term of 3 years. The Governance and Planning Committee maintains an overview of skills and experience needs and a succession plan is maintained in consultation with the board of trustees. Trustee vacancies are advertised and potential trustees are also identified through Sense about Science's wider networks.

A trustee resource is maintained and all trustees participate in induction sessions. Policies relevant to trustees are included within the staff handbook.

Organisational structure

The charity is registered as a company limited by guarantee. The Board of Trustees meets four times a year, including a strategy session. During the year there were an average of ten trustees.

The charity specifies that a Chair should be elected annually. In the event of no alternative nominations, the current Chair is automatically elected at the final meeting of the year. Professor Paul Hardaker continued as chair to 25 March 2020 and Mr Jonathan Bruun succeeded him as chair on that date.

The Governance and Planning Committee is a subcommittee of the Board which provides in depth review and challenge of policies, resources and financial planning, budgeting and reporting. It reports to the Board three times a year. Remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer is reviewed by an ad hoc group led by the Chair and the Chair of the Governance and Planning Committee.

Activities are coordinated by a small office team and supported by a wide network of organisations and volunteers from all areas of science and society.

The trustees' policy is to ensure that the charity is not dependent upon a single source of funding and receives its financial support from a diversity of funding sources: it currently receives funding from trusts and foundations, individual scientists and members of the public, learned societies, and scholarly publishers. Donations are governed by a funding policy and the charity fundraising strategy aims for diverse sources of funding. No grant or funding of any kind entitles any organisation to decision-making authority. External funding will not divert Sense about Science from its agreed aims and values.

Page 6

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Risk management

A risk register is reviewed by the Governance and Planning Committee who regularly report to the Board of Trustees on their review of risks to which the charity is exposed. It ensures appropriate controls and mitigation are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud, error or loss.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 29 September 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

Mr J Bruun - Trustee

Page 7

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sense About Science ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 5 April 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  2. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  3. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mr John Sheather BSc FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales McCabe Ford Williams Chartered Accountants Charlton House Dour Street DOVER Kent CT16 1BL

18 November 2021

Page 8

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
3
540,736
Charitable activities
5
Projects
-
Investment income
4
175
Total
540,911
EXPENDITURE ON
Fundraising projects
9,966
Charitable activities
6
Projects
486,417
Other
11,724
Total
508,107
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
32,804
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
171,475
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
204,279		 Restricted
funds
£
-
85,276
-
85,276
-
36,438
-
36,438
48,838
31,842
80,680		 2021
Total
funds
£
540,736
85,276
175
626,187
9,966
522,855
11,724
544,545
81,642
203,317
284,959		 2020
Total
funds
£
493,454
63,000
611
557,065
15,920
656,762
13,002
685,684
(128,619)
331,936
203,317

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

BALANCE SHEET 5 APRIL 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
12
2,861
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
13
56,696
Cash at bank
14
160,372
217,068
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
15
(15,650)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
201,418
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
204,279
NET ASSETS
204,279
FUNDS
17
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
80,680
80,680
-
80,680
80,680
80,680		 2021
Total
funds
£
2,861
56,696
241,052
297,748
(15,650)
282,098
284,959
284,959
204,279
80,680
284,959		 2020
Total
funds
£
3,050
63,827
156,929
220,756
(20,489)
200,267
203,317
203,317
171,475
31,842
203,317

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 29 September 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr J Bruun - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 10

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Interest received
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in
the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the reporting period		 2021
£
85,053
85,053
(1,105)
175
(930)
84,123
156,929
241,052		 2020
£
(112,837)
(112,837)
-
611
611
(112,226)
269,155
156,929

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 11

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

1. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Decrease in debtors
Decrease in creditors
Net cash provided by/(used in) operations		 2021
£
81,642
1,294
(175)
7,131
(4,839)
85,053		 2020
£
(128,619)
1,017
(611)
19,732
(4,356)
(112,837)

2. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS

At 6.4.20 Cash flow At 5.4.21
£ £ £
Net cash
Cash at bank 156,929 84,123 241,052
156,929 84,123 241,052
Total 156,929 84,123 241,052

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 12

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

1. STATUTORY INFORMATION

Sense About Science is an incorporated charity, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The charity's registered number, principal address and nature of operations can be found in the Report of the Trustees.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Goods and services donated to the charity are only recognised when they are material to the financial statements. The trustees do not consider it practical to value these goods and services.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost 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.

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.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes.

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.

Foreign currencies

Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the operating result.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

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.

continued...

Page 13

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Tangible assets

The charity provides for depreciation on a 20% straight line basis in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

The charity has a capitalisation policy where by tangible assets are only capitalised if they cost more than £500. Tangible assets under £500 are written to the statement of financial activities as an expense.

3. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Donations (including gift aid)
4.
INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank interest
5.
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Activity
Grants
Projects
6.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Projects
7.
SUPPORT COSTS
Other resources expended
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
Independent examiner's remuneration
Trustees' expenses
Bookkeeping and payroll		 2021
2020
£
£
540,736
493,454
2021
2020
£
£
175
611
2021
2020
£
£
85,276
63,000
Direct
Costs
£
522,855
Governance
costs
£
11,724
2021
2020
Other
resources
Total
expended
activities
£
£
2,430
2,310
-
580
9,294
10,112
11,724
13,002

continued...

Page 14

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2021 2020
£ £
Independent examiner's remuneration 2,430 2,310
Depreciation - owned assets 1,294 1,017
Rent 56,510 66,370

9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 5 April 2021 nor for the year ended 5 April 2020.

Trustees' expenses

In the year ended 5 April 2021, there were no expense claims from trustees. In the year ended 5 April 2020, one trustee reclaimed expenses totalling £580 to attend board meetings.

10. STAFF COSTS

STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2021
£
326,375
30,869
17,127
374,371		 2020
£
407,912
41,260
21,441
470,613

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2021 2020
Employees 9 10
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
2021 2020
£60,001 - £70,000 - 1
£80,001 - £90,000 1 -
£90,001 - £100,000 - 1
1 2

Page 15

continued...

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

11.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
funds
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
493,454
Charitable activities
Projects
58,000
Investment income
611
Total
552,065
EXPENDITURE ON
Fundraising projects
15,920
Charitable activities
Projects
577,449
Other
13,002
Total
606,371
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(54,306)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
225,781
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
171,475
12.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
COST
At 6 April 2020
Additions
At 5 April 2021
DEPRECIATION
At 6 April 2020
Charge for year
At 5 April 2021
NET BOOK VALUE
At 5 April 2021
At 5 April 2020		 Restricted
Total
funds
funds
£
£
-
493,454
5,000
63,000
-
611
5,000
557,065
-
15,920
79,313
656,762
-
13,002
79,313
685,684
(74,313)
(128,619)
106,155
331,936
31,842
203,317
Office
equipment
£
5,084
1,105
6,189
2,034
1,294
3,328
2,861
3,050

Page 16

continued...

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

13. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Operating debtors
Other debtors		 2021
£
36,450
20,246
56,696		 2020
£
43,582
20,245
63,827

14. CASH AT BANK

5.4.21 5.4.20
General fund Wellcome Trust Perita
Total funds		 Total funds
£ £ £
£		 £
Interest savings account 94,871 5,944 74,736
175,551		 146,075
Bank current accounts 4,648 - -
4,648		 10,805
Euro account 60,854 - -
60,854		 49
160,373 5,944 74,736
241,053		 156,929

15. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Social security and other taxes
Other creditors		 2021
£
9,615
6,035
15,650		 2020
£
8,960
11,529
20,489

16. LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

Within one year
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Wellcome Trust
Peritia
TOTAL FUNDS		 At 6.4.20
£
171,475
31,842
-
31,842
203,317		 2021
£
18,011
Net
movement
in funds
£
32,804
(25,898)
74,736
48,838
81,642		 2020
£
61,414
At
5.4.21
£
204,279
5,944
74,736		 2020
£
61,414
80,680
284,959

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

continued...

Page 17

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming
resources
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
540,911
Restricted funds
Amberstone
5,500
Wellcome Trust
5,040
Peritia
74,736
85,276
TOTAL FUNDS
626,187
Comparatives for movement in funds
At 6.4.19
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
225,781
Restricted funds
Amberstone
6,223
Wellcome Trust
99,932
106,155
TOTAL FUNDS
331,936
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
552,065
Restricted funds
Amberstone
-
Wellcome Trust
-
Nuffield
5,000
5,000
TOTAL FUNDS
557,065		 Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(508,107)
32,804
(5,500)
-
(30,938)
(25,898)
-
74,736
(36,438)
48,838
(544,545)
81,642
Net
movement
At
in funds
5.4.20
£
£
(54,306)
171,475
(6,223)
-
(68,090)
31,842
(74,313)
31,842
(128,619)
203,317
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(606,371)
(54,306)
(6,223)
(6,223)
(68,090)
(68,090)
(5,000)
-
(79,313)
(74,313)
(685,684)
(128,619)

continued...

Page 18

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

In 2018/19 we received £117,658, the first instalment of our 30-month Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fund grant, Ask for Evidence: an empowering public-led campaign on health claims. £68,090 has been spent within the year. The fund has a balance carried forward of £31,842.

In 2019/20 we received a £5,000 seeding fund from Nuffield Foundation to research and plan a project on equipping society to negotiate the basis for confidence in applications of data. This fund was fully spent within the year.

In 2020/21 we received a further instalment of £5,040 towards our 30 month Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fund grant, Ask for Evidence, an empowering public-led campaign on health claims. Within this year £30,938 has been spent. The fund has a balance carried forward of £5,944. Funding from the Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fund ended in May 2021.

In 2020/21 we received €82,000 (£74,736) from the EU (Horizon 2020) for citizens workshops in London and Dublin in 2022. The fund has a balance carried forward of €82,000 (£74,736).

In 2020/21 we received £5,500 from the Amberstone Trust to support salary costs on projects on uncertainty and transparency. This fund was fully spent in this year.

18. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

During the year donations totalling £600 (2020 - £4,100) were received from the trustees.

19. GOING CONCERN AND CORONAVIRUS

The charity's trustees, with the active support of the executive team, have continued to keep the impact of Coronavirus under regular review. The Trustees are confident that the charity remains a going concern and moreover is in a stronger position going into 2021 with its staff team, the office accommodation, and the financial position. The risks that Coronavirus pose to the organisation remain under active management and reviewed regularly by the Governance and Planning Committee.

Page 19

SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2021

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations (including gift aid)
Investment income
Bank interest
Charitable activities
Grants
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Raising donations and legacies
Wages
Social security
Pensions
Project related expenses
Other charges
Charitable activities
Wages
Social security
Pensions
Rent
Service charges, rates and electricity
Insurance
Computer and website
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Bank charges
Project related expenses
Exchange rate variances
Office equipment
Support costs
Governance costs
Independent examiner's remuneration
Trustees' expenses
Bookkeeping and payroll
Total resources expended
Net income/(expenditure)		 2021
£
540,736
175
85,276
626,187
8,736
939
291
-
-
9,966
317,639
29,930
16,836
56,510
3,527
1,100
7,907
534
802
278
84,044
2,454
1,294
522,855
2,430
-
9,294
11,724
544,545
81,642		 2020
£
493,454
611
63,000
557,065
12,111
1,176
363
1,855
415
15,920
395,801
40,084
21,078
66,370
9,010
1,008
6,927
928
2,570
386
110,366
1,217
1,017
656,762
2,310
580
10,112
13,002
685,684
(128,619)

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 20