– ’ BIRDS ON THE BRINK Trustees Report for year ending 28 February 2025
Status: Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Charity number 1188009
Trustees: Dr Paul Sterry, Andrew Cleave MBE and Will Nicholls.
Background: Between them, the trustees have a lifetime of experience in the fields of conservation, ornithology, environmental publishing, wildlife photography and film making
Paul Sterry is a wildlife photographer and author of more than 50 natural history book.
Andrew Cleave has published numerous natural history books and was awarded his MBE for services to environmental education.
Will Nicholls is a wildlife cameraman and director of the competition Bird Photographer of the Year.
Advisory Panel: Keith Betton; David Lindo; Dr Mark Bolton; Mark Carwardine; Paul Stancliffe; Myles Archibald.
Background: the advisory panel comprises individuals who are pre-eminent in the fields of conservation, avian research and environmental publishing:
Keith Betton is currently the Chairman of the management committee of Hampshire Ornithological Society.
David Lindo is known throughout the world as ‘The Urban Birder’. David is a broadcaster, writer, naturalist, photographer, public speaker, and tour leader.
Dr Mark Bolton has worked for the RSPB Conservation Science Department for nearly 20 years. His research is focussed principally on seabird conservation. He was involved in the discovery of a species new to science - Monteiro’s Storm-petrel. He has been a director of Fair Isle Bird Observatory since 2010.
Mark Carwardine is a broadcaster, author, photographer and expedition leader.
Paul Stancliffe previously worked for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and has now retired. He writes regular articles on birds for a variety of magazines, and has co-written two bird identification guides with the BTO and HarperCollins.
Myles Archibald is Publishing Director at HarperCollins, including the New Naturalist series.
Objectves of Charity:
The object of Birds on the Brink, as defined on the Charity Commission website, is: TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS AND WILD BIRD POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT RISK OF DECLINE OR EXTINCTION, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BY THE PROVISION OF GRANTS TO ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES WORKING TO CONSERVE WILD BIRDS AND THEIR NATURAL HABITATS.
In practical terms, BIRDS ON THE BRINK awards grants to projects that support bird conservation. Favoured projects include under-funded existing projects and promising start-ups. Awards are typically between £250 and £1,000 and are given primarily to small groups or individuals carrying out grassroots conservation work.
Applications for grants of £250 or less are considered at the time of submission. Grant applications exceeding £250 are usually considered quarterly, their merits measured alongside other pending applications. In addition, applications for funding or joint-funding are considered from larger organisations where vital and immediate backing is required.
Applications for funding are reviewed by the Trustees and the Advisory Panel. Approval is granted by the Trustees after consideration of advice given by BOTB Advisors. We consider applications for all species, anywhere in the world, but priority is given to species whose conservation status merits concern either globally, or nationally in relative terms. In that regard, BOTB is informed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) global data, and in the UK by the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC4) information.
Review of Charitable Actvites undertaken:
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Newton Valence starling - £400
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Kent County Council Barn Owls - £500
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Barn Owl Trust - £1,000
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Quarndon Swifts - £500
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Martin Lammertink - £950
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Biscan Swifts - £250
Banking:
Birds on the Brink operates an account with Metro Bank and has a PayPal account.
Income:
Income was derived as follows:
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Bird Photographer of the Year Ltd - £5,000
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Individual donations direct – £50
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Princeton University Press - £750
Balance and Accounts:
The balance for the Birds on the Brink Metro Bank account on 28 February 2025 was £14,190.55
Financial Accounts have been prepared on behalf of Birds on the Brink by Mrs D J H Aubin.
Plans for the coming year:
The primary source of income for Birds on the Brink is Bird Photographer of the Year Ltd, and Birds on the Brink is the charitable benefactor of the competition.
Fundraising plans: BOTB is now working with Bird Photographer of the Year to produce articles and social media posts that help promote the work of the charity and raise its profile.
Foreseeable Risks:
When awarding or rejecting grant applications, the Birds on the Brink team will need to take into consideration whether or not the planned project is likely to be achievable in the current global economic climate.
Dr Paul Sterry, Andrew Cleave MBE and Will Nicholls, 17 March 2025 Trustees acting on behalf of Birds on the Brink.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALÉS Recei Is and ments accounls CC16a For the period from To 011031224 2W0212025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestri¢ted funds tothe nBarel Restricted tunds Endowrnent funds Total funds Last year tpth8 nur•st £ to thB n8ar8st£ trlh& n8Br8st ¥ tpth• nBir•¥t t Al Recei ts 052 tota ross income ARJ 052 sset an (see tablel. nvestment sa 8s, tofal Total recelpts 6,052 A3Pa ant8 1U.985 Expenses 143 143 Sub total 4743 3,743 11,104 A4 Asset and Inva8tment urchase$ $e* table Sub total rot8lpaym•nts 4743 3.743 Net olreGelptsl{payments) A5 Transfers tween fuTrds A6 Cash funds last year end C8sh lund$ this yr ènd 5.05 14 142 12,2 CCXX Rl a¢(¥JJnts ISSI OW0412025
Section B Slalement of assels and liabililies at the end of the period Unre5tri¢ied funds to noarnst £ Restrlcted funds to neBr¢si É EndOwnI funds ioneare•t £ Categoil88 D8tall8 B1 Cash funds etro Bat&OJrreniAccount 14,202 Paypal accoum Total cash funds 14,266 rlp1sandpaW5 Unrestricled funds to nèarnjt £ Restrfcted fund$ to neoresi £ Endowrnent fund$ io neareat £ Details Fund 10 whleh as9 belon ost l+Wbr•ll eurrtnt valuè tlonal Details 83 Inv8Stment assgts Fund io whleh lon Details etsst l+)PtloMII Current value Ilonal B4 Assets retalnad for th charity'¥ own u$e Fund 10 whl¢h Amountd WhÈn duè Details 85 Llobilltles SJn by8 or trLL8tees on beWI ol 1 the Iwslees Signature Print Name Dale 01 roval P.R. St¢rry MR PAUL STERBY 0310412025 CCXX A2%counts ISSI OWO42ffd5