Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01.04.2023 period start date to 31.03.2024 period end date
Charity name: The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) Charity registration number: 1164082
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | 1) To promote the conservation and better management of tropical ecosystems and the scientific understanding of the rainforests and other natural and modified habitats of South East Asia; and 2) To advance research, training, education and awareness in, and associated with, the rainforests and other natural and modified habitats of South East Asia |
| 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 |
Core SEARRP1activities – and that of its partner organisation in Malaysia2– continued to recover post-Covid, with SEARRP linked scientists resuming long-term monitoring programmes and individual post-doctoral, PhD and MSc projects. The number of student groups on university-led field courses returned to pre-Covid levels. Further steps were taken to strengthen the SEARRP safeguarding framework – including enhanced training around workplace harassment: • Continuation of field-science programmes by SEARRP linked scientists at Danum Valley and associated research sites in Sabah • Expansion of teams of locally employed field assistants on SEARRP’s long-term environmental monitoring programmes • Resumption of university field courses and other student training programmes to pre- pandemic levels • Continued development of plans to establish a SEARRP Training Centre – with an initial focus on biodiversity management and monitoring • Implementation of staff training programme on recognising and reporting harassment in the workplace 1 The SE Asia Rainforest Research Programme was established by the Royal Society in 1985 and was directly funded by the Society for over 30 years. The formal relationship between the Royal Society and SEARRP came to a close in 2015 and in early 2016 SEARRP was relaunched as the SE Asia Rainforest |
| Research Partnership (an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 2_The Malaysia-registered and based SE Asia_ Rainforest Research Trust and its wholly owned, not- for-profit operating company Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have acted in due regard to the Charity Commission guidance relating to public benefit |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Collaboration agreement in place between SEARRP and its Malaysian-based partner organisation (Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd - RRSB) to provide a governance structure and mechanism for internal grant awards and fund transfers. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | None for the reporting period |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | None for the reporting period |
| Other | None for the reporting period |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | • Trustees provided regular advice, with particular regard to financial management, fundraising strategies and the development of a SEARRP Training Centre (including business planning for the latter). • Trustees also advised on the continued development of safeguarding and whistleblowing approaches. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | None for the reporting period |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Fundraising (from external entities) continued to be constrained in the immediate post-Covid period. However, income from scientists3 recovered and a number of grant payments resumed as suspensions through pandemic- |
| linked no-cost extension suspension periods came to a close 3_Please note that this income is directly remitted to_ SEARRP’s allied operating company in Malaysia, Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable for the reporting period |
| Other | None for the reporting period |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Stable/improving – largely as a result of cost reductions and cash conservation measures and improved cashflow as field science and training at SEARRP returned to pre-pandemic levels |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | A policy on reserves will be developed as necessary |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Zero |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Ongoing financial constraints, largely as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Not applicable |
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 | To date, the principal sources of funding have been philanthropic, including donations from SEARRP Trustees and alumni. During the reporting period, a one-off donation was received via the Charities Aid Foundation. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | During the reporting period SEARRP did not raise investable funds. A policy on investments will be developed as necessary. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | • Overhang of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic • Other risks (and mitigation measures) deliberated in the SEARRP Risk Register, including risks associated with safeguarding, reputation and succession planning (with particular regard to the position of SEARRP Director) |
| Other | None |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| 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 | Existing trustees: by re-election New trustees: by appointment (of the Board of Trustees) |
| 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 | Founding trustees received an induction from SEARRP’s legal advisors during the first formal Board of Trustees meeting. Trustees appointed subsequently receive briefing materials |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | SEARRP does not, at present, directly employ staff in the UK. The SEARRP Director is employed in the UK through a renewable 5-year post-doctoral appointment at Swansea University. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | SEARRP works closely with a not-for-profit partner organisation (RRSB) based in Sabah, Malaysia which is responsible for the management and delivery of scientific programmes, training and capacity building. SEARRP has a formal collaboration agreement with RRSB which includes provisions for joint projects, fund transfers, grant payments etc. |
| Other | The SEARRP Board of Trustees had three formal meetings during the reporting period. The Chair of the BoT and SEARRP Director held regular monthly update meetings and additional meetings were held between the Director and individual trustees on an ad-hoc basis. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | SEARRP |
| Registered charity number | 1164082 |
| Charity’s principal address | The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ United Kingdom |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor John Pyle FRS CBE |
Chair | SEARRP Board of Trustees | ||
| Irene Dorner | ||||
| Dr Rosie Trevelyan | ||||
| Professor Jane Hill | ||||
| Anthony Geffen | ||||
| Geoff Lye | ||||
| Emmet Keeffe | ||||
| Boyd McCleary CMG CVO |
||||
| Datuk Darrel Webber | ||||
| Dato’ Henry Barlow OBE |
||||
| Professor Andrew Krockenberger |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| None |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for Not applicable 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 None
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Dr Glen Reynolds MBE, SEARRP Director and Managing Director of RRSB ( please note : Dr Reynolds is employed at Swansea University, UK via a SEARRP/RRSB-funded Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship – and is registered as a correspondent for SEARRP with the Charity Commission)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
Other optional information
None
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 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Professor John Adrian Pyle FRS CBE | ||
Chair, SEARRP Board of Trustees |
||
| 27thJanuary 2025 | ||
| 27thJanuary 2025 |
The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SENo (if any) 1164082 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01.04.2023 31.03.2024
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 389 100 2,000 50 25,000 36 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 389 100 2,000 50 25,000 36 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
| Individual donation | 389 | - | - | 389 | - | ||||
| Individual donation | 100 | - | - | 100 | - | ||||
| Corporate donation | 2,000 | - | - | 2,000 | - | ||||
| Individual donation | 50 | - | - | 50 | - | ||||
| Individual docation | 25,000 | - | - | 25,000 | - | ||||
| Individual docation | 36 | - | - | 36 | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
27,575 | - | - | 27,575 | 2,000 | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
27,575 30,000 180 |
- - - - |
- - - - |
||||||
| 27,575 | 2,000 | ||||||||
| 30,000 - 180 |
|||||||||
| Donation to SEARRP's partner organisation in Sabah (Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd) to support core research operations |
30,000 | - | - | 30,000 | - | ||||
| Bank charges | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Just Giving subscription (10 x £18) | 180 | - | - | 180 | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 30,180 | - | - | 30,180 | 30,641 | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end **Cash funds this year end ** |
30,180 - 2,605 - 6,005 3,400 |
- - - - - |
- - - - - |
||||||
| 30,180 | 30,641 | ||||||||
| - 2,605 | |||||||||
| - 2,605 | - | - | - 2,605 | - 28,641 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 6,005 | - | - | 6,005 | - | |||||
| 3,400 | - | - | 3,400 | - 28,641 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds |
Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Cash in bank Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 3,400 3,400 OK Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - OK Restricted funds |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1
| B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details None Details None Details Signature Details None None |
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) - - Print Name Professor John PyleFRS CBE |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Professor John PyleFRS CBE | 16.01.2025 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru5teesl members ol The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership ISEARRPI On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charity no lif any) 1164082 Set out on pa9es 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust'l for the year ended 31, March 2024. Responsibilities and As the charrty Iruslees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act"> I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Chanly Commission under section 1451511bl ol Ihe Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attenlicn lolher than that discloserj below ') In connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe thai irn. any material respect accounting records were not kepl In a¢¢ordan¢e with section 130 of the Aci or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statemont I have no concems and have corne across no other matters In connection wilh the wamination trj which attention should be drawn In order lo enable proper understanding of the accounts to be Pleaso de te the words In Ihc brackèt they do not apply, slgned: Dale- 16.01.2026 Name: Mr Philip Fu Relevant professional qualif icationlsl or body lif any): Certified Company Secretary Fui Leong @ Philip Compnnk SecrEiary' SSM PC £0=. Address: 4 Floor. Lol 12. Block A Wansan Square 88000 Kota Kinabalu Sabah. Malaysia IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Qnly complete If the examiner neeos lo highligi: Tatters of concern (see CC32 Independent examination ol charity accounts. directions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishe5 to disclose. IER October 2018