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Chagos Conservation Trust Report of the Trustees
The Trustees present their report and the accounts of the charity for the year to 31st August 2023.
Highlights from the year
The Chagos Conservation Trust (CCT) launched its 2023-2028 five-year strategy in August 2023, which sets out its vision and mission, its strategic objectives, and how these are to be achieved.
The Trust assisted the Chagossian community group, Chagossian Voices, in creating a new website in December 2022 using the remaining Chagos Connect funding. A member of the community has been selected to be its Content Manager and we have funding to support them in 2024.
The Trust successfully applied to be an official partner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, due to its work to ‘prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide’.
After completing the Rat Eradication Operational Plan (REOP), the Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs (HIHR) Project Manager Dr Pete Carr undertook a data gathering expedition to the Chagos Archipelago in July 2023 to undertake research in order to complete the Vegetation Management Operational Plan. This was internally funded through the John Topp Botanical Fund. This programme complements the aims of HIHR, because it will manage abandoned, invasive coconut plantations on degraded islands to facilitate the growth of habitat conducive to breeding seabirds.
To celebrate the Trust’s 30th year anniversary, a series of presentations were held at the Zoological Society of London after the Annual General Meeting to showcase the Trust’s work, concurrent scientific research in the area, with the hope that this will help boost membership and donations over the longer term.
A bumper issue of the annual Chagos News was published, which is also available from the British Library’s archives. And the Trust also released a short book authored by Nigel Weban-Smith entitled The Sad Story of the Conceição .
During the period, four long standing Trustees resigned, and four new Trustees join the Board, bringing and increasing its skills set.
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1. Objectives and activities
Vision and mission
CCT’s vision is to ensure the globally important natural environment of the Chagos Archipelago is well protected, conserved and understood, inspiring the better management and protection of our planet and the animals and people that populate it. Its mission is to promote and undertake environmental, scientific and historical research, and advance education concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
Key aims
To build a Trust fit for the Chagos Archipelago
CCT is committed to running a professional organisation. This enables the Trust to play a leading role in conservation, research, and raising awareness of the Chagos Archipelago. We will ensure CCT is managed through best practice operating systems; diversify income for sustained growth, and secure a pipeline of programme funding in line with our strategic priorities.
To inspire action
CCT is committed to increasing the knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Chagos Archipelago globally, and building an international network of supporters championing its protection. Our activities include increasing the reach of science, conservation, and history within diverse audiences, including the Chagossian community, CCT members, donors, the media, plus our partners. We continue to build strategic partnerships to undertake more conservation work.
Protecting a global asset
CCT is committed to working towards fully understanding the globally important and precious natural environment of the Chagos Archipelago, ensuring it is well protected and conserved for the benefit of our planet, and all those who populate it - both animals and people.
Following on from our completion of the Rat Eradication Operational Plan in December 2022 - and an internally funded expedition to the Chagos in July 2023 to collect the necessary data to inform a Vegetation Management Operational Plan, we will continue to develop our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs programme throughout the year.
By eradicating rats and managing the abandoned coconut plantations, a more natural environment will regenerate, resulting in healthier islands. These create a refuge for native species from the iconic coconut crabs to breeding (threatened) turtles and native seabirds. The transfer of nutrients from breeding seabirds on islands assists coral reefs recover from, and builds resilience to the effects of climate change, with the additional effect of helping marine ecosystems to flourish.
Strategy
CCT’s 2023-2028 Strategic Business Plan launched in August 2023 explains the importance of conserving the Chagos Archipelago’s valuable natural environment, including how it can act as an exemplar for conservation and management of similar environments across the planet.
In a world ravaged by destruction and exploitation, the Archipelago remains a rich and precious marine environment. The Trust continually strives to preserve this collection of over 55 islands and 274km [2] of reefs for the many species that call it home, and for future generations to appreciate. With the right care, the Archipelago can be a reminder of how tropical reefs flourished many hundreds of years ago - and can offer vital insight into how they might be saved for generations to come.
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We support and carry out scientific and historical research, and conservation work, and strive to highlight the global importance of this incredible marine ecosystem. We recognise that we are not the only organisation interested in science, cultural and/or conservation work in the Chagos Archipelago, and nor do we want to be. We believe the more interest there is from others in protecting this global asset, the more likely we are to achieve our ultimate aims and mission.
We consult and work with the Chagossian community and other like-minded organisations including the Zoological Society of London, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. We particularly recognise the invaluable role of the Bertarelli Programme in Marine Science, and the many scientists involved in its work.
We will work with the community, these institutions, and others, to implement actions that are complementary to their work - for example, our major Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs rewilding programme. Throughout our work, we are very conscious of the damaging effects of climate change on the coral reefs of the world, including those of the Chagos.
By maintaining (or where necessary restoring) these islands and reefs as unpolluted and in as natural a state as possible, we are providing the best possible conditions for corals – including the endemic and endangered Chagos Brain coral - to survive in a world which is likely to be a very challenging future environment for these wonderful and economically important species.
It is the voices of passionate citizens that will protect this archipelago for years to come. By sharing knowledge and understanding, we aim to convince people of its value to the world, and to more than a thousand different types of fish and coral that call it home. We want to be an enduring voice of support for the Archipelago. By building a solid organisation, we can maintain and strengthen our role as a leading protector, researcher, and educator in this area.
CCT’s financial strategy is to invest the great majority of the founder’s legacy in order to generate a return averaging 5% a year; this should allow us to preserve the value of our assets, subject to any decisions to invest additional funds in progressing the Trust’s objectives, with any surplus being used to fund the organisation’s work. The Trust will also seek donations from external funding organisations and individuals - these funds, together with some of the legacy capital each year, provide support for research and conservation projects.
Staff
CCT employs a full-time Director who works with the Trustees to take forward our conservation, fundraising and communications work. It has also employed a part time Project Manager to lead on the Trust’s Healthy islands, Healthy Reefs project for part of the year. As of August 2023, all other work for the Trust is performed by the Trustees and other individuals on a voluntary basis.
2. Achievements and performance
How our activities deliver public benefit
The Chagos Archipelago, and the seas surrounding its islands, have been designated as one of the world’s largest fully protected Marine Protected Areas by the UK Government.
The CCT’s charitable purpose is carried out for the public benefit, through a mixture of direct research and conservation work, communication and outreach.
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Increasing the knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Chagos Archipelago, its scientific, historical and cultural value, is at CCT's core.
Communicating science to the public helps build an understanding of the urgent need to conserve areas such as the Chagos Archipelago, which provide a refuge for biodiversity in the face of threats such as climate change and invasive species.
CCT has developed the Chagos Information Portal, an online, open-source library of research, data, educational tools and communication materials such as photos and videos for use by the public.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Charities and Public Benefit.
How our activities deliver environmental benefit
The Chagos Archipelago is home to some of the richest and most diverse coral reefs on the planet. Three hundred types of coral, and 800 species of fish are found in the Archipelago’s waters, including rays and more than 50 different types of shark. The islands are globally important breeding sites for the endangered green and critically endangered hawksbill turtle, the vulnerable coconut crab is common throughout and over a million seabirds are present in the Archipelago.
Today, this important ecosystem is under new pressure as the damage caused by invasive species and the historic loss of native forests is being compounded by the effects of climate change, leaving it facing an uncertain future unless we take action.
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Administration, which currently administers the Archipelago, has identified 11 conservation and environmental priorities to ensure the protection of the Chagos Archipelago’s environment for the future. CCT has been approached to help deliver two of these priorities: (1) Restoring the islands through eradicating invasive rats and controlling invasive plants, both of which threaten native seabird populations and impact the delicate balance of BIOT’s ecosystem, and (2) Understanding more about BIOT’s unique terrestrial environment. CCT plans to deliver these priorities through our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs project, led by a Project Manager who is an expert in the region, Dr Peter Carr.
Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs is based on sound science highlighting the significant linkages between the health of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago and their surrounding coral reefs and marine environs. In 2018, scientists discovered a relationship between healthy seabird populations on islands and healthy reefs and surrounding seas. The researchers found that after seabirds forage for food in the ocean, they return to the islands and their droppings act as a natural fertiliser for the surrounding seas.
By rehabilitating environmentally degraded islands through managing the abandoned coconut plantations to make space for native habitat to grow back, and eradicating invasive rats, a more natural, seabird-driven ecosystem will regenerate. This will result in healthier islands, helping coral reefs and the surrounding marine environment recover from and build resilience to the effects of climate change.
How our activities deliver community benefit
There is currently no resident community in the BIOT islands. In Diego Garcia, which is displaced well to the south of the main group of islands, there is a major military facility, with numbers of military and support personnel stationed there. The Trust is able to sell a range of educational materials, on the Chagos, to these personnel.
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Indian Ocean littoral states stand to benefit from the marine reserve as a potential breeding haven for overfished stocks of fish such as tuna. The worldwide community will benefit from the knowledge gained from this near pristine environment where, for instance, corals damaged by sea temperature rise have been seen to recover at much faster rates than in most other parts of the world and fish stocks exist at near natural levels, which is much higher than in other parts of the Indian Ocean.
CCT also engages on a regular basis with the UK-based Chagossian community and has elected a Trustee of Chagossian descent to its Board. In 2024, a part time Chagossian community website Content Manager will be employed, paid from the remaining Connect Chagos Funds.
The Trust continues to look into ways to work with, and involve the Chagossian community with the work CCT plans to undertake, especially with cultural conservation on the islands which will be part of our rewilding the Chagos Archipelago plans.
Achievements in the 2022-2023 year
| To build a Trust fit for the Chagos Archipelago |
At the 2023 CCT AGM, the Trust’s new strategy was approved. The AGM was hybrid, to increase participation. Four new Trustees were appointed. |
At the 2023 CCT AGM, the Trust’s new strategy was approved. The AGM was hybrid, to increase participation. Four new Trustees were appointed. |
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| To inspire action | During 2022-2023 CCT once again increased communication activity: - A bumper ‘30thanniversary’ issue of_Chagos News_was distributed in February 2023 and is available from the British Library archives; - Eight press releases appeared on the CCT website and the Trust’s social media platforms; - The Trust published a short bookathored by Nigel Weban-Smith. - Users of the Chagos Information Portal averaged 207 users/month and the CCT website 750 users/month, with the CCT YouTube channel now at 61 subscribers; |
CCT is very proud to be partnering with Chagossian Voices, a community platform for the Chagossian global diaspora, made up of members of the community from across the UK, and working alongside groups in Mauritius and the Seychelles. CCT has worked with this dynamic group to develop a community website that will be a great resource for the community and for people wanting to learn more about the community and the Chagos Archipelago. It was launched in December 2022, and a Content Manager from the community will be joining the CCT team in early 2024. To celebrate the Trust’s 30thyear anniversary, a speaker event was held at the Zoological Societyof |
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| - Facebook likes have increased to over 7k, with 6.7k followers; - Instagram followers have increased to just under 600 followers; - Twitter followers have increased to 272 followers; - LinkedIn’s followers have steadily increased to 169 followers with nearly 1.5k impressions. CCT has 58 members as of the end of 2023 financial year, managed by a Membership Secretary. |
London after the Trust’s Annual General Meeting to showcase the Trust’s work, concurrent scientific research, with the hope that this will boost future membership and donations. The Trust successfully applied to be an official partner of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, due to its work helping to ‘prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide’. |
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| Protecting a global asset |
CCT’s_Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs_programme was awarded a Darwin Plus grant of £74,000 in May 2021. This grant has funded a Project Manager, and an expedition to fill knowledge gaps identified that required filling in order to write a robust and effective Rat Eradication Operational Plan. The expedition successfully took place in June 2022. The plan is being finalised and the complementary to this, another expedition occurred in July 2023 to gather data to formulate a Vegetation Management Operational Plan. The project will ultimately remove the rats, restore native habitat and boost biodiversity across the Chagos Archipelago. |
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Challenges and changes in the 2023-2024 year
The current Chair, Dr. Natasha Gibson, will end her tenure at the AGM on 27 March 2024. The new Chair will assume duties on this date after a handover period after the Chair-elect's co-opting as a Trustee on 18 January 2024. Ken Johnson will also begin his tenure as our new Secretary on this date with the resignation of Rachel McGoff.
The Healthy islands, Healthy Reefs Project Manager has ensured our key grant funded project continues to be well managed, and we will finalise by combining the rat eradication and vegetation management operational plans to produce a ‘Rewilding Operational Plan’ before the rewilding work commences. However, there remains significant work to raise the £5m needed to complete the Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs rewilding project.
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Although the dispute between the UK and Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Archipelago continues, public awareness of the importance of conservation seems to have risen globally. It is hoped the dispute will not affect any future activities and/or fundraising for any of our projects.
3. Financial review
The Trust ended the year in a strong financial position with reserves of £1.0m (2022: £1.1m), including £0.2m (2022: £0.1m) in cash, which is enough to cover fixed costs in the near future. CCT was affected by the global downturn in equity and bond markets in the prior year, with the investments flat in the current year and loss on investments of £0.1m over the prior year.
CCT was awarded Darwin Plus funding of £74k in 2022 which for CCT is an important step towards delivering our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs programme. With an approximate cost of £5m, this project will be reliant on securing external funding for its success. During 22/23 we drew down £14k (2022: £60k) of the grant funding to complete the 2022 Darwin Plus work. In addition, we drew £63k to deliver on our June 2023 expedition from CCT’s own Botanical Fund. We expect to use the remaining £9k of the remaining Chagos Connect funds to fund a website Content Manager in 2024/2025.
CCT’s investment target is to achieve a return of 5% per year over the long term. Following a number of years of achieving returns significantly above this target, we sustained a gain of 0.1% over the 2022-23 financial year (2022: loss of 9%). This was due to the stabilisation of the global equity and bond markets. We still have a strong reserves position above the amount originally bequeathed by John Topp and with flexibility to invest some of our own funds in project work, as we have done with the Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs project, as well as funding our routine operating expenditure.
To manage these risks the Finance Committee of the Board scrutinises investment performance regularly and the Board regularly reviews its investment policy, risk tolerance and portfolio allocation. Currently two Trustees have financial qualifications. In the current market environment, the Trustees are closely monitoring expenditure and consider spending decisions in the context of the performance of the investment portfolio. As part of setting our new strategy for beyond 2023, the Trustees has developed a medium-term financial plan to guide use of our reserves to invest in the CCT’s work while also ensuring our financial viability.
As a result of net expenditure of £72k and a net £1k movement on investments this year’s result was a deficit on unrestricted funds of £71k (2022: £166k deficit) and a deficit on restricted funds of £63k (2022: £13k deficit).
During the year the principal sources of income and the proportions they provided were as follows: grants 82% (2022: 91%), members’ subscriptions 8% (2022: 3%), sales of CCT publications 6% (2022: 1%), other donations 2% (2022: 1%) and investment income and bank interest 2% (2022: 0%). In 2021/22 other income was £2k in the year, which was a refund due from HMRC relating to overpayments on employers’ National Insurance dating back to 2018.
Sales of publications comprises income from CCT publications, which aim to promote knowledge of the history and environment of the Chagos Archipelago and raise awareness of CCT’s work. Sales of Chagos: A History: Exploration, Exploitation, Expulsion , Peak of Limuria: The Story of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Archipelago , Sad Story of the Conceicao 1555 , and leaflets amounted to £1,054 (2022: £954).
Reserves policy
In 2011 CCT benefited from a legacy from its founder, John Topp. His stated aim was to put CCT onto a permanently secure financial footing, with the majority of the legacy being retained to underpin the strength of the Trust.
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The Trust is unusual as it has to maintain sufficient reserves to promote environmental conservation work over 55 islands and a Marine Protected Area of 640,000 square kilometres, for the foreseeable future, against increasing threats to the global environment. Our policy is therefore to preserve as much as is practical of the capital sum of the legacy, and to fund operational spending out of returns gained from investments.
Given that the Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs programme will bring with it a significant amount of expenditure, and a change in the profile of our operational and financial risks, the Trustees will keep the reserves policy under review to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Investment policy and objectives
Our policy is to invest our capital in a medium risk strategy aiming for an average return of 5% per year. At year end £0.822m (2022: £1,026m) was invested in managed portfolios and commingled funds. Our investments are held with one fund manager in socially and environmentally responsible commingled funds for charities. Our portfolio’s target allocation as at August 2023 was 70% equities, 15% bonds, 5% real estate, 10% cash.
The Board is satisfied with the performance of the investment portfolio during the year and the risk level of the investments. The Finance Committee has opted to review the portfolio allocation on an annual basis and the next such review is due in H1 2024.
4. Plans for future years
To build a trust fit for the Chagos Archipelago
CCT is committed to running a professional organisation that allows us to play a leading role in conservation, research and raising awareness of the Chagos Archipelago.
We also plan to:
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Recruit for a new Chair and replace retiring Trustees with the specialist skills needed to move the Trust forward, including training the Board in media skills to prepare for a potential change in administration and the media opportunities that would bring;
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Continue to manage the organisation using best practice operating systems and effective operating policies and procedures, to ensure regulatory compliance;
- Revamp the website, so all the information is up-to-date and easy to find for all audiences;
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Look to lead a research expedition in order to produce an overarching Rewilding Operational Plan;
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Diversify our income for sustained growth by approaching a wide range of potential donors;
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Develop and implement fundraising activities for the next stage of our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs project.
To inspire action
CCT is committed to increasing the knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Chagos Archipelago, and build a network of supporters championing its protection.
We plan to:
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Increase the reach of the science and conservation work of the Chagos Archipelago;
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Continue to strengthen our relationship with Chagossian communities in support of conservation, education and research, including employing and training a member of the Chagossian community to manage the community website CCT helped create;
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Deepen our current and create new strategic partnerships for conservation to drive our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs project through funding and technical expertise.
Protecting a global asset
CCT is committed to working towards fully understanding the precious and globally important natural environment of the Chagos Archipelago, ensuring it is well protected and conserved for the benefit of our planet and all the animals and people who populate it.
We plan to:
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As part of our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs project, we will finalise the internally funded Vegetation Management Plan using the data collected during the July 2023 expedition;
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Look to lead another expedition to finalise the VMP ready to start the rewilding work;
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Recruit a Chagossian representative on the VMP expedition to ensure cultural conservation is included in the rewilding work, as well as being part of our core vision.
5. Structure, Governance and Management
Governing document
CCT’s governing document is its Constitution, last updated in October 2013 (and amended to allow hybrid and virtual annual meetings 2021).
Organisational structure
The Trustees, who must be full members of CCT, are responsible for the general control and management of CCT and meet approximately every three months for this purpose.
A partner charity (CCT-US) has been established in the USA to promote the CCT’s aims in that country. CCT-US is structurally and financially independent of the CCT.
In 2011 the Trust gained a major legacy on the death of its founder, Commander John Topp RN. To handle the investment of this legacy the Trustees set up a Finance Committee, as described below.
Finance Committee
The Trustees have established a Finance Committee comprising the Treasurer and several other Trustees. Its role is to advise the Trustees on the CCT’s investments and other financial matters.
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
Trustees are elected at CCT’s Annual General Meeting, in accordance with Clause 13 of the Constitution. One third of the Trustees must retire each year but are eligible for re-election, those to retire being the ones who have been longest in office since their last election.
Training of new Trustees depends largely on their background and their geographical location, and is partly by set briefings by appropriate other Trustees, and partly by handover, where applicable. All newly-appointed Trustees will be guided to the Charity Commission’s publication The Essential Trustee: What you need to know.
Risk Management
CCT has a Risk Register that identifies potential risk to the organisation and includes governance, operational, financial, reputational and compliance risks. Mitigation controls to limit any risk are
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included. The risk register is reviewed on an annual basis and adjustments made accordingly, with the last review taking place in March 2022.
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
Under charity law, the Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements for each financial year which shows a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity, including any excess of expenditure over income for that period. The Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
In preparing these financial statements, generally accepted accounting practice entails that the trustees:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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- State whether the recommendations of the Statement of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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- Assess the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern; and
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- Use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Trustees are required to act in accordance with the Constitution of the charity, within the framework of trust law. They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, sufficient to disclose at any time, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity at that time, and to enable the trustees to ensure that, where any statements of accounts are prepared by them under section 132(1) of the Charities Act 2011, those statements of accounts comply with the requirements of regulations under that provision.
They are responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the financial and other information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The Trustees have a legal duty to act in the best interests of CCT, to manage CCT's resources responsibly, and to act with reasonable care and skill. Their responsibility to act in the best interest of CCT includes a responsibility to do what the Trustees have collaboratively decided will best enable CCT to carry out its charitable purpose. The Trustees must be able to demonstrate that CCT is complying with the law, is effective and well run, and they must ensure appropriate accountability to its members.
The Trustees, for the purposes of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report, are set out in Section 7 below.
6. Legal and Administrative Information
Legal information
The charity is called the Chagos Conservation Trust, registered number 1155836. It was founded in 1992 and became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), taking over the assets and liabilities of the previous Charity of the same name, on 1 September 2014.
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Trustees
The Trustees during the year to 31 August 2023 were as follows:
Natasha Gibson (Chair) Alistair Gammel (Secretary) – resigned effective 11 May 2023 Rachel McGoff (Treasurer and Secretary as of 11 May 2023) James Clarke (Treasurer) – appointed 24 April 2023 Colin Clubbe Steve Cole Chris Davies Sarah Havery – resigned effective 30 March 2023 Johathan Hunt – resigned effective 11 May 2023 Kenneth Johnson Rachel Jones – resigned effective 26 July 2023 Jean- Francois Nellan Jodey Peyton – appointed 2 February 2023 Abel Seow John Turner Amy Wilson – appointed 2 February 2023 Bryan Wilson – appointed 26 July 2023
Bankers Reg address CAF Bank Ltd 67 Bethel Road 25 Kings Hill Avenue Lower Cwmtwrch, Swansea. West Malling SA9 2PT. Wales, UK. Kent ME19 4JQ
Approved by the Trustees on 2 February 2024.
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......................................... Natasha Gibson Chair of the Board
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO CHAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST
I report on the accounts of Chagos Conservation Trust (the ‘CIO’) for the year ended 31 August 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records; or
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The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirement concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
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Jason Foxwell FCCA FCIE
39 Enfield Road, Poole, BH15 3LJ
Date: 2 February 2024
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2023
| Incoming resources (Note 3) Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Other trading activities Investments Other Total Resources expended (Note 4) Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities Other Total Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total funds 2023 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ 1,727 14,323 16,050 61,435 1,054 - 1,054 954 182 132 314 42 - - - 1,670 |
|---|---|
| 2,963 14,455 17,418 64,102 |
|
| 8,823 - 8,823 4,660 48,033 77,176 125,209 132,616 18,288 - 18,288 8,843 |
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| 75,144 77,176 152,320 146,119 |
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| (72,181) (62,721) (134,902) (82,017) 1,328 187 1,515 (96,987) |
|
| (70,853) (62,534) (133,387) (179,004) - - - - |
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| (70,853) (62,534) (133,387) (179,004) |
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| 963,129 161,920 1,125,049 1,304,053 |
|
| 892,276 99,386 991,662 1,125,049 |
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023
| Fixed assets Investments (Note 9) Property, Plant and Equipment (Note 10) Total fixed assets Current assets Stocks (Note 11) Debtors (Note 12) Cash at bank and in hand (Note 16) Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (Note 13) Net current assets/(liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after one year (Note 14) Total net assets or liabilities Funds of the Charity Restricted income funds (Note 19) Unrestricted funds Total funds |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds £ £ 741,139 81,020 8,153 - |
Total funds 2023 Total funds 2022 £ £ 822,159 1,026,290 8,153 1,156 |
|---|---|---|
| 749,292 81,020 |
830,312 1,027,447 |
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| 3,051 - 1,585 14,090 155,285 16,976 |
3,051 3,157 15,675 11,426 172,261 103,419 |
|
| 159,921 31,066 |
190,987 118,002 |
|
| 15,937 12,700 |
28,637 19,650 |
|
| 143,984 18,366 |
162,350 98,352 |
|
| 893,276 99,386 |
992,662 1,125,799 |
|
| 1,000 - |
1,000 750 |
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| 892,276 99,386 |
991,662 1,125,049 |
|
| 99,386 161,920 892,276 963,129 |
||
| 991,662 1,125,049 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 2 February 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
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Natasha Gibson – Chair of the Board of Trustees
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
1. Legal Form
Chagos Conservation Trust is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England. The registered office is noted on page 11.
2. Accounting Policies
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity 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 application in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets
These accounts are compliant with the Update Bulletins 1 and 2 and FRS 102 Section 1A.
These accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis; are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income
Grants are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received, and the monetary value of the grants can be measured with sufficient reliability. Where grants are received in advance of the recognition criteria being met, recognition is deferred and included in creditors and where entitlement arises before income is received, income is accrued.
Annual memberships are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. Memberships received in advance are deferred and included in creditors.
Legacies and donations are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of grants can be measured with sufficient reliability. Legacies can be categorised as either pecuniary (specific cash amount) or residuary (share of an estate). Pecuniary legacies are recognised as receivable once probate has been granted and notification has been received. Residuary legacies are recognised as receivable once probate has been granted, where they can be valued.
Income from sales of publications is recognised as earned as the related goods are distributed to customers.
Investment income is credited to income on the accruals basis, with daily accrual of interest calculated by reference to the distribution dates.
Debtors are measured at transaction price initially and then at the recoverable amount.
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
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
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.
The role of CCT’s Director involves work on charitable projects and programmes, fundraising activities and activities related to the governance and administration of the charity such as organising Board meetings and the AGM. Therefore, the costs of employing the Director are split between these activities. The appropriate split is reviewed each year based on the particular activities the Director has undertaken. As limited separate projects have been undertaken in the current year, support costs have been disclosed separately, in the event of a greater number of activities being undertaken, support costs will be apportioned against those activities on a basis deemed appropriate by the Trustees.
The split of activities determined for the current and prior periods is as follows:
| FY23 | FY22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Charitable Activities | 70% | 70% |
| Fundraising | 12% | 12% |
| Governance and administration | 18% | 18% |
Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
Creditors are measured at their transaction price initially and then at the amount payable.
Stocks
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.
Tangible Fixed Assets
Fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and shown at cost. Depreciation is charged at the following rate:
- IT Equipment – over five years
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity’s pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial activities in the period to which they relate.
Fixed asset investments
Investments are included in the balance sheet at market value. The Statement of Financial Activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the period.
Realised gains and losses
All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses in investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and opening market value (value at purchase date if later). Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the market value at the period end and the opening market value (or purchase date if later).
3. Analysis of Income
| Charitable Activities | Unrestricted funds Restricte d income funds Total funds 2023 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ 1,054 - 1,054 954 |
|---|---|
| Sales of publications | |
| Investments Deposit Account Interest |
182 132 314 42 |
| 182 132 314 42 |
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
4. Analysis of Expenditure
| Charitable Activities Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs Education, conservation and research Connect Chagos Chagos - A History Sale of publications, new books Other Governance Fund raising |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total funds 2023 Total funds 2022 £ £ £ £ - 77,032 77,032 96,138 42,261 - 42,261 30,545 - 144 144 5,186 433 - 433 462 5,339 - 5,339 285 |
|---|---|
| 48,033 77,176 125,209 132,616 |
|
| 18,288 - 18,288 8,843 8,823 - 8,823 4,660 |
|
| 27,111 - 27,111 13,503 |
Governance costs include insurance, cost of Trustee meetings and the AGM and costs of the external examination (where required) and preparation of statutory accounts. It also includes the time spent by CCT’s Director on preparing for Board meetings and communicating with Trustees.
5. Independent Examiners’ and Accounting Fees
| Independent examiner’s fees Other fees (payroll and accountancy services) 6. Staff Costs Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension costs (defined contribution scheme) |
2023 2022 £ £ 450 425 528 593 2023 2022 £ £ 76,572 46,994 2,522 - 2,006 1,307 81,100 48,301 |
|---|---|
The average number of employees in the year was as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2 |
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
No staff worked for the charity whose contracts are with a related party.
No employees received total employee benefits of over £60,000 in the period.
Senior management personnel comprises the Board of Trustees and the Trust's Director. See Note 20 for detail of amounts paid to Trustees. The basis for allocating staff costs between activities in the Statement of Financial Activities is explained in Note 2.
7. Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
The Trust contributed to a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees during the period. Total contributions during the year to 31 August 2023 were £2,006 (2022: £1,307).
8. Grant making
The Trust makes grants to third parties when this is judged to be the most suitable way of pursing its charitable aims. During the year a grant of £144 was made from the Chagos Connect funds to cover IT cost for Chagossian Voices (2022: £5,186).
9. Fixed asset investments
| Fair Value At 1 September 2022 Additions Disposals Net gain/(loss) on revaluation At 31 August 2023 |
Listed investments £ 1,026,291 - (205,646) 1,514 |
|---|---|
| 822,159 |
All of the Trust’s fixed asset investments are in funds with a readily observable price and therefore fair value is determined by the market price of the assets at the balance sheet date.
Investment management are estimated to be 0.85% of the value of the assets under management.
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
10. Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost At 1 September 2022 Additions At 31 August 2023 Accumulated Depreciation At 1 September 2022 Charge for the year At 31 August 2023 Net Book Value At 1 September 2022 At 31 August 2023 |
Assets under construction Computer Equipment Total Assets £ £ £ - 1,589 1,589 7,314 - 7,314 |
|---|---|
| 7,314 1,589 8,903 |
|
| - 433 433 - 317 317 |
|
| - 750 750 |
|
| - 1,156 1,156 |
|
| 7,314 839 8,153 |
The trust is working to update its website, depreciation will start once the new website is operational.
11. Stocks
| At 1 September 2022 Added in period Recognised as an expense At 31 August 2023 Debtors Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors |
£ 3,157 50 (156) 3,051 2023 2022 £ £ 629 299 15,046 11,127 - - 15,675 11,426 |
|---|---|
12. Debtors
All debtors fall due within one year.
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
13. Creditors falling due within one year
| Creditors falling due within one year | |
|---|---|
| Accruals and deferred income Taxation and social security |
2023 2022 £ £ 27,698 18,380 939 1,269 |
| 28,627 19,650 |
14. Creditors falling due after more than one year
| Creditors falling due after more than one year | |
|---|---|
| Accruals and deferred income | 2023 2022 £ £ 1,000 750 |
| 1,000 750 |
15. Deferred income
The charity offers members the option of purchasing membership for more than one year, the income from these memberships is deferred and recognised over the period of the membership, or over 10 years in the case of life members.
| At 1 September 2022 Amounts added in current period Amounts released to income from previous periods At 31 August 2023 Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and on hand |
2023 2022 £ £ 987 972 600 283 (304) (268) |
|---|---|
| 1,283 987 |
|
| 2023 2022 £ £ 172,261 103,419 |
|
| 172,261 103,419 |
16. Cash at bank and in hand
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
17. Fair value of assets and liabilities
The Trust has limited exposure to credit risk as the balance of debtors is insignificant compared to other assets. Liquidity risk is also low as the charity has cash and investments that are in excess of liabilities. Investments can be liquidated with a short notice period and the Trust ensures it keeps enough cash in its bank accounts to cover operating costs for several months. The Trust has significant exposure to investment risk as it is reliant on income generated from its investments for long term financial security. The Trust manages this risk by retaining a Board member with investment management experience and seeking professional advice where appropriate. The charity conducts regular reviews on the performance of its investment managers and the overall investment markets and has a sub-committee of Trustees who are responsible for this.
There were no changes to the fair value of financial instruments in the period attributable to changes in credit risk.
18. Events after the reporting period
There are no material events after the reporting period but before the authorisation of the financial statements which require disclosure in accordance with FRS 102 Section 32.
19. Movements in funds
Details of material funds held and movements in the current reporting period
| Fund names Type General Funds Unrestricted Connect Chagos Restricted The Botanical survey fund Restricted The Chagos Information portal Restricted Darwin Plus Restricted Total Funds |
At 1.9.22 Income Expenditure Transfers Gains and (losses) At 31.8.2023 £ £ £ £ £ £ 963,129 2,963 (75,144) - 1,328 892,276 9,202 - (144) - - 9,058 150,718 132 (62,709) - 187 88,328 2,000 - - - - 2,000 - 14,323 (14,323) - - - |
|---|---|
| 1,125,049 17,418 (152,320) - 1,515 **991,662 ** |
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
19. Movement in funds (continued)
Details of material funds held and movements in the previous reporting period
| Fund names Type General Funds Unrestricted Connect Chagos Restricted The Botanical survey fund Restricted The Chagos Information portal Restricted Darwin Plus Restricted Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs Designated Total Funds |
At 1.9.21 Income Expenditure Transfers Gains and (losses) At 31.8.2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 1,128,615 4,709 (80,652) - (89,543) 963,129 14,388 - (5,186) - - 9,202 158,119 42 - - (7,444) 150,717 2,000 - - - - 2,000 - 59,351 (59,351) - - - 930 - (930) - - |
|---|---|
| 1,304,053 64,102 (146,119) - (96,987) 1,125,049 |
Purposes of restricted funds
Connect Chagos: Relates to grants received to implement an environmental education programme to improve the UK Chagossian community’s knowledge of the Chagos Archipelago, and to enable them to assist in the conservation and protection of the archipelago.
The Botanical Survey Fund: This was part of the legacy of Commander John Topp’s estate in 2012 and is to be used to conduct a periodical botanical survey of the Chagos Archipelago every 5 to 10 years as the Trustees shall determine.
The Chagos Information Portal: ChIP is a user friendly, interactive and open-source reference library of a science, research and conservation work conducted in the Chagos Archipelago. ChIP will continue to grow with new information as researchers and conservationist learn more about this iconic ecosystem. The John Ellerman foundation provided a grant of £26,704 in 2017. Development of the portal was largely completed in 2018. The Trust is currently working on a website upgrade, including the information portal, and will look to apply the remaining funds towards this, if appropriate.
Darwin Plus: Grant received from Defra’s Darwin Plus fund for British Overseas Territories to further our Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs programme. The aim of this project is to collect data to fill knowledge gaps and inform a robust and effective Rat Eradication Operational Plan to successfully remove rats, allow rewilding and ultimately boost biodiversity across the archipelago.
Healthy Islands, Healthy Reefs : is an ambitious, large-scale rewilding project that will remove rats and enable the return of hundreds of thousands of seabirds to the Archipelago, helping its coral reefs recover from bleaching and build their resilience to the effects of climate change. Previously the CCT continue to seek external funding as well as developing plans to invest its own funds in the programme, which will cost an estimated £5m in total.
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Chagos Conservation Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
20. Trustees’ remuneration and benefits
No Trustees received remuneration or other benefits during the year ended 31 August 2023 (2022: nil). Five (2021: Four) Trustees were reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses during the period of £1,397 (2022: £1,002). The increase is due to a resumption of in person meetings during the year. The bulk of expenses were reimbursement for the costs of attending two in person meetings during the year (travel and subsistence) and also included sundry expenses such as stationary for conducting CCT business. The Trust paid for Trustee liability insurance to the value of £397 (2022: £347) in the year.
21. Related Party Transactions
There were no related party transactions during the year.
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