Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From To
Section A
Reference and administration details
Oriel Science
Charity name Oriel Science Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1208496 Charity's principal address 21-22 Castle Street Swansea Postcode SA1 1JF
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Christopher Allton |
||||
| Dr Sarah Roberts | ||||
| Dr Jessica Fletcher | Resigned 6/11/2024 | |||
| Tanya Foxall | Appointed 8/10/2024 | |||
| Professor Martin Stringer |
Appointed 12/11/2024 | |||
| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | ||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |||
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Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
Constitution
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
CIO
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
Appointed by the existing trustees
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
The Oriel Science Trustees had four formal meetings in this reporting year. During this year we grew the number of Trustee from three to four (one Trustee resigned to move further afield, and two joined). Our Trustees’ backgrounds include academic, educational governance, and finance and business.
Oriel Science originally launched a decade ago as a Swansea University outreach project, but as of 1 August 2024 we are a totally independent organisation with no legal links to the University. We do however maintain excellent relationships with the University, two of our Trustees are University employees, and we continue to show case their research. We also employ Swansea University students as our front-of-house staff.
We also have excellent working relationships with Swansea Council, particularly their education department, UK funding councils especially STFC and EPSRC, the Swansea Council for Voluntary Services, and a number of Professional Bodies and Learned Societies such as the Institute of Physics, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Chemistry. We are members of the Association of Science and Discovery Centres.
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
To advance education, in particular but not limited to science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and medicine (STEAMM) education by means including, but not limited to providing workshops for school groups and young people and providing an engagement programme to the general public focussed on Science.
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Oriel Science provides a unique, research-led educational resource designed to increase public engagement with STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths, and Medicine). Our activities are primarily focused on removing barriers to higher education and fostering a culture of curiosity within the community. The main activities undertaken for public benefit include:
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
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Public Exhibition Access: We operate a large, city-centre exhibition venue in Swansea that is free of charge to the public. By housing over 40 interactive exhibits based on cutting-edge university research, we provide an accessible space where members of the community can engage with complex concepts through tactile and "visceral" learning.
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School Workshop Programme: During term time, we deliver curriculum-linked workshops to schools and community groups. These sessions are specifically designed to address underrepresentation in STEAMM fields, providing many students, particularly those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, with their first meaningful interaction with university-level research.
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Community Events & Public Mode: During weekends and school holidays, the venue transitions into "public mode," hosting workshops, tabletop "Science Corner" activities, and "Meet the Researcher" sessions. These events are designed to be multigenerational, encouraging families with children as young as three to learn together.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
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Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main During this reporting year, Oriel Science achieved significant impact achievements of the charity through its research-led engagement programmes, delivering the during the year following results:
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Public Engagement: Welcomed 3,664 visitors to the exhibition centre, providing free access to interactive research exhibits and fostering community interest in STEAMM. Around 2,000 of these were adults and 1,600 children.
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• Public Workshops: Delivered 100 workshops (1.5 hours each) to 1,077 participants of all ages, translating complex research into accessible, hands-on learning experiences.
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• School Outreach: Hosted 24 school workshops for 649 students , providing curriculum-aligned sessions designed to inspire higher education aspirations and career journeys.
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• Demographic Reach: By positioning our venue in the city centre in a place where all people go, we have successfully reached a diverse socio-economic demographic. The key point is that our visitors match the socio-economic profile of the Swansea community based on the Welsh Index for Multiple Deprivation.
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• Broadening Participation: Our project has successfully engaged over 150,000 individuals since we launched a decade ago. We also provide the first ever "university experience" to around onethird of all our visitors
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Service Excellence: Maintained high visitor satisfaction through engaging, staff-led presentations and interactive activities, reinforcing the charity's reputation as a high-quality educational resource. In a recent survey of 658 visitors, 72% “really enjoyed” and 27% “enjoyed” their Oriel Science experience.
Section E Financial review
The unrestricted reserves of the charity at the year end were £40,847. Brief statement of the There were no restricted reserves. charity’s policy on reserves The trustees have decided to hold enough reserves to cover three to six months of running costs. This should enable the charity to continue to operate as normal if there are any fluctuations in receipts or payments. Details of any funds materially None. in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
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how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F
Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Christopher Allton Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Trustee etc) Date 15/5/26
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----- Start of picture text -----
Charity Name No (if any)
Oriel Science 1208496
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 03/06/2024 31/07/2025
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Workshops (either Public or School) 16,719 5,000 - 21,719 -
School Workshops 8,513 - - 8,513 -
Public Workshops 14,889 32,336 - 47,225 -
Exhibit 8,354 - - 8,354 -
Public Donation 552 - - 552 -
General engagement and outreach
activities 65,558 - - 65,558 -
Bank interest received 20 - - 20 -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
114,605 37,336 - 151,941 -
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 114,605 37,336 - 151,941 -
A3 Payments
Salaries 41,732 37,336 - 79,068 -
Advertising & Marketing 5,908 - - 5,908 -
Audit & Accountancy fees 432 - - 432 -
Bank Fees 41 - - 41 -
Cleaning 479 - - 479 -
Entertainment-100% business 120 - - 120 -
General Expenses 523 - - 523 -
Venue Item/Improvement 173 - - 173 -
Exhibit item 852 - - 852 -
Web services 506 - - 506 -
Insurance 447 - - 447 -
Water Utility 353 - - 353 -
Light, Power, Heating 3,692 - - 3,692 -
Rent 17,838 - - 17,838 -
Subscriptions 276 - - 276 -
Telephone & Internet 386 - - 386 -
Sub total 73,759 37,336 - 111,095 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 73,759 37,336 - 111,095 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 40,847 - - 40,847 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 40,847 - - 40,847 -
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
13/05/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Cash at bank PAYE and pension liabilities Independent examiner's fee Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 40,847 - - - - - 40,847 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted 2,265 Unrestricted 1,780 - - - Print Name Christopher Allton |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 22 May 2026 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
13/05/2026
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
| Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
|---|---|
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages |
Charity Name Oriel Science 31stJuly 2025 Charity no (if any) 1208496 3-4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) |
| 3-4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2025.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 22 May 2026 Name: Michael Jones Relevant professional ACCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Bevan Buckland Ltd Cardigan House, Castle Court, Swansea Enterprise Park, Swansea, SA7 9LA Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
1
October 2018
IER
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER