## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 06 April 2022 to 05 April 2023** Sidmouth Science Festival, also known as SSF Registered Charity No. 1168115 Bickwell Gardens, Stadway Meadow, Sidmouth EX10 8TB ## Trustees David Bramley - Chairman Rita Hedley - Treasurer Pamela Burtt - Secretary Peter Daniel Robert Miles Christopher Lockyear Michael Pincock Alan Clarke ## Structure, Governance and Management Sidmouth Science Festival is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a Constitution (adopted 28 June 2016) whose only voting members are its charity trustees ("Foundation" model). They are supported by an overarching committee that is responsible for organising the main festival and complementary events throughout the year and this, in turn, is supported by 3 sub groups that focus in detail on the festival programme, funding and communications. The committee and its sub groups are made up of volunteers. Trustees are appointed or reappointed as set out in the Constitution at the Annual General Meeting. This year Pamela Burtt had completed an initial 6 year term as trustee. She offered herself for re-election which was approved unanimously. Also in this year, we have been pleased to welcome Alan Clarke as a new member to the Board of Trustees. Whilst the SSF has no formal relationship with other organisations it works in close collaboration with the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Exeter University, Sid Vale Association, Jurassic Coast Trust, the Met Office, Local Councils, Devonshire Association, Art Society of Sidmouth, Institute of Physics, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, East Devon Schools and many other local and national scientific organisations. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. ## Objectives and Activities The advancement of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines in particular, but not exclusively, among people who would not normally engage in STEM subjects by the provision of a science festival and other STEM focused events. With an underlying theme of “Exciting Curiosity for Science in our Lives” we aim to promote a better understanding of how science permeates what we do and the environment that surrounds us by integrating art, music, comedy and drama with STEM based events. In planning our activities we kept in mind the Charity Commission's Guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings and the supporting committee meetings. Page of 1 6 The main focus of the year was the planning, organisation and delivery of the eleventh Sidmouth Science Festival which returned to its full capacity and was held from 7th to16th October 2022. Plans were made for a full programme of activities consisting of events for all age groups and all parts of the community, including activities for schools. Opportunities to participate in other local events such as Sidmouth Sea Fest and talks organised by Sidmouth Biodiversity Group opened up post Covid restrictions and we continued to run our successful monthly Cafe Scientifique using the ZOOM network and cautiously transitioning to live audience events. This is a community project organised and delivered by volunteers from all walks of life. The festival demands some 1.5 man-years of voluntary effort. The organisers would like to thank all of the sponsors, volunteers, friends and attendees who make the festival possible by giving their time and skills freely. This year some 34 local and national groups took part in the events. ## Achievements and Performance The 2022 Sidmouth Science Festival, the eleventh, attracted a record number of 6250 attendances across our 80 events with most people coming from the East Devon area but some from much further afield. This number does not include those who have watched the talks on YouTube after the Festival. We asked for “three words” to describe their experience. Here are some of them …. Inspiring, fun, appreciated Innovative, inclusive, varied Informative, interesting, educational Our review analysis also revealed 707 Facebook followers and Facebook posts reached over 41000 people. The Festival was opened with a presentation on the “Highs and Lows of editing Nature”, given by Sir Philip Campbell the former Editor in Chief of the influential journal Nature. Once again Super Science Saturday ran on the first Saturday of the Festival and benefitted from good weather: this was appreciated by the large robot, Optimus Prime and its smaller friend, Atlas, which walked around town sponsored by Jurassic Fibre. Hands-on activities were well attended and further enhanced by the Make and Take marquee on the lawn at Kennaway House along with a wonderful display of owls. The day provides an opportunity for the public to engage with a whole range of schools, institutions, university outreach and other public bodies in a wide variety of STEM related activities. Contributors included the Met Office, University of Exeter, Exeter Science Centre, Exeter Maths School, Jurassic Coast Trust, Institute of Physics, Institute of Civil Engineers, Royal Society of Chemistry and Colyton Grammar School. The Geology Hub continues to be very popular with talks as well as hands on activities. In addition the Methodist Church Hall was a hub for making things to take home with Technology for Fun and Cheltenham Science Group. The World Record for the longest Tin Can Telephone was also broken. The message was sent over 374 m, beating the previous record (Japan 2019) by well over 100 m. This was subsequently entered into the Guinness Book of Records and the award of a Certificate. There was a very successful Science in the Pub event which took place at the Blue Ball in Sidford with fascinating talks from King’s College, London and the University of Exeter. The talks this year were again of a high calibre: Dr Emma Ryan gave the Ada Lovelace Day talk on Reaction Engines, Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times spoke of a Post Pandemic World, Dr Becky Smethurst went through the history of black holes. An excellent talk by Harry Barton from Page of 2 6 the Devon Wildlife Trust spoke about Bringing back nature to Devon. Other talks covered energy use, measurement, anemones, frogs, coastal erosion and wastewater treatment. On Saturday 15th October Colin Walls ran a very successful robot workshop whilst in All Saints’ Church there was an Environment Day when Sophie Pavelle talked about her book Forget Me Not and Tom Heap spoke about 39 Ways to save the planet Visits this year were to the Energy from Waste plant at Exeter, walks were fungi recognition and a contemplative Sound Walk with musician Emma Welton. The Fun Day at the Norman Lockyer Observatory (NLO) which was cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions returned with bigger audiences. There was plenty to do with Space Detectives, Sciencedipity and Science Boffins as well as the ever popular jet car races, as well as access to the Historic Domes, Planetarium and Storytelling. The Festival has a very strong Schools’ programme too with over 600 primary school pupils benefitting from the workshops. EDDC countryside rangers led workshops in kick sampling and bug hunts in the Byes in Sidmouth and on the River Otter in Newton Poppleford with Sidmouth CE, St John’s International and Newton Poppleford Primary Schools. Year 5/6 from St John’s International School and Sidmouth Primary took part in a tree search provided by Sidmouth Arboretum and Year 5/6 from St John’s International School also did stream flow measurement in the Sid Classes at Sidmouth Primary and St John’s School also benefitted from a Brain Waves workshop run by Kings’ College London which involved building neurons and brainwaves races on The Ham. This year’s Schools’ Art was on the theme of Robots and 1475 hexagons from 11 schools were exhibited at Kennaway House. The Primary schools contributing were: Awliscombe, Feniton, Newton Poppleford, Offwell, Payhembury, Sidbury, Sidmouth, St. John’s, Tipton St John, West Hill and Whimple. Sidmouth College benefitted from a visit from Engineer Hannah Nobbs, Dorset and Somerset Air ambulance and Years 7 and 8 had a Science Magic Show with Ian Dunne who also gave a performance at the Youth Club. Based on the level of interest shown by the public throughout the year to the number of opportunities for learning and participation in scientific activities not usually open to them we believe SSF has given public benefit and is an asset to Sidmouth and East Devon. ## Financial Review The SSF has not held reserve funds to date. Monies are raised within each year to finance each festival and are spent on running costs. We do not have property, or assets or salaried staff to support on an ongoing basis. Any surplus money raised in any given year is used as a float to support the running costs of the following year’s festival. There are no funds in deficit. Our annual Accounts are shown as an Appendix to this Report. ## Future Plans We aim to sustain an annual Sidmouth Science Festival and related activities, keeping its tried and tested format whilst incorporating innovation and current scientific research. Where possible we will reach out to new audiences in the Sid Valley and East Devon. Page of 3 6 Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees: Signature: Full Name: Pamela Evelyn Burtt Position: Secretary Date: 04/01/2024 Page of 4 6 CHARITY COMMISSION - FOR ENG￿ND AND WAI FS Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For thg period froffl Section A Receipts and payments u11￿StrI