## WORLD HERITAGE UK Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023 ## Contents |A: Reference and Administrative Detail|2| |---|---| |B: Structure, Governance and Management|2| |C: Objectives and Activities|2| |D: Achievements and Performance|3| |E: Treasurers Report|7| |F: Independent Examiners Report|9| |G: Accounts|11| |Appendix 1: WHUK Voting Members|13| 1 A: Reference and Administrative Detail Trustees During 2022-23: Teresa Anderson – Chair (appointed December 2022) Max Bryant Amanda Chadburn (appointed December 2022) Gillian Clarke (resigned December 2022) Tony Crouch – (Past Chair until December 2022) Lesley Garlick Jane Gibson Don Gobbett (resigned December 2022) David Holroyd Jane Masters (resigned October 2022) Stephen Ratcliffe Sam Rose Justin Scully Ashleigh Taylor (appointed December 2022) Ian Wray – Vice-Chair Charity Registration Number: 1163364 Registered Office: c/o The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Coach Road Coalbrookedale TELFORD Shropshire TF8 7DQ B: Structure, Governance and Management Type of Governing Document: Constitution How the Charity is Constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustee Selection Methods: Elected by the Membership at AGM Governance Policies: World Heritage UK has a number of governance policies in place in accordance with the guidance from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations for small charities. These include: - Conflict of Interest Policy - Data Protection - Ethics Policy (including Donations, Gifts and Hospitality) – in draft - Employee Handbook incorporating HR Policies - Expenses Policy - Financial Management and Controls – in draft - Health and Safety Policy - Reserves Policy - Safeguarding and Protecting People - Volunteering Policy – in draft 2 - C: Objectives and Activities ## Objects and Aims To promote the conservation and protection of the UK’s World Heritage Sites for the benefit of the public, defined as those places considered by the United Nations Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) as having such Outstanding Universal Value that they warrant being inscribed on the World Heritage List through the powers of the international Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972, in particular but without limitation to the following:- - Supporting for the benefit of the public the development of World Heritage Site nominations for the UK’s Tentative List Sites, defined as Sites on the UK Government’s official Tentative List for nomination for World Heritage Status; - Advancing the education of the public in general in respect of the significance and values of the UK’s World Heritage Sites and Tentative List Sites, as defined above; - Undertaking effective advocacy at all levels for the joint benefit of the UK’s World Heritage Sites and for the World Heritage Convention; - Facilitating and encouraging networking between organisations and individuals that play a role in the management of the UK’s WH Sites, and Tentative List Sites (as defined in the objects) be that at the Site, agency, NGO, government, corporate or individual level, for the collective benefit of the Sites’ management. This may involve: bringing people together; sharing good practice; exchanging information; - Dissemination of information; - Undertaking joint projects and initiatives; - Providing a platform for partners to access the UK World Heritage Community; - Linking internationally, where appropriate; and - Promoting the UK’s World Heritage Sites, in collaboration with key partner agencies, to a national and international audience so as to allow more people to experience the Sites in ways that are appropriate to their different situations and pressures, and which enable the general public to better find out about, experience, access and enjoy them. ## Public Benefit The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set. The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. D. Achievements and Performance: World Heritage UK’s Year – April 2022 to March 2023 2022 saw the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention and this featured frequently in WHUK’s activities during the year, as it continued to support and deliver on behalf of the membership and the UK’s World Heritage sector. ## Advocacy WHUK works internationally, nationally and locally: 3 - WHUK contributed to The Historic Environment Overview (Spring 2022) produced by the Historic Environment Forum with support from the National Trust and Historic England. The WHUK President provided a review of WH over the past 12 months. - WHUK’s President presented at ICOMOS’ “50 Years of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Europe. Achievements and Challenges” Krakow 8–10 June 2022. - WHUK has been providing support and guidance to the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Culture, as it explores developing a similar body as World Heritage UK for the country. - WHUK’s President together with a Trustee attended the European World Heritage Associations conference in Switzerland in October, where representatives from 16 counties discussed the challenges and opportunities WHSs faced in the coming years. - World Heritage UK took part in Heritage Alliance’s Heritage Debate 2022 in November, where over 200 heritage professionals discussed this year’s topic: “Heritage in 20 Years: what will matter most?”, focusing on the challenges and hopes for WH. - WHUK’s President has been working with the Irish Government on developing its strategy for World Heritage. This culminated in a presentation to the International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM) in December, on the challenges and opportunities for WH in Ireland. - Three independent experts from the WHUK Board have been part of DMCS’ Panel to Review the upcoming UK WH Tentative List. The new candidates will be announced in April 2023. WHUK has also been supporting some of the prospective candidates in their proposals. - This year saw the start of the UK’s WHSs 3rd Cycle of Periodic Reporting to UNESCO. WHUK supported DCMS, Historic England and WHSs prepare for and commence the process. - WHUK continues to work with Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, ICOMOS-UK (promotion of events), IUCN, ICCROM (Panorama project) and the UK National Commission to UNESCO (in particular UK’s statement on Ukraine War and the Local to Global project). - WHUK supported Heritage Alliance with its review of the Heritage Funding Directory. ## Learning and Networking WHUK works on behalf of the UK’s 33 WHSs by acting as a key hub role, linking the frontline with government and the national heritage agencies, and providing knowledge, training and networking opportunities for WH professionals to share and learn from each other. This year WHUK delivered: - “World Heritage and Sustainability” at Blenheim WHS in April; WHUK’s first hybrid event (both in-person and broadcasting online), featuring talks on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, sustainable transport and tourism, and building sustainable relationships with communities, with speakers from UNESCO, Oxford University, the UK National Commission, World Heritage Experience Switzerland, VisitBritain and more. Over 50 delegates attended from across the UK. - “Liverpool – After World Heritage” online conference in June; following Liverpool’s sad delisting last year, WHUK delivered an all-day conference, exploring the reasons why and ramifications of this loss to the UK’s WHS sector. Speakers included the Heseltine Institute at the University of Liverpool and representatives from DCMS, Historic England, ICOMOS-UK, Dresden, Bordeaux, Merseyside Civic Society, Harcourt Developments and National Museums Liverpool. Over 75 delegates attended this lively debate. - “Celebrating 50 years of the World Heritage Convention and looking ahead to the next 50” was the theme for the 2022 annual conference, held at Jodrell Bank WHS in October. The first day looked back at 50 years of the Convention and 36 years of WH in the UK, and speakers included the ex-Director of the WH Centre, the UK’s Ambassador to UNESCO, ICOMOS-UK, the National Trust and representatives from all the UK’s national heritage agencies. The second day looked ahead, to what the future might hold for WH. The day started with 4 UNESCO’s Chair for Heritage Futures and a challenging workshop, followed by speakers from the Irish Government, the UK’s WH Youth Ambassadors and Newcastle University. Over 100 delegates attended in-person and online. - In March WHUK hosted a webinar on “Funding for Heritage”, with the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund’s Head of Policy speaking on their new strategy. 20 delegates attended including representatives from Overseas Territories. - WHUK hosted four WHS Coordinators’ Forums (in May, September, November, and February), providing Site coordinators and managers the opportunity to hear the latest from Government, NDPBs and their peers; average attendance exceeded 30. - WHUK hosted two WHS Chairs meetings (May and November), with presentations on WH Engagement Locally, Regionally and Nationally by the Chair of the English Lake District WHS and UKNC’s Local to Global/Sites for Sustainability projects. - WHUK has continued to support Special Interest Groups and Site projects, including Industrial Heritage, Climate Emergency, WH & Peace, the north England WHS cluster, Learning and Engagement and communications/branding. ## Promotion WHUK’s communications is primarily aimed at the UK’s WH sector. However, the social media activity has reach beyond this audience. - Website: additional resources were added to the site during the year, primarily 2021-22 WHUK Review, WH in the UK 2021-22 Review, Periodic Reporting and videos from events; 58 articles for the News section on a variety of topics including WHUK events, WH Convention anniversary events, job and Trustee opportunities across the UK, UNESCO resources etc. - Database: WHUK’s database of regular contacts stands at 709 (WH stakeholders and commercial). - E-Communications: 19 e-newsletters were sent out to this database during the course of the year, reaching around13.5k in total, with an average open rate of 22.6% (compared to industry norm/last year’s figure of 22%) and average click through of 8.3% (compared to industry norm of 3-5% and 7.2% last year). - Social Media: Twitter followers are currently 3,583 (up from about 3000 the previous year) and Facebook has 1,900 followers (an increase from around 1,000). - Print: a reprint of 5,500 copies of the ‘World Heritage in the UK’ map was made for three WHSs. - Key dates: for both WH Day (18 April) and the 50th anniversary of the WH Convention (16 November), WHUK posted on social media, added content online and sent out details via e- newsletter. ## Membership WHUK’s membership remains stable. During 2022-23, using funding from Steps to Sustainability, research was undertaken with Local Enterprise Partnerships, Destination Marketing Organisations and academia, to identify potential markets for membership growth. The research found that the best prospect for future membership is from academia. Since the research, WHUK has been working with Bangor University, to develop membership packages for academic departments, staff and students. These packages will be marketed to academic institutes for the 2023/24 academic year. Volunteer research has provided a database of prospective institutions to target. - Voting Members = 38 (same as 2021-22) - see Appendix One - Associate Members = 3 (one less than previous year) - Individual Members = 63 (up eight or 15% on previous year) 5 Governance and Management - Following the 2022 AGM in December, WHUK saw the stepping down from the Chair of Tony Crouch, who has been Chair for four years. The new Chair Teresa Anderson from Jodrell Bank WHS and Manchester University took over at the start of 2023. - 2022-23 also saw changes within the Board of Trustees; Don Gobbett, Gill Clarke and Jane Masters all retired and new Trustees elected include Amanda Chadburn (previously at DCMS and Historic England) and Ashleigh Taylor (from Blaenavon WHS). Henry Owen-John was also co-opted onto the Board in the spring. - The 2022-23 online AGM saw finances of the previous year agreed and new membership rates for 2023-24 also agreed. - In February, WHUK undertook a planning day, in-person, in Manchester and a majority of trustees were able to attend either in person or online. The impetus for this day was the need to review the Business Plan and to agree steps for securing funding. As a result of this day, discussions have started with some of the national agencies around funding. - During the year, WHUK made seven applications for funding; unfortunately, all have been unsuccessful. - New policies developed during the year include Safeguarding and Protecting People, Ethics and Volunteering. - A members’ survey was distributed towards the end of the year with results being analysed in early 2023-24. Declaration The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Annual Report at its Board Meeting on 20[th] July 2023. Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees: Full Name: Tony Crouch Position: Vice-Chair 6 ## E. Treasurer’s Report - 1.0 Introduction - 1.1 World Heritage UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and was registered with the Charity Commission (charity number 1163364) on 1 September 2015. - 1.2 This report details the Income and Expenditure Account from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. - 1.3 An Independent Examiner’s report has been carried out by Andrew Chappell FCA MIMgt of Chappell Associates Ltd as required by the Charity Commission for those charities with gross incomes greater than £25,000 per annum. - 2.0 Income and Expenditure Account from 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023 - Income - 2.1 World Heritage UK was able to return to in-person meetings after the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This resulted in an increase in this income stream due to meetings in Blenheim Palace and Jodrell Bank World Heritage Sites. We also continued with online and hybrid events. Membership levels were maintained. - 2.2 We received one grant of £9,900 from the Social Enterprise Academy for their ‘Steps to Sustainability’ Programme. This was used to explore additional sources of income for WHUK. - 2.3 The high level of miscellaneous funding was due to the sum of £6,000 incorrectly paid into our account and then subsequently returned. - 2.4 The Trustees of World Heritage UK continue to seek for ways to make the Charity sustainable so that it can continue to serve its members and fulfil its charitable objectives. - 2.5 The Trustees would like to thank all their members and supporters for their contributions throughout the year. ## Expenditure - 2.6 The majority of expenditure continues to be for the small administrative team consisting of a General Manager (0.6 FTE) and Business Manager (3 days per month). - 2.7 The cost of events has been increased by the new demand to provide hybrid meetings and allow participants to join digitally. The Events Committee review each meeting to refine the ticket prices and costs to ensure the events provide a surplus to enable activity to continue in the future. - 2.8 As a remote organisation without any premises other overheads are kept to a minimum and mostly relate to digital provision and business software. ## Balance - 2.9 At the end of the financial year 2022-23 WHUK held total funds of £22,077. - 3.0 Reserves Policy The Trustees of World Heritage UK have reviewed their financial commitments and have agreed to hold a reserve sum of £16,170. This is the equivalent of approximately 5 months of core operating costs. 7 In the event of an unexpected loss of income or the trustees determining that WHUK is no longer a going concern, this sum would provide the funds to continue paying the monthly operating costs until either the CIO is wound up or alternative sources of funding are found. Sam Rose Treasurer Approved by the Trustees at its Board Meeting on 20[th] July 2023 Signed: Tony Crouch Vice-Chair of Trustees 8 ## WORLD HERITAGE UK Independent Examiners Report 9 Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of World Heritage UK I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of World Heritage UK for the year ended 31 March 2023. Responslbllltes and basis of report As the charity trustees of World Heritage UK you are responsible for the preparations of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trustee's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinations I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examinations. 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.. 111 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act,. or 121 the accounts do not accord with those record5. 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. Signed a. Andrew Chappell- FCA Chappell Associates Ltd Chartered Accountants Westfield House Bratton Road Westbury Wiltshire BA13 3EP 1510612022 World Heritage UK Income & Expenditure Account l April 2022- 31 March 2023 2023 2022 Income Subscriptions Historic England Historic Environmental Scotland Cadw Meeting support Conference income Meeting income Miscellaneous Donations Gift Aid on donations Interest receivable WH.'UK review Charitable Activities / WHUK Map Membership fee 2022-23 NLHF Resilience grant Restricted grant Iwebsitel Heritage Emergency Fund Grant Cultural Recovery Fund Grant 27,476 28,183 I,O(K) 1,000 2,500 2,297 176 703 794 500 18,889 6,394 594 298 173 135 13,013 2,142 10,000 1,670 50.605 67,337 Expenditure Staff costs Recuritment Board member and meeting expenses Volunteer appreciation Conference expenditure Meeting expenditure Insurance and accounting Marketing and publicity Office expenses Other p