On the Edge Conservation Group Reports and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Charity registration number: 1163124 Company registration number: 09646831
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On The Edge Conservation
Contents
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Charity Reference and Administrative Details | 2 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 3 |
| Independent Auditor’s Report | 7 |
| Consolidated statement of financial activities | 11 |
| Charity only Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account) | 12 |
| Balance Sheets | 13 |
| Consolidated Cash Flow Statement | 14 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 15 |
On The Edge Conservation
Details
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Charity registration number | 1163124 |
|---|---|
| Company registration number | 09646831 |
| Trustees | Jonathan Baillie (appointed 19 July 2023) |
| Beth Blood | |
| David Blood | |
| Jules Borkent (appointed 9 October 2023) | |
| Alexander Marshall | |
| Lara Legassick | |
| Henriette Stuart-Reckling (appointed 19 February 2024) | |
| Registered office | 25 Ives Street |
| Chelsea, London | |
| SW3 2ND | |
| Independent Auditor | Saffery LLP |
| 71 Queen Victoria Street | |
| London | |
| EC4V 4BE | |
| Solicitor | Bates Wells and Braithwaite London LLP |
| 10 Queen Street Place | |
| London | |
| EC4R 1BE | |
| Bankers | Handlesbanken |
| 2ndFloor | |
| 125 Kensington High Street | |
| London | |
| W8 5SF |
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On The Edge Conservation
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2023
The Trustees, who are also Directors of the company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report and the audited financial statements of the group and charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and 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.
Trustees of the charity
The directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The Board of Trustees, that meets four times a year, administers the Charity in accordance with the Articles of Association and the Charity Governance Code as applicable to the size of the charity.
Trustees serve for a term of three years and may be appointed for two further terms (9 years); or longer if agreed by the Board. Open positions are advertised on the charity’s website, inviting applications, with appointments being made after interview with the Chair (or delegated Trustee). Newly appointed Trustees receive a letter of appointment and an induction pack.
The Board has a wide skills base and cross-sector experience. Each Board member is required to declare any interests, directorships or positions which may conflict with any actual or proposed arrangements with the charity. Such interests are reviewed and authorised annually. Training needs are assessed and met as required.
Objects
The Charity’s objects are:
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To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and the conservation and protection of endangered species or flora and fauna.
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To advance the education of the public in the conservation, projection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and the conservation and protection of endangered species or flora and fauna.
Goals
On the Edge is committed to reconnecting humanity with the natural world. We do this by changing the narrative for nature using entertainment and popular culture storytelling. Only by experiencing the awe, wonder, complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world will we see, acknowledge and respect it. Achieving this in the first instance will make saving and restoring species and eco systems attainable.
Key achievements in the 2023 financial year:
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On the Edge supported local conservationists, organisations and communities to protect threatened and EDGE species in EDGE Zones and beyond. Through locally-led initiatives, our grant projects benefitted 118 EDGE species and 44 distinctive species. The projects ran across 22 countries and 16 EDGE Zones, and protected, managed, or restored 28,496 hectares of habitat. Further, we estimate £2.5m of additional funding was leveraged by our grantees from On the Edge initial funding.
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Our continued focus on building the capacity of locally-led conservation efforts resulted in 1,086 in-country experts receiving training, employment, and capacity-building support. Further, we continued to promote community coexistence with wildlife and raise awareness amongst local communities. There’s been 10,562 people across 85 communities participating in conservation activities.
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On The Edge Conservation
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2023
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On the Edge held an event with over two hundred people attending the screening of two short films; Spirit of Place and The Unseen. Post the event, we had several approaches to make introductions to potential supporters and collaborators making it well worth the investment.
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Significant progress has been made for the animated feature film in 2023 (OTEP Ltd). The first draft of the script was delivered, and two animation studios are ready to work with OTEP Ltd. Our co-producer and distribution partner, Studio 100 Film, was very successful at the American Film Market (AFM), securing interest from several buyers.
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The returning series "Animals in Therapy" has garnered the highest number of views of any of our content in 2023. We could also distribute and promote the content on all social platforms.
Future Plans
On the Edge balances its activities between nature-promoting media and games, grants, and high-impact campaigns that tie together our media and conservation work. Broadly we are focused on two workstreams:
Storytelling
On the Edge is producing content for different platforms using a variety of storytelling techniques. Efforts are currently focused on:
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Production of short and long form content to shine a light on the awe and wonder of nature using mainstream methods.
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Growing and evolving our mobile gaming slate.
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Supporting social media content creators and partnerships to expand our reach.
Natural History
We have a particular interest in Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species. They represent the most unique, and threatened lineages on the planet yet are often overlooked by conservationists. On the Edge provides financial support and guidance to local conservationists, organisations and communities. which includes building the capacity of incountry conservationists and the promotion of community co-existence with wildlife and nature.
EDGE Zones is another area of particular interest. Campaign grants for this initiative are aimed at achieving conservation outcomes and raising awareness of EDGE zones as important biodiversity hotspots. These grants support a mixture of storytelling initiatives and local conservation efforts.
We are a strategic single-issue pro-active funder, meaning that we seek out potential grantees with activities that align with one or more of our thematic aims. This is done through in-house expertise and institutional connections within the philanthropic and conservation sectors. We do not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.
Structure, governance and management
On The Edge Conservation was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee on 18 June 2015 (Reg. No. 9646831) and registered as a charity on 13 August 2015 (Reg. No. 1163124). OTE Productions Limited (Reg. No. 9660075) is a wholly owned subsidiary of On the Edge Conservation. This entity holds 100% of the rights to the animated movie, mobile games and any future ancillary initiatives related to the brand. OTEP Limited (Reg. No. 9714151) is a wholly owned subsidiary of OTE Productions Limited and is the production vehicle for the movie. OTEP 2 Limited (Reg. No. 12736225) is also a wholly owned subsidiary of OTE Productions Limited and is currently dormant.
Day to day management of the activities is carried out by the CEO Beth Blood and the support of the team.
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On The Edge Conservation
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Risk Review
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, including those relating to financial, operational, compliance and governance issues. They review risks annually and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to those risks.
The most critical risk to the charity is the loss of funding from David Blood, which supports the Charity's objectives. If David Blood is unable or unwilling to provide funding, this will restrict the Foundation’s ability to grow further or mean that grants and research activities may need to be scaled back. However, the trustees consider this risk unlikely.
Financial review – Results for the year and reserves
The charity had a income of £2,467,628 (2022: £2,823,401) and expenditure of £3,330,769 (2022: £2,711,167) including conservation grants £356,377 (2022: £392,004) and £2,286,851 (2022: £2,048,562) in storytelling, impact analysis, marketing, and operational expenses.
The charity’s reserves were in surplus by £315,127 as at 31 December 2023 of which £148,850 was restricted (2022: £1,178,268 all unrestricted).
As outlined above, the charity owns 100% of OTE Productions Ltd, OTEP Ltd, and OTEP 2 Ltd. These subsidiary companies are in start-up mode while developing digital content for a Generation Z audience using EDGE species as our ambassadors. In the future, alongside the social impact of these activities, it is intended that the subsidiaries will generate an ongoing revenue stream that can be passed to the charity to fund conservation activity.
For the year ended 31 December 2023, the group had a deficit of £202,505 (2022 surplus £13,115).
Fundraising
The Trustees take their responsibility under the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 seriously and have considered the implications on the charity’s activities. The charity currently does not actively fundraise and therefore the trustees do not consider it necessary at this point to have a formal fundraising policy in place.
Reserves policy
The trustees aim to maintain free reserves at a level which equates to approximately one quarter of fixed charitable costs (e.g salaries, compliance and occupancy costs etc.). The trustees consider that this reserve level will provide sufficient funds to respond to applications for grants and ensure that support and governance costs are covered.
The trustees consider that this is sufficient given the philanthropic commitment of David Blood to provide annual funding to On the Edge Conservation. The Trustees are satisfied that this commitment will allow the charity and subsidiaries to develop as intended over the next year.
At the year end the charity held free reserves of £83,267 (2022 £1,055,638).
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees (who are also directors of On The Edge Conservation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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On The Edge Conservation
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
Preparation of the report
This report has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies’ exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006. This report was approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by:
……………… Beth Blood Chair of Trustees
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On The Edge Conservation
Independent auditor’s report to the members
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of On The Edge Conservation (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, charity statement of financial activities, balances sheets, consolidated cash flow statement and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the group and the parent charitable company as at 31 December 2023 and of the parent charitable company and group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group or the parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information; we are required to report that fact.
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On The Edge Conservation
Independent auditor’s report to the members
For the year ended 31 December 2023
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the Directors’ Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and to take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the Strategic Report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities set out on page 5 and 6, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditors under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with regulations made under that Act.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the group and parent financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
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On The Edge Conservation
Independent auditor’s report to the members
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are detailed below.
Identifying and assessing risks related to irregularities:
We assessed the susceptibility of the group and parent charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement and how fraud might occur, including through discussions with the trustees, discussions within our audit team planning meeting, updating our record of internal controls and ensuring these controls operated as intended. We evaluated possible incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements. We identified laws and regulations that are of significance in the context of the group and parent charitable company by discussions with trustees and updating our understanding of the sectors in which the group and parent charitable company operate.
Laws and regulations of direct significance in the context of the group and parent charitable company include The Companies Act 2006 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Audit response to risks identified:
We considered the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items including a review of financial statement disclosures. We reviewed the parent charitable company’s records of breaches of laws and regulations, minutes of meetings and correspondence with relevant authorities to identify potential material misstatements arising. We discussed the parent charitable company’s policies and procedures for compliance with laws and regulations with members of management responsible for compliance.
During the planning meeting with the audit team, the engagement partner drew attention to the key areas which might involve non-compliance with laws and regulations or fraud. We enquired of management whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud. We addressed the risk of fraud through management override of controls by testing the appropriateness of journal entries and identifying any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business. We assessed whether judgements made in making accounting estimates gave rise to a possible indication of management bias. At the completion stage of the audit, the engagement partner’s review included ensuring that the team had approached their work with appropriate professional scepticism and thus the capacity to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
9
On The Edge Conservation
Independent auditor’s report to the members
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the parent charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the parent charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the parent charitable company and the parent charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Jamie Cassell (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Saffery LLP
Date 24 September 2024 71 Queen Victoria Street London Chartered Accountants EC4V 4BE
Saffery LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
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On The Edge Conservation
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Note Income: Donations Grant Other income 2 Total income Charitable expenditure: 3 Conservation and Science Marketing and Storytelling Impact Measurement Total expenditure Net income/(expenditure) before tax Tax credit Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
31 December 2023 31 December 2022 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Unrestricted and Total 2,152,744 - 2,152,744 2,822,172 - 282,815 282,815 - 609,078 - 609,078 1,282 |
|---|---|
| 2,761,822 282,815 3,044,637 2,823,454 580,132 133,965 714,097 392,004 2,438,419 - 2,438,419 2,259,259 94,626 - 94,626 159,076 |
|
| 3,113,177 133,965 3,247,142 2,810,339 (351,355) 148,850 (202,505) - - - - - (351,355) 148,850 (202,505) 13,115 |
|
| (351,355) 148,850 (202,505) 13,115 205,557 - 205,557 192,442 |
|
| (145,798) 148,850 3,052 205,557 |
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On The Edge Conservation
Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account)
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Note Income: Donations Grant Other income 2 Total income Charitable expenditure: 3 Conservation and Science Marketing and Storytelling Impact Measurement Total expenditure Loss on Investment Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
31 December 2023 31 December 2022 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Unrestricted and Total 2,152,744 - 2,152,744 2,822,172 - 282,815 282,815 - 32,069 - 32,069 1,229 |
|---|---|
| 2,184,813 282,815 2,467,628 2,823,401 570,812 133,965 704,777 427,004 2,532,601 - 2,532,601 2,125,087 93,391 - 93,391 159,076 |
|
| 3,196,804 133,965 3,330,769 2,711,167 - - - - |
|
| (1,011,991) 148,850 (863,141) 112,235 |
|
| (1,011,991) 148,850 (863,141) 112,235 1,178,268 - 1,178,268 1,066,033 |
|
| 166,277 148,850 315,127 1,178,268 |
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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On The Edge Conservation
Balance Sheets
As at 31 December 2023
| Note Fixed assets Tangible Fixed Assets 7 Investments 10 Current assets Trade and other receivables 11 Cash at bank and in hand Current Liabilities Trade and other payables 12 Net current assets Net assets Charity Funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds surplus |
31 December 2023 31 December 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 83,039 83,039 122,629 122,629 - 1 - 1 |
|---|---|
| 83,039 83,040 122,629 122,630 97,355 68,313 125,178 186,007 552,371 538,267 1,184,863 1,172,924 |
|
| 649,726 606,580 1,310,042 1,358,931 (729,713) (374,493) (1,227,113) (303,293) |
|
| (79,987) 232,087 82,928 1,055,638 |
|
| 3,052 315,127 205,557 1,178,268 |
|
| (145,798) 148,850 166,277 148,850 205,557 - 1,178,268 - |
|
| 3,052 315,127 205,557 1,178,268 |
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on
11/09/ 2024.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
………….
----- End of picture text -----
…………. Beth Blood Trustee
The notes on pages 15 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
Company registration number: 09646831
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On The Edge Conservation
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
As at 31 December 2023
| Cash flows from operating activities: Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period Depreciation Interest income Loss on disposal of PPE Decrease in debtors (Decrease)/increase in creditors Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities Cash flow from investing activities: Purchase of office equipment/computers Interest income Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash at bank and in hand at the beginning of the reporting period Cash at bank and in hand at the end of the reporting period |
31 December 2023 31 December 2022 (202,505) 13,115 43,794 26,768 (32,069) (1,282) - 9,926 27,823 59,027 (497,399) 287,115 |
|---|---|
| (660,356) 394,671 (4,205) (130,958) 32,069 1,282 |
|
| 27,864 (129,676) |
|
| (632,492) 264,995 |
|
| 1,184,863 919,867 |
|
| 552,371 1,184,863 |
Analysis of changes in net debt:
| Cash Total |
At Start of the period Cash outflow At end of the period 1,184,863 (632,492) 552,371 |
|---|---|
| 1,184,863 (632,492) 552,371 |
14
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
1 Summary of significant accounting policies
(a) General information and basis of preparation
On The Edge Conservation is a charitable company registered in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. Total of such guarantees at 31 December 2023 was £ 3(2022: £3). The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 2 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are as set out on page 3.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. David Blood has made a philanthropic commitment to providing funding for On the Edge Conservation. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of all subsidiaries. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date on which control over the operating and financial decisions is obtained and cease to be consolidated from the date on which control is transferred out of the Group. Control exists when the Company has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to obtain economic benefits from its activities. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in full.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.
(b) Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are amounts which are specified by the donor to be used solely for particular purposes by the charity.
(c) Income recognition
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
15
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
(d) Expenditure recognition
All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual’s basis. All costs can be directly attributed to an expense category. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as to the relevant expense as incurred.
(e) Critical Estimates and Judgements
In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where these are affected.
The Trustees consider the most significant judgement in the accounts to be the estimated useful life of the fixed and intangible assets.
(f) Employee benefits
- (i) Short term benefits
Short term benefits, including private medical insurance are recognised as an expense in the period in which the service is received.
(ii) Pension schemes
The contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense when they are due.
(iii) Termination benefits
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by charity, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either (i) terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal or (ii) providing termination benefits as a result of an offer of voluntary redundancy.
(g) Financial Instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
16
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
(h) Tangible fixed assets
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is provided to write off the cost or valuation less the estimated residual value of tangible fixed assets by equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives, over the following periods.
Plant and machinery 5 years Fixtures, fittings and equipment 5 years Computer equipment 3 years Leasehold improvements Over life of lease
The assets’ residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
(i) Intangible fixed assets
Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment. Amortisation is caulcated using the straight line method to allocate the depreciable amount of the assets to their residual values over their estimated useful lives which is considered to be between three and five years.
The carrying values are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may require impairment.
(j) Investments
The investment in the subsidiary undertaking is shown at cost on the charity balance sheet.
The charity also invests in a mixed motive investment via the subsidiary undertaking meaning assets that both further the charity's objects and generate a financial return. Following the impairment of the mobile games in 2022, the trustees also decided to impair the loan as likelihood of repayment was remote.
(k)Tax
The tax credit represents the sum of the tax currently receivable.
The tax currently recoverable is based on relievable losses arising in the year as a result of film tax relief legislation. Relievable losses differ from net losses as reported in the profit and loss account because they include an additional deduction relating to qualifying film development expenditure and exclude items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years, as well as items that are never taxable or deductible. The company's tax position is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.
As a registered charity income derived from wholly charitable activities is exempt from corporation tax.
17
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
2 Other income
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Charity | Group | Charity | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Interest income | 32,069 | 32,069 | 1,282 | 1,229 | |
| Reimbursement of development costs | 11,009 |
- | - | - | |
| Waiver of Directors Loan Account | 566,000 | - | - | - | |
| 609,078 | 36,069 |
1,282 | 1,229 | ||
| 3 Expenditure on Charitable activities |
|||||
| Group: | |||||
| Activities | Grant | ||||
| Total | undertaken | funding of | Support | Total | |
| 31 | Dec 23 | Directly | activities | costs | 31 Dec 22 |
| Conservation and Science | 714,097 | 202,919 | 356,377 |
154,801 |
392,004 |
| Marketing and Storytelling | 2,438,419 | 1,909,821 | - |
528,598 |
2,259,259 |
| Impact Measurement | 94,626 | 74,113 | - |
20,513 | 159,076 |
| 3,247,142 | 2,186,853 | 356,377 |
703,912 |
2,810,339 | |
| Charity: | |||||
| Total 31 Dec 23 |
Activities undertaken Directly |
Grant funding of activities |
Support costs |
Total 31 Dec 22 |
|
| Conservation and Science | 704,777 | 202,919 | 356,377 |
145,481 |
427,004 |
| Marketing and Storytelling | 2,532,601 | 2,009,818 | - |
522,783 |
2,125,087 |
| Impact Measurement | 93,391 | 74,113 | - |
19,278 | 159,076 |
| 3,330,769 | 2,286,850 | 356,377 |
687,542 |
2,711,167 |
All grants were made to institutions. No grants were made to individuals.
Significant grants, considered to be over £50,000, included within expenditure have been made to:
Zoological Society of London (ZSL) £75,000 Re:wild (Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature) £81,188 Nature Conservation Fund (India) £60,000 Wildscreen £60,000
During the year the charity also made grants totalling £658,029 to its subsidiary OTE Productions Limited. These are shown within expenditure on activities undertaken directly
.
18
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
4 Support and governance costs
| Staff costs Gifts in kind Consulting Depreciation IT costs Rent Legal expenses Other Governance Audit and accountancy |
2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 159,270 159,270 1,001,471 1,000,971 130,000 130,000 - - 77,101 45,806 36,794 34,720 43,794 43,794 26,768 26,768 68,272 67,826 92,100 88,827 34,876 34,876 68,279 68,279 64,410 11,043 25,360 25,360 102,989 171,727 84,686 79,492 23,200 23,200 24,150 24,150 |
|---|---|
| 703,912 687,542 1,359,608 1,348,567 |
5 Auditors remuneration
| Audit of financial statements Tax advisory services Other non audit services |
2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 23,200 23,200 22,250 22,250 7,042 7,042 2,080 - 8,231 1,500 1,900 1,900 |
|---|---|
| 38,473 31,742 26,230 24,150 |
6 Employees
| Wages and salaries Redundancy Social security costs Pension contributions Medical Insurance Other HR costs Staff costs |
2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 760,475 760,475 727,688 727,688 28,862 28,862 24,394 24,394 89,011 89,011 89,704 89,704 113,235 113,235 109,284 109,284 12,178 12,178 13,016 13,016 17,619 17,619 37,384 36,884 |
|---|---|
| 1,021,380 1,021,380 1,001,471 1,000,971 |
The number of persons employed by the group during the period is 13 (2022: 12).
19
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
During the year employees earning over £60,000 were:
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £60,000 - £69,999 | 3 | 1 |
| £70,000 - £79,999 | - | 2 |
| £80,000 - £89,999 | 1 | 1 |
| £90,000 - £99,999 | - | - |
| £100,000 - £109,999 | 1 | 1 |
| £110,000 - £119,999 | 1 | - |
The key management personnel is the Chief Executive Officer, together with the Trustees. Key management personnel received benefits totalling £nil including employer pension contributions (2022: £119,792). Beth Blood, trustee, is currently acting as Chief Executive Officer. She is not remunerated for this position. A gift in kind of £130,000 is included in the accounts to reflect this. This is not included in the above staff costs table.
The Trustees were not paid nor received any other benefits from the charity or its subsidiary companies in the year (2022: £nil). They were not reimbursed for any expenses during the year (2022: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: £nil).
7 Tangible fixed assets
| Group and charity Cost At 1 January Additions At 31 December Depreciation At 1 January Charge for the period At 31 December Net book value At 31 December 2022 At 31 December 2023 |
Fixtures, fittings and equipment Leasehold improvements Total 54,722 102,613 157,335 4,205 - 4,205 |
|---|---|
| 58,927 102,613 161,540 23,840 10,866 34,706 16,012 27,783 43,795 |
|
| 39,852 38,649 78,501 30,882 91,747 122,629 19,075 63,964 83,039 |
Financial Commitments
In June 2023 OTEP Limited entered into a memorandum of understanding for a coproduction agreement with Studio 100 International GmbH (“Studio 100”). Under this agreement OTEP Limited is committed to fund a further USD 100,000 of script fees towards which Studio 100 will contribute 40%. Further development costs not committed to at 31 December 2023 will be split 50:50 between the parties.
20
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
- 8 Intangible fixed assets
| Group Cost At 1 January Additions At 31 December Amortisation and impairment At 1 January Charge for the period At 31 December Net book value At 31 December 2022 At 31 December 2023 |
Total 302,250 - |
|---|---|
| 302,250 302,250 - |
|
| 302,205 - - |
The intangible asset relates to two gaming apps. These were fully impaired in 2021 as there are no current plans to monetise the apps.
The charity does not hold any intangible assets.
9 Taxation
There was no tax credit received in the current or prior period from creative industries film tax credit due to OTEP 2 Ltd.
10 Investments
| Investments at fair value comprise: Cost or valuation At 1 January Waiver of loan Provisions and impairments Impairment brought forward Waiver of loan Impairment carried forward At 31 December 2023 |
Shares in subsidiary Mixed motive Total investment 1 160,000 160,001 - (160,000) (160,000) |
|---|---|
| - - 1 - 160,000 160,000 - (160,000) (160,000) |
|
| - - |
|
| 1 - 1 |
The mixed motive investment funding the development of a game by OTE Productions Limited which had previously been impaired was formally waived in the year.
21
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Subsidiary undertakings
The following were subsidiary undertakings of the charity
| Name | Company Class of Shares |
Company Class of Shares |
Holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration No. | |||
| OTE Productions Ltd (formally | 09660075 Ordinary |
100% | |
| On The Edge Productions Ltd) | |||
| OTEP Ltd | 09714151 Wholly owned subsidiary of OTE Productions Ltd |
||
| OTEP 2 Ltd | 12736225 Wholly owned subsidiary of OTE Productions Ltd |
||
| l entities in the group are located at registered office 25 Ives Street, Chelsea SW3 2ND. | |||
| e aggregate of the share capital and reserves as at 31 December 2023 and of the profit or | loss for the period the | ||
| ded on that date for the subsidiary undertakings were as follows: | |||
| OTE Productions Ltd | OTEP 2 Ltd | OTEP Ltd | |
| Income | 570,028 | 577,009 | - |
| Expenditure | (585,223) | (60,977) | - |
| Net profit/(loss) | (15,195) | 516,032 | - |
| Total assets as at 31 Dec 23 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total liabilities as at 31 Dec 23 | (372,953) | (200,320) | (7,297) |
| Net assets held as at 31 Dec 23 | (372,952) | (200,319) | (7,296) |
All entities in the group are located at registered office 25 Ives Street, Chelsea SW3 2ND.
The aggregate of the share capital and reserves as at 31 December 2023 and of the profit or loss for the period then ended on that date for the subsidiary undertakings were as follows:
11 Trade and other receivables
| Trade debtors Other debtors Amounts owed by associated undertakings Deposits Prepayments |
2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 954 - 3,151 3,151 31,552 4,065 97,242 11,344 - - - 148,777 14,431 14,430 14,431 14,431 50,418 49,818 10,354 8,304 |
|---|---|
| 97,355 68,313 125,178 186,007 |
12 Trade and other payables
| Accruals Accounts payable Directors loan account Other creditors |
2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 86,251 83,360 30,168 127,280 205,288 259,625 196,238 173,405 402,097 - 898,097 - 36,077 31,508 2,610 2,608 |
|---|---|
| 729,713 374,493 1,127,113 303,293 |
22
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
13 Operating lease commitments
| Operating leases which expire: Within one year Within two to five years |
Land and buildings 2023 2022 Group Charity Group Charity £ £ £ £ 57,723 57,723 57,723 57,723 76,772 76,772 134,495 134,495 |
|---|---|
| 134,495 134,495 192,218 192,218 |
Lease expenditure of £34,876 (2022: £62,820) is included in support costs in note 4.
14 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Group: Fixed assets Cash Debtors Other current liabilities Total Charity: Fixed assets Investments Cash Debtors Other current liabilities Total |
31 December 31 December 31 December 31 December 2023 2023 2023 2022 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Unrestricted and total 83,039 - 83,039 122,629 97,355 - 97,355 1,184,863 403,521 148,850 552,371 125,178 (729,713) - (729,713) (1,227,113) |
|---|---|
| (145,798) 148,850 3,052 205,557 |
|
| 83,039 - 83,039 122,629 1 - 1 1 68,313 - 68,313 1,172,924 389,417 148,850 538,267 186,007 (374,493) - (374,493) (303,293) |
|
| 166,277 148,850 315,127 1,178,267 |
23
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
15 Movement in funds
| Group: Restricted funds Zoological Society of London (ZSL) The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group Nature Conservation Foundation (India) Unrestricted funds Total funds Charity: Restricted funds Zoological Society of London (ZSL) The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group Nature Conservation Foundation (India) Unrestricted funds Total funds |
Brought forward Income Expenditure Carried forward - 148,850 - 148,850 - 74,425 (74,425) - - 59,540 (59,540) - |
|---|---|
| - 282,815 (133,965) 148,850 205,557 2,761,822 (3,113,177) (145,798) |
|
| 205,557 3,044,637 (3,247,142) 3,052 |
|
| - 148,850 - 148,850 - 74,425 (74,425) - - 59,540 (59,540) - |
|
| - 282,815 (133,965) 148,850 1,178,268 2,184,813 (3,196,804) 166,277 |
|
| 1,178,268 2,467,628 (3,330,769) 315,127 |
In the year ended 31 December 2023, Friends of On the Edge Foundation provided grant funding to On the Edge Conservation to support three projects being:
-
Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
-
The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group
-
Nature Conservation Foundation (India)
On the Edge Conservation will manage these grants on behalf of Friends of On the Edge Foundation and report back to the directors of the US charity on the impact of these grant monies.
All funds during the year ended 31 December 2022 were unrestricted.
24
On The Edge Conservation
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
16 Related party transactions
Trustee David Blood made donations to On the Edge Conservation totalling £1,618,244 (2022: £2,257,500). As noted above (note 6) none of the Trustees in On the Edge Conservation had expenses reimbursed in the period.
During the course of the year Beth and David Blood, who are also trustees of the charity, loaned OTEP Limited the following amounts shown within note 12:
| ts shown within note 12: | |
|---|---|
| Brought forward Additional loan Loan waiver (see note 2) Carried forward |
2023 2022 898,097 862,097 70,000 36,000 (566,000) - |
| 402,097 898,097 |
At the year end OTE Productions owed the parent charity the following:
| Owed by OTE Productions Brought forward provision against debtor Additional provision against debtor |
2023 2022 180,498 257,476 (108,700) (108,700) (71,798) - |
|---|---|
| - 148,776 |
At year-end, the charity does not have any amount owing to subsidiary companies (2022: £nil). During the year the charity also made grants totalling £658,029 to its subsidiary OTE Productions Limited.
At the start of the financial year, the Charity paid £42,556 (2022: £22,419) to Jonathan Baillie, who is also a director of OTE Productions Ltd and trustee of the Charity, in respect of consultancy services provided to the Charity. These consultancy services predate Jonathan Baillie being appointed a trustee of the charity in July 2023.
The Charity made payments of £nil (2022: £5,000) in respect of conference costs to Bright Tide Limited which shares a director with OTE Productions Ltd.
On 28 March 2017, Friends of On the Edge Foundation was established as a not-for-profit entity incorporated in Delaware USA. The Charity is connected to On the Edge Conservation by virtue of having representation on its Board of Directors. During the year, the following served as members of the Board of Friends of On the Edge Foundation: David Blood, Barry Zubrow and Richard Sabo. During the year a restricted grant of £282,815 (2022: £nil) was received from Friends of On the Edge Foundation (see note 15).
25