Trustees’ Annual Report (MAR-DEC 2023 )
Charity name: Conservation Optimism
Registration number: 1198033
Address:
The Garden Cottage, Park Corner, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, RG96DR
Trustees:
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Dame Professor Eleanor Jane Milner-Gulland, MA PhD (Chair)
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Dr Caleb Ofori-Boateng (Trustee)
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Dr Michael Burgass (Trustee)
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Savita Willmott (Trustee)
Activities and objectives:
Conservation Optimism shares positive stories about conservation to inspire hope, highlight effective action, and support people to act for nature. Its charitable objectives are to enhance the awareness of the public of the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, primarily through increasing individual and collective knowledge and understanding of the environmental challenges the planet is currently facing through outreach, highlighting the ways that everyone can make a difference, and supporting conservationists and the public to feel hope and empowerment to conserve the physical and natural environment.
Conservation Optimism’s main activities include the production and distribution of educational resources and training programmes relating to conservation and positive communication, online outreach about progress in conservation conducted via social media, blogs and podcasts, and the organisation of in-person events for conservationists and the general public including film festivals and summits. You can find more information about our activities at www.conservationoptimism.org
Structure and management:
Conservation Optimism began in 2016 as an outreach programme founded by Dame Professor EJ Milner-Gulland at the University of Oxford. The first Conservation Optimism summit took place in 2017 and, following a groundswell of support on social media and in the conservation community, another summit took place in 2019. Conservation Optimism became a Registered Charity in England (1198033) in 2022.
Conservation Optimism has four Trustees, as well as a strategic advisory group. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Day-to-day activities are undertaken by the Director and a part-time project assistant based at the University of Oxford, who coordinate and collaborate with over 20 volunteers worldwide. While the charity’s main activities are based in the UK, three Conservation Optimism “hubs” have been established by volunteers in Ghana, India and Pakistan to carry out conservation-related outreach activities in those countries.
Conservation Optimism is currently still largely supported by the University of Oxford. This support includes hosting the contracts for a director and part-time project assistant.
Activities, achievements and performance:
For more information about Conservation Optimism’s activity, achievements and performance in 2023 and previous years, you can consult our annual reports on our - website at the following link: https://conservationoptimism.org/annual reports/
Accounts for 1/3/2023 to 31/12/2023 approved by Trustees
| Particulars | Debit (£) | Credit (£) | Balance (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | 10,048.42 | ||
| Interest on account | 4.96 | ||
| Account charges | 40 | ||
| Closing balance | 10,013.38 |
Approved on behalf of the Board of Trustees by Mike Burgass - Treasurer