Trustees’ Annual Report FY 2023-2024
Teesmouth Seal Conservation Trust
Charity No 1200208 Former Lifeboat Station, South Gare, Redcar, TS10 5NX 30/8/2022 – 30/9/2023
1. Activities and Objectives
Teesmouth Seal Conservation Trust is a CIO governed by a constitution. This is our second year in operation, with our primary goal being the renovation of the Old Lifeboat Station in South Gare, which we have successfully leased from PD Ports on a 30-year lease. This centre is the primary focus of the charity’s activities, as both a seal hospital and as an education hub. A grant for £75,000 to construct the indoor seal pens was successfully applied for via Grantscape, and we are in the process of completing the necessary permits and registrations required to access this funding.
Our education team had its first outing at a local primary school in Redcar, speaking to the Eco-Club about seals in the River Tees, the new hospital, and the seal rehabilitation process. We were very well received and were invited back to speak to the whole school in assembly.
The public will benefit from our centre’s activities in two main ways: by supporting the growth of the breeding colony of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina) and the health of the visiting grey seals ( Halichoerus gryphus ) in Teesmouth Nature Reserve, TSCT hopes to engage the public and increase awareness and knowledge of seals’ natural history as well as the natural history of the River Tees, and foster safe, responsible engagement with our local wildlife so that both humans and animals can enjoy the outdoors. The centre will be staffed by volunteers recruited from the public, who will be trained in a variety of animal care skills, and education events via outreach talks and our education centre will be a fundamental aspect of the charity’s activities.
2. Trustees
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David Newell, Chair
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John Woods, Treasurer
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Devon Lycette, Secretary
3. Finances
Aside from our successful Grantscape application and some personal donations, sadly we have not been successful in obtaining the type of larger financial support needed to get the renovations moving forward. In FY 2024-2025, we look forward to engaging professional fundraising support to generate the income needed (upwards of £500,000) to cover the permits, surveys, and construction costs of the full renovation project.
4. Looking forward
In FY 2024-2025 we are looking forward to having a fundraising professional on board with us, and will hopefully be able to break ground on renovations at last. With a hospital to volunteer in in sight, we will be able to extend our focus to recruiting and training volunteers in education, fundraising, and animal care. From summer 2025, INCA will hand responsibility for the River Tees harbour seal monitoring program over to TSCT, in cooperation with Teesside University and Natural England.