Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1 January 2021 to 31[st] December 2021
Charity name: OneZoom
Charity registration number: 1163559
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance the education of the public in subjects of evolution, biodiversity and conservation of the variety of life on earth |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Our main activity is building and maintaining a scientifically accurate, educational, and visually appealing record of the tree of life that is easily accessible to the public online. We also collaborate with other organisations to support outreach exhibitions and events that benefit from use of our tree of life explorer. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have had due regard to the guidance issued by the CIO Commission on public benefit |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Grant making is not part of our core activities and consequently we do not have a formal policy on grants and deal with potential grant making opportunities on a case-by-case basis. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | This does not form part of our activities. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The trustees themselves did the majority of volunteer work done for OneZoom. This is because the trustees have the relevant knowledge and experience in biology computing, education and science outreach. We do not log the total hours contributed by volunteers but have estimated that the total comfortably |
exceeds 500 hours during the reporting period. Other
Achievements and Performance
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SORP
referenc
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| Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SORP referenc e |
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| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstance s of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 |
During the reporting period we made substantial improvements to our science outreach website and released ‘chocolate chip starfish’: version 3.5 of our software. Enhancements included improved colour schemes for showing extinction risk of species, popularity of species, uncertainty about evolutionary connections and a colour-blind friendly mode. We also improved the content, usage instructions and interpretation pages throughout our site. We released a docker image for the first time – this makes it much easier for other organisations to download and use our software on their own machines without the need for a stable internet connection. Key people from OneZoom have, during this reporting period, published a peer reviewed scientific paper on the advances that have been involved in getting the project to its present stage. This marks the completion of an endeavour that was first mentioned in our 2020 annual report. The paper can be seen here https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/2041 -210X.13766 We continued to receive financial support from the public via our leaf sponsorship funding model during the reporting period. Our publication and associated press release had an unexpectedly large effect on financial support, we received £13,570 in support over the 19 days between the date of publication (13th December 2021) and the year end. By comparison £2,344 was raised in total over the rest of the year. Whilst early supporters should in theory be asked to renew their sponsorship during this reporting period we continued to defer requesting this. Firstly because we didn’t want to request further funding from the public during the aftermath of the COVID pandemic crisis. Secondly, the work required from us to develop a good user experience for renewing sponsorships would be substantive and it was not practical for the trustee volunteers to undertake this in addition to their other commitments during this reporting period. We did however approach our largest donor, Richard Dawkins, about renewal and he made an additional donation in advance of the system being ready for general use. We have noted web traffic from about 285,000 users (of which 93,000 were during the period prior to 14thOctober when we updated our tracking system). Based on the new tracking system data, approximately 5% of users were based in the UK, 35% in the US and the remainder spread across 220 other countries. |
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Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Two key objectives were set for the CIO
since its foundation, first to achieve
Achievements against Para 1.41 sustainability through the leaf sponsorship
objectives set scheme, and second to enhance our
software enabling it to display the complete
tree of life for educational purposes. These
objectives were met in the 2017 reporting
period. Objectives since then have been to
maintain what we have already set up and
to increase the impact by encouraging
broader use. During the present reporting
period we have continued to maintain our
resource and shown that our sustainability
model of leaf sponsorship operates very
successfully when enough users can be
attracted to the site.
We have not set formal objectives for
fundraising because the leaf sponsorship
Performance of fundraising model comfortably pays for running costs
activities against objectives Para 1.41 payable to third parties. Funding is,
set however, required to implement new
features. During the reporting period we
took the first steps towards writing a grant
application to add a major feature to our
work – the option for users to see tours
around the tree of life. We hope this will
improve engagement by providing users
with an easy path to being guided through
the most interesting parts of evolutionary
history whilst requiring fewer user
interactions along the way.
We have no investments because the
funds that would be available for this are
Investment performance Para 1.41 negligible in size. For the funds available
against objectives during this reporting period, it seemed more
important to spend them on our charitable
purpose and not take on additional risks.
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| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Two key objectives were set for the CIO since its foundation, first to achieve sustainability through the leaf sponsorship scheme, and second to enhance our software enabling it to display the complete tree of life for educational purposes. These objectives were met in the 2017 reporting period. Objectives since then have been to maintain what we have already set up and to increase the impact by encouraging broader use. During the present reporting period we have continued to maintain our resource and shown that our sustainability model of leaf sponsorship operates very successfully when enough users can be attracted to the site. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We have not set formal objectives for fundraising because the leaf sponsorship model comfortably pays for running costs payable to third parties. Funding is, however, required to implement new features. During the reporting period we took the first steps towards writing a grant application to add a major feature to our work – the option for users to see tours around the tree of life. We hope this will improve engagement by providing users with an easy path to being guided through the most interesting parts of evolutionary history whilst requiring fewer user interactions along the way. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | We have no investments because the funds that would be available for this are negligible in size. For the funds available during this reporting period, it seemed more important to spend them on our charitable purpose and not take on additional risks. |
| Other | This has been an excellent year for the CIO thanks in large part to the attention gained through our publication and associated press release. Targets for the coming two years will be to successfully implement both leaf sponsor renewals and the tours feature. |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The CIO had unrestricted funds of £19,464 at 31 December 2021, represented by bank balances. £13,570 of this was gained unexpectedly near the end of the reporting period due to a surge in public support. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are required to meet future obligations and to support the growth of the CIO’s activities. This calendar year we have kept reserves to keep the CIO operational through a 12 month period. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £19,464 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The CIO is dependent on obtaining third party support to develop and improve its products for public benefit. Thanks to the current efforts of volunteers the CIO can continue its core operations with a relatively small amount of ongoing funding. Total annual running costs remain under £1000 so we have held reserves to run for a further 12 months. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | All of the CIO’s revenue up to and including this reporting period has come from donations from individuals through the ‘sponsor a leaf’ campaign, which enables donors to be acknowledged on a unique leaf of our tree of life display as recognition for their donation. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The CIO does not invest funds as the amounts available are small to justify the necessary research into ethical investments that would be compatible with our charitable aims. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The potential risks to the CIO are loss of volunteer time, and loss of funds. Volunteer time is the more valuable at present, particularly that from software developers who perform skilled work that would be very expensive to replace with contractors or paid professionals. A secondary risk is running out of funds, however the CIO only requires minimal funding to pay for its essential operation of hosting the website, ongoing improvements and maintenance are less essential though still important. In the short term we accept both risks. We do not provide a critical service upon which |
users are heavily dependent for their wellbeing: if either risk were to materialise, the worst case would be the loss of a free online resource. We have mitigated against both risks by releasing our software under a public license, which includes a failsafe. The failsafe specifies that if the CIO ceases to trade, our software becomes open source, meaning that other individuals or organisations would be able to use it for free to continue our work, should there be a sufficient demand. In the current reporting period we released a Docker image of our resource making it even easier for a third party to replicate everything we have created should we cease to operate. Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document | Para 1.25 | Foundation Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | CIO - Foundation Registered 14 Sep 2015 |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Apart from the founding trustees, every subsequent trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Board. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | We have not yet inducted new trustees since charity formation. One of the founding trustees and current chair has attended an extensive trustee leadership programme and an emerging chairs program run by Cause4. Another founding trustee has experience from being a trustee of another unrelated UK charity. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | No relevant related-party relationships to report for this period |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | OneZoom |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1163559 |
Charity’s principal address OneZoom Office 7 35-37 Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7JN
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Dr Yan Wong
2 Dr James Rosindell
3 Dr Luke Harmon
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
|
|---|---|
| Dr James Rosindell | |
Chair |
|
| 25-Oct-2022 | |
| 25-Oct-2022 |
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OneZoom 1163559
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01-Jan-21 31-Dec-21
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Sponsorship 26,334 - - 26,334 1,838
Interest 3 - - 3 -
Paypal giving fund - - - - 31
Gift aid reclaim on all previous eligible
donations - - - - 2,808
Other donations - - - - 76
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 26,337 ] - - 26,337 4,752
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 26,337 - - 26,337 4,752
A3 Payments
Bank charges 4 - - 4 4
Domain name costs (paid by trustee and
reclaimed) 401 - - 401 -
payment to collaborating organisation 15 - - 15 -
Software development 10,200 - - 10,200 1,200
Insurance 303 - - 303 287
paypal charges 573 - - 573 694
graphic design - - - - -
3 years virtual address (paid by trustee
and reclaimed) 540 - - 540 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 12,036 ] - - 12,036 2,185
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 12,036 - - 12,036 2,185
Net of receipts/(payments) 14,301 - - 14,301 2,567
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 5,163 - - 5,163 2,596
Cash funds this year end 19,464 - - 19,464 5,163
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
28/10/2022
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Small amount of trustee expenses incurred and not yet reclaimed Website server costs not yet invoiced for the reporting period Details Details PayPal Tridos Account Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,011 - 18,453 - - - 19,464 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) unrestricted - unrestricted - - - - Print Name Dr J Rosindell |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) - - Date of approval 25/10/2022 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
28/10/2022
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name OneZoom members of On accounts for the year 31 December 2021 Charity no 1163559 ended (if any) Set out on pages As attached
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, 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 Trust’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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements 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.
Date: 28 October 2022
Signed: Name: Bianca Slva Relevant professional ACA qualification(s) or body: Address: Building 4, Foundation Park Roxborough Way, Maidenhead, SL6 3UD
1
Oct 2018
IER