2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2024 To 31/12/2024

Charity name: Conservation Optimism

Charity registration number: 1198033

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	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.
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	 Sharing stories of conservation success from around the world  Sharing interviews with inspiring conservationists  Raising the voices of key groups, particularly young people  Being the nucleus for a community of optimistic conservation organisations called ConservationNOW  Catalysing lesson learning through knowledge-sharing webinars  Supporting a community of optimistic people around the world  Sharing locally relevant content through Regional Hubs  Delivering direct impact by providing resources and training in positive and strategic communications for conservation  Holding key events such as an annual Film Festival and three global multi-day Summits, most recently in 2024

1

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 regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Conservation Optimism’s global team is comprised almost entirely of volunteers based around the world, many early-career conservationists, who contribute their time, commitment and great talent to this vital conservation mission.

Achievements and Performance

----- Start of picture text -----
SORP reference
Summary of the main Main achievements in 2024:
achievements of the charity,  Appointed a new Director – Jon Taylor
identifying the difference the  Held a ‘Good Natured Film Festival’,
charity’s work has made to Para 1.20 initially in Oxford in July, and
the circumstances of its subsequently virtually at many other
beneficiaries and any wider venues and events
benefits to society as a  Held a three-day Summit in September,
whole. attended by over 300 people in Oxford
and online around the world, to
‘empower, enable and embrace’
conservationists worldwide. Much
positive feedback.
 Shared stories of hope and inspiration
through social media and blogs with
~30,000 followers globally
 Delivered five skill-sharing webinars
through the ConservationNOW network,
attended in person or viewed
subsequently on our YouTube channel
by hundreds of people
 Delivered regionally relevant content via
regional hubs in South Asia and West
Africa
 Attended key conferences and events in
UK and Europe, raising awareness of
Conservation Optimism and delivering
training in strategic communications for
conservation
Performance of fundraising Developed a fundraising strategy and
activities against objectives materials in 2024 that will be used as part of
set a full fundraising campaign in 2025
Para 1.41
----- End of picture text -----

2

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Conservation Optimism ended the year in a healthy position with a carried forward cash balance of £3,830.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	N/a
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£3,830
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/a
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The charity’s principal source of funding is in-kind support from University of Oxford. It is intended to diversify this funding base in 2025.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		N/a
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Charitable Foundation 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	(1) 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. (2) 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.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Conservation Optimism
Other name the charity uses	N/a
Registered charity number	1198033
Charity’s principal address	The Garden Cottage Park Corner Nettlebed Henley-On-Thames RG9 6DR

3

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Name of person (or
Dates acted if not for whole body) entitled to
Trustee name Office (if any)
year appoint trustee (if
any)
Professor Dame E.J.
Chair
Milner-Gulland
Dr Caleb Ofori-
Boateng
Savita Wilmott
Dr Michael Burgass Treasurer
----- End of picture text -----

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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland
	Chair
	7th July 2025
	7th July 2025

4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CONSERVATION OFTfiMISM I report lo tmfr charlty's trusts88 on my examina￿ ol accounts ot Conseryatlon Optimi￿r Yor Ine penod ended 31 DeArber 2024 Re8pectlv• rospOMiblllti￿ of tru￿95 •nd examlney Ttte rharty's trustees conslder Ihal an 8udrt is not requifed for thiy year lunder seclon 43121 LTrf the Cbarrties ALI 1993 Ilhe Actl BS arnendea by s la5 of ttie Chaixies Act 20111 that an Independanl examination Is nèe(fod. awng s8tLsfied my6eii fftal the charily r6 rs01 subiecl to audrt und8r ttte ccrnpany law 4nd 5$ eligiblo l¢r iniSopendert éxamina￿On. It Is my respcmsiblllly kn.. EKamine the acLounlS lun4er seclkon 145 01 ihe 2011 Aeti, To foll¢3w the pmcedures laid down In the Gefte￿ Dlr&clkms 9lv•n by Ihe ChgTIIy CommissiDn (unoer secuon 1451511bl Acll and To slatg wh8lher partK¢Jlar manern hav• come ID my attention. Df Indèp•nd•nt •x•mlner'• rnport My examinatron WBS taffled tyJt m Xcofdance wlth Generai Diocts"ow giv•n Dy the Chaniy Comm1$3ton An examination InclL41e8 a reviev4 of Ihe %COunling records kepi by the cha￿tY and a ¢omparw ol rhe acGounis pr2Eenl•d with Ih05e reco￿$. 11 also Include5 Conside￿ti￿n ol any Imu5u31 itsrrTS or disclosures In Iha accaunts. and seeking Explan8lw8 fiom yots a5 Iriiglees concerning any Siich matters. The procèdures un(fertaken ¢Jo not provrde ¥1 the evidence Ihal would rpquirpd by 8udil and consoquenlly no opinion IF given as tc whtlher the aecounls ?￿nI a 'lrut d Iaii viow" and ltte report 16 Iirnited io those rnatte￿ sel pul In Ilie stalernenl below Indepondenl ex•mln8fo Atst•mint In Ihe Coufse ol my examinalKJn, no mthr corn• tc my attention 111 which giv8$ m• reosonabla caus• to belleve Ihol In any mAlero1 respecr. Iho a¢Muniing rwd5 wero not kept In accordanc• with se¢llon 130 01 Ihe Chadttes A¢t. ar the acccunts not a¢e&rd with tho acojuniing record5. or Ihe accounts dld not comply with the appltab5e rEqLITarnenls concéming me form 8Tr onlenl ot Becounls set oul Iha Charli￿5 IAc£oun$ and Reports) Regulalion5 2008 other. Inan any requ1￿ment Ihal Ihe &counls give a Iriie and larf vtew whLEh is nol a matt¢r CODglflered a5 part ol an Indeppnd?nl eyaminali¢n 12). lo which In ry oprn￿n, iÈntiDn should be ¢rawn In onl8r lo Ènab]e a proper undarstsnding of the 8ccounis lo Oe rtrKhed Steven B6p1￿le L￿defj Pttount3n15, Scrap5tr8 House 21 SeviEr Stmt, St Werburgh>. Bti5t¢l, 8S2 9LB Date 2 June 202S

CONSERVATION OPTIMISM

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024 2023
RECEIPTS £ £ £ £
(Restated)
Donations - - - -
Donations: In-Kind 114,484 - 114,484 -
Other Income - - - 5
TOTAL RECEIPTS 114,484 - 114,484 5
PAYMENTS
Direct Costs
Bank charges 60 - 60 40
Business entertaining 852 - 852 -
Computer software and licences 3,607 - 3,607 -
Staff costs 95,149 - 95,149 5,179
Travel 12,244 - 12,244 -
Volunteer expenses 3,577 - 3,577 -
- - -
TOTAL PAYMENTS 115,488 - 115,488 5,219
-
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) (1,004) (1,004) (5,214)
Transfer between funds - - - -
Cash funds 1st January 2024 (Restated) 4,834 - 4,834 10,048
Cash funds 31st December 2024 3,830 - 3,830 4,834
----- End of picture text -----

The in-kind donation detailed above is provided by the University of Oxford to offset the salaries of the charity Director, J Taylor, and Project Administrator, as well as other direct and administrative costs, which were paid for in full by the University of Oxford on behalf of Conservation Optimism and are not due to be reimbursed. This was agreed between the University of Oxford and Chair of Trustees, E.J. Milner-Gulland.

• 6 -

CONSERVATION OPTIMISM

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
(Restated)
Cash funds
Bank and cash balances 3,830 - 3,830 4,834
Current assets
Debtors - - - -
- - - -
Current liabilities - - - -
Accruals - - - -
ANALYSIS OF CASH FUNDS
For the year end 31 December 2024
Balance Balance
1 January 31 December
2024 Receipts Payments Transfers 2024
Unrestricted Funds
General fund 4,834 - (1,004) - 3,830
4,834 - (1,004) - 3,830
For the year end 31 December 2023 (Restated)
Balance Balance
1 January 31 December
2023 Receipts Payments Transfers 2023
Unrestricted Funds
General fund 10,048 - (5,214) - 4,834
10,048 - (5,214) - 4,834
----- End of picture text -----

These financial statements were approved by trustees on ____ and are signed on their behalf by: 7th July 2025

…………………………….

E.J. Milner-Gulland, Chair of Trustees and Founder

• 7 -