– ’ BIRDS ON THE BRINK Trustees Report for year ending 28 February 2026
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 and Vice President of the BTO.
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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Hawk Conservancy Lappet-faced Vulture grant - £2,000
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Rufus Dawson Lesser Spotted Woodpecker grant - £249.96
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Newton Valence Kestrels - £500
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Daniel Parker Mycelium nestbox project - £636.00
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Wild Horizons Willow Tit - £1,000
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Hampshire Ornithological Society House Martins - £1,000
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African Bird Club grant - £5,000
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Hawk Conservancy Egyptian Vultures - £2,153.80
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 - £6,157.84
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Donations via Paypal – £674.05
Balance and Accounts:
The balance for the Birds on the Brink Metro Bank account on 28 February 2026 was £8,331.21
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 has agreed to produce a series of articles for a major UK Bird Watching magazine (for which a donation will be made to BOTB) and the team Nigel and Kayleigh Cheetham (Backyard Aviary) are raising money for BOTB in 2026 (BOTB is their chosen charity this year).
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, 3 March 2026 Trustees acting on behalf of Birds on the Brink.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANO ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 2810212026 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted lunds toth• nmmt Restricted funds Endowrnent funds Total funds La¥tyear tothw nq•rHt£ tolh noar•BtE toth•nMmBt£ A1 Re¢8Spts 6.752 0.782 Sub tt+tollGw in¢ome for ARI 1.762 8.782 A2 Asset and Invostment 8310$, {5ee tablel. Sub tot81 6.782 0.782 5.800 A3Pa er 12.510 178 12.510 176 Expen3e5 14J Sub total J,743 A4 As and Inv18tsn•t)t purchases, (see table) Sub total 3,743 Nètof r¢eèlpt(payM0rttsJ A5 Transfers beeen funds A6 C¥8h funds last yoar 8nd Cash ru*S thls yearend 5,935 5.935 2.097 14.2fj6 8,331 14.2fj6 8,331 12.209 14.266
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Ut)r88trfcted fund$ R8strl¢tsd funds Endowment funds to B1 Cash funds trD BankcUNPAUunt Total cash lunds 9,331 (Nwbpr¢4s1h re¢wu8¥ pgymen1s xwllsll Llnrestrfcted funds Restricted fund5 Endt7wment funds to nèarèatt B2 Other monetsry assets Fundtowhlth •SS•t b•lon Coltloptkn CurrnMvalu• lonal B3 Investment ass6ts Fundtowhlth ass•t b•lon CurrnThtvalu• lonal B4 As$¢ts rtslned for tho ¢horlty'$ own u$¢ Fundtowhlch r•1• Amountd Wh•n d 85 Llabllltlos Sv3ned byor or trUstets behawol alllhe trustees Dale of roval Svjnature Print Name MR PAUL STERRY 0110312026