Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01.04.2024 period start date to 31.03.2025 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 |
During the reporting period, activities focused primarily on governance, oversight, risk management and strategic stewardship of SEARRP’s scientific and conservation mission. The charity does not directly deliver field programmes; instead, it provides assurance, oversight and expert guidance in respect of activities delivered by its long-standing not-for- profit partner organisation in Malaysia, Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd (RRSB). |
| 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 Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. SEARRP advances public benefit through the oversight and stewardship of internationally recognised scientific research, capacity building and conservation activities in South East Asia, with a particular focus on Malaysia and Indonesia. Trustee oversight helps to ensure that these activities are conducted to the highest standards of scientific rigour, ethical practice, safeguarding and financial probity, thereby delivering wider benefits to society through improved understanding, management and protection of tropical forests. |
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 | During the year, the Board of Trustees met formally on three occasions, including one in- person meeting. Trustees provided active oversight and advice in relation to: • Financial management and review of audited accounts for the Malaysian operating company; • Governance arrangements for overseas operations, including approval in principle for revised shareholding and governance structures for RRSB; • Oversight of safeguarding, health and safety, and the implementation of independent whistleblowing and staff training systems; • Strategic development of a proposed SEARRP Training Centre in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah; • Succession planning for both senior staff and the Board of Trustees; and • Strategic engagement linked to SEARRP’s 40th anniversary, including support for an application to the Royal Society for a Science+ Discussion Meeting. |
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 | The SEARRP UK charity did not actively conduct external fundraising during the reporting period, reflecting its governance- focused role, but income accruing to the Malaysian-based operating company (RRSB) showed strong growth and post-Covid recovery. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable for the reporting period |
| Other | None for the reporting period |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity itself continues to operate on a low-cost basis and without a financial reserve. Trustees kept the financial position of the wider SEARRP programme under close review, including scrutiny of audited accounts for Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd, which were fully up to date and unqualified for the first time since the company’s establishment. The Trustees recognise the ongoing financial risks associated with operating without reserves and with a relatively narrow funding base, and continue to monitor income diversification through training and advisory activities delivered by the Malaysian partner organization (RRSB). |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Trustees continue to keep the need for a formal reserves policy under review. At the end of the reporting period, the charity held no free reserves, reflecting ongoing financial constraints and the governance- focused nature of the UK charity. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Zero |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Limited fundraising activity, together with the charity’s low-cost, governance-focused operating model and ongoing financial constraints. |
| 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 |
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. |
| 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 | The Trustees reviewed principal risks facing the charity and the wider SEARRP programme, including financial sustainability, safeguarding, reputational |
| risk, and succession planning. Mitigation measures are set out in the SEARRP Risk Register and are kept under regular review. |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | 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. |
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | 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 |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
----- Start of picture text -----
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if
whole year
any)
Professor John Pyle Chair SEARRP Board of Trustees
1
FRS CBE
2 Irene Dorner
3 Dr Rosie Trevelyan
4 Professor Jane Hill
5 Anthony Geffen
6 Geoff Lye
7 Emmet Keeffe
Boyd McCleary CMG
8
CVO
9 Datuk Darrel Webber
Dato’ Henry Barlow
10
OBE
Professor Andrew Professor Krockenberger
Krockenberger acted up to March 2025,
11
when he sadly died after
a period of illness
Registered charity number 1164082
Charity’s principal address Kings College Villa
Kings College Road
Belsize Park
London NW3 3ES
----- End of picture text -----
– 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)[Professor John Adrian Pyle FRS CBE] Position (eg Secretary, Chair, SEARRP Board of Trustees Chair, etc) Date 13th January 2026
| The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S | The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S | The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S | The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S | The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (S | 1164082 No (if any) E |
1164082 No (if any) E |
1164082 No (if any) E |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
01.04.2024 Period start date |
To | 31.03.2025 Period end date |
||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
| None for the period | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
- | - | - | - | 27,575 | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
- | - | - | ||||||
| - | 27,575 | ||||||||
| Bank charges | 25 | - | - | 25 | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 25 | - | - | 25 | 30,205 | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| 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 ** |
25 - 25 - 3,375 3,350 |
- - - - - |
- - - - - |
||||||
| 25 | 30,205 | ||||||||
| - 25 | |||||||||
| - 25 | - | - | - 25 | - 2,630 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 3,375 | - | - | 3,375 | 6,005 | |||||
| 3,350 | - | - | 3,350 | 3,375 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets CCXX R1 accounts (SS) |
None Details Cash in bank Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details None 1 |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 3,350 3,350 OK Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - Fund to which asset belongs - |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - OK Restricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ - Cost (optional) - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature Details None None Details |
Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - Professor John PyleFRS CBE Print Name |
Current value (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| - | ||
| - | ||
| When due (optional) |
||
| - | ||
| Date of approval |
||
| Professor John PyleFRS CBE | 15.01.2026 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2