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2025-03-31-accounts

For people and planet Annual Report 2024/25

Registered Charity No. 294582 Registered Company No. 02014929

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Our promise to children

We know great partnerships are built on trust. Our partnership with our beneficiaries, the children we engage and work with, is crucially important. We live by our values but to help demonstrate this to children, we’ve set out the following promises, especially for them. They also help communicate our ethical principles to our partners, supporters and funders.

We promise to share lots of different stories about the world around us, including yours.

We promise to do our best to make you feel welcome and valued.

We promise to always put your safety and wellbeing first.

We promise to explore science together, in ways that make sense to you.

We promise to run We promise to Wonderseekers take good care of with you. anything you share with us.

We promise to work with organisations that have both yours and the planet’s best interests at heart.

We promise to create opportunities for you to make a difference.

We promise to do our best for the planet.

These promises to children, along with our legal duty, guide our behaviour.

We promise to be honest about our mistakes and learn from them.

They help us to make decisions that are right for you, for our Charity and for our world.

Report of the trustees and strategic report

The Board of Trustees is pleased to present their annual trustees’ report together with consolidated financial statements of the Charity and its trading subsidiary for the year ending 31st March 2025.

The report is prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The trustees’ report and financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Contents

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3.
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Our promise to children 2
Chair and CEO’s welcome 4
Charity impact 6
Strategy 10
Objectives, achievements and performance 12
Volunteering 17
Future plans 18
Financial review 20
Principal risks 25
Energy consumption and carbon footprint 27
Structure, governance and management 28
Financial statements 34
Charity information 55
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For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Chair and CEO welcome

At Wonderseekers, we’ve always believed in the power of science to inspire children, spark new ways of thinking, and shape a better future for people and planet.

Over the past year, this belief has only grown stronger, even as the world has grown more complex and challenging for the children we serve, and for the charity sector at large.

We also made great strides in early years engagement and inclusive design, laying the foundation for a new outdoor learning experience and advancing accessibility at Winchester Science Centre through innovations like our Discovery Pens. Despite a tough summer for visitor numbers, a challenge mirrored across the sector, we saw record growth in our events programme and a strong return to form during the festive period, demonstrating the enduring appeal of science when it’s delivered with heart and imagination.

Families continue to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, while schools face stretched resources and shrinking time for science within the curriculum. The climate emergency and biodiversity loss cast a long shadow over the future our children are inheriting, yet access to nature, meaningful science experiences and hopeful solutions often feel out of reach. These are not small challenges. But they are ones that science, and children, are uniquely equipped to respond to, if given the opportunity.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible team, trustees, volunteers, partners and supporters. To every funder, school, collaborator and friend who has walked alongside us this year: thank you. Your belief in our mission enables us to reach the children who need us most, and helps those children believe in themselves.

This year, Wonderseekers rose to meet these realities with creativity, resilience and deep commitment. We reached over 196,000 people through our Science Centre, schools and community programmes, 140,000 of these experienced a planetarium show. We supported over 16,700 children through our Equity and Outreach programme alone, many of whom had never experienced science in a hands-on, joyful way before. From co-creating exhibitions with children, to embedding inclusive design into every experience, we have continued to expand our impact while staying true to our values.

As we look ahead to the next year and beyond, we remain ambitious. We will continue to champion equity in science, to prioritise sustainability, and to listen deeply to the children at the heart of our work. Together, we can create a future where all children, regardless of background or circumstance, have the opportunity to explore, to wonder, and to thrive.

One of our proudest achievements was the launch of Sound of Biodiversity, a ground-breaking project that brought children, scientists and Wonderseekers together as equal partners. Together, they explored the science of soundscapes, created a new interactive exhibit, and transformed school grounds into a space where nature and imagination can thrive. It’s just one example of how our equitable partnership model is changing the way science is shared, understood and celebrated.

With gratitude,

Dr. Janet Owen

FRSA, AMA, MA (Cantab), MA Chair of Trustees

Ben Ward

FRSA

Chief Executive Officer

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4.
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Why we need your support

“Few national priorities are more critical than how we equip the next generations for the future.” wrote Dr. Morgan Phillips, Global Action Plan and Professor Nicola Walshe, University College London in an open letter to the UK Secretary of State for Education in February 2025.

Empowering all children with science skills has never been more important than it is right now.

We fund our work primarily with income generated through our Science Centre’s trading operations, but it’s not enough to reach all the children we want to support – especially those with multiple barriers to participating. This is why we ask for charitable donations. With your help, we can deliver more activities, collaborate with more like-minded partners and empower more children with science so that people and planet thrive.

“This is especially urgent today,” Dr. Phillips and Prof. Walshe continue “when our need to scale up efforts to combat the climate and environmental crises may be compromised by growing skill shortages and talent gaps.”

But the climate and biodiversity crises aren’t the only challenges requiring innovative solutions and collective input. In fact, it’s hard to think of an area of our modern lives that isn’t impacted by science and technology.

At Wonderseekers, our aim is to grow more active citizens. Your support is an investment in the future health and wellbeing of our children and the planet.

Science skills are as fundamental as numeracy and literacy to solving the challenges we face. Wonderseekers believes that with science, children can choose to live healthier, more sustainable lives and contribute to a better world for all.

Thank you.

However, there is still limited science education within the primary curriculum, so that by the time children reach secondary school, many have had little exposure to positive science experiences and have already made the decision that science isn’t “for them”. So much so, that The Royal Society’s 2023 Science Education Tracker reported a significant decline in young people’s interest in science at school, notably amongst younger girls, since the previous Tracker four years earlier.

The number of children who don’t experience science outside of school, resulting in 1 in 4 young people in England having low ‘science capital’[1] , is compounding the problem, leaving the next generation feeling confused, overwhelmed, even apathetic, and unable to contribute to important conversations about the future.

For fundraising enquiries, please email fundraising@wonderseekers.charity.

Wonderseekers has a critical role to play in responding to these challenges: providing relatable, accessible science experiences that go beyond the national curriculum, encouraging and inspiring young children from across Hampshire and beyond that science is for everyone and giving them the skills to participate.

Wonderseekers is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and is compliant with the Code of Fundraising Practice. All fundraising activity is undertaken by the Fundraising Team, in accordance with the Fundraising Policy and Procedures, with support and oversight from the Fundraising Committee. Funding is sought from trusts and foundations, government, corporate sponsorship and through partnership agreements with industry and universities. All donations are given freely from individuals, including the invitation to Gift Aid admission. Wonderseekers does not use any third-party fundraiser or seek funding from vulnerable people. No complaints have been made in relation to fundraising activities (2023/24: nil).

Nurturing future science professionals is important, but our wider ambition is that every child, regardless of background, has the science skills to become an active citizen. We know that informal science learning can help to achieve this: latest findings (autumn 2024) from the seminal ASPIRES science capital longitudinal research project reported that having higher levels of science capital were strongly related to active citizenship and a positive future outlook.

1 Research led by Kings College London introduced the concept of ‘science capital’ (science-related qualifications, interest, literacy and social contacts) to understand how young people from all backgrounds engage with science and how their engagement might be supported. The research showed that the more science capital a young person has, the more likely they are to see science as ‘for me’, yet over a quarter of all 11 to 17 year olds, particularly those from disadvantaged communities have low science capital.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

The difference our Charity can make is demonstrated through our theory of change.

Charity impact

Our Charity has been engaging young people in science since it was founded in 1986. Our delivery has evolved over the decades, with a focus now on making science accessible and fun to children at a young age. But why?

Some of the ways we’ve overcome barriers to engagement:

Originally, emphasis was placed on science and technology career pathways, and for many organisations this is still their primary focus. But for Wonderseekers, we’re on a mission to create more equitable access to science and nature so that all children can participate, especially those within our priority audiences - children and families who are underserved due to low socio-economic opportunities, disability, impairment or illness.

Through a diverse, accessible and inclusive mix of science experiences, our Charity is a catalyst for change. Fun, positive, people-led activities at our Science Centre, in schools, communities and online, are central to getting children and their families engaged in science and its relevance to the world we live in.

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By doing this:
Extending
Speaking up for Connecting
Providing activity through
early intervention, Creating, children to nature
accessible, schools and
and inclusion and equality, diversity sharing digital curating and through environmental science, outdoor fun and diverse community-based
the environment in resources and spaces and science experiences programmes to
through our deliver equitable
science experiences our activity Science Centre access to
programme
science
And by working with:
Schools Families Communities Partners
We will be the catalyst for
change through:
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We will be the catalyst for
change through:
Sustained, Accessible
Fun,
repeated and and inclusive
positive,
diverse science experiences, Continuous
people-led and
engagement from where children feel evaluation
participatory
an early age welcome and
activities
valued
To achieve these outcomes:
Children value
Children are Children use Children and see the
connected to their science want to play relevance of
nature enquiry skills their part science
And long-term impacts:
Children can and
Children Children can Children choose
want to protect
choose to live live in a more to contribute to a
and heal our
healthier lives equitable society better world for all
natural world
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For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Our Charity’s impact is reflected in the value that we add and the difference we make to children’s engagement with science, personal development and growth.

Our numbers for 2024/25 paint a vibrant picture:

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public visitors to Winchester
Science Centre.
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Children and their families, friends, peers
and community groups who visited in
their leisure time.
The total includes 1,120 foster family
members (14.8% decrease on last year)
and 3,600 carers/personal assistants (8%
increase on last year)
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educational visitors to Winchester Science Centre.

Children and their accompanying adults who visited as part of a school trip, SEN school or group visit, or home education visit.

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Up 18.6%
on last year
people engaged through
our Equity, Community
Engagement and Outreach
programme.
Children and their families we
have engaged in their school
and community spaces.
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Up 166%
on last year
people visited Winchester Science
Centre for a special event.
Children and adults who attended out-of-
hours events and our Cosmic Christmas
daytime experience.
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The introduction of data gathering and evaluation techniques, means that we can now begin to demonstrate our impact beyond numbers. Where available, details are included in the following pages.

Strategy

Our strategy For People and Planet 2030 is our North Star.

It gives us clear, long-term direction and ensures we're all working together to achieve the same aims. It stands on the shoulders of our previous strategy, building on the step change we made in making science engagement inclusive and accessible, to now champion equity. It also promises to lead by example on environmental sustainability, to use our spaces, experiences and voice to help children respond to climate change and biodiversity loss and empower collective action for the benefit of people and the planet.

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A world where, through the wonder of
Vision
science, people and planet thrive.
To create a more equitable world where all children can treasure science and are
Mission
equipped and empowered to improve lives and protect and heal our planet.
Values
Inclusive For the Bold Fun Open and
Collaborative
planet honest
Children are Children use their Children want Children value and
Outcomes connected to science enquiry to play their see the relevance
nature skills part of science
Diversify our Champion Work long-term Protect and heal
Objectives reach and grow equality, diversity with children who our planet and
impact and inclusion in need our support inspire others to do
science the most the same
Key themes Be the change Respect. Protect. Action.
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For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Objectives, achievements and performance

Our projects and programmes are intentionally designed to support multiple objectives and deliver our intended learning outcomes for children, which are:

Outcomes for children:

Objectives:

Here are some examples of how we have put this into practice over the past year.

Developing child-centred, equitable science and nature partnerships

Through the academic year 2023–24, Wonderseekers partnered with Year 5 pupils from Winnall Primary School and Dr Sarah Payne, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Psychology at the University of Surrey, to cocreate Sound of Biodiversity — a pioneering project designed to connect children from underserved communities with environmental science in sensory, meaningful ways.

Together, the children, researchers, and Wonderseekers team formed an equitable learning community. Over a series of 10 hands-on workshops, 30 children explored the sounds of their local environment through active listening, rhythm logging, sound mapping, and visits to natural spaces including Butterfly Conservation’s Magdalen Hill Down. Each session was designed to build curiosity, confidence and connection — with nature and each other.

The children applied their learning in imaginative and lasting ways. At Winchester Science Centre, they co-created a brand-new interactive exhibit focused on soundscapes and wellbeing. Closer to home, they transformed an unused patch of land into a Woodland Walk — a peaceful outdoor classroom and nature space for their school. The project culminated in two celebrations, where children took centre stage.

Beyond the visible outcomes, Sound of Biodiversity demonstrated the power of multisensory, place-based engagement in nurturing environmental awareness and voice. It also offered new models of working in partnership with researchers and children — approaches we are now embedding across other programmes.

Embedding child-centred, equitable science and nature partnerships

Our Place on Earth was a new and exciting project that invited a group of 24 children aged 7–12 to co-design a future exhibition all about the local environment.

Over eight months, the children—our Young Design Panel—worked alongside an artist, scientists and subject experts, to explore big topics that are relevant to our local landscape and children’s lives like wildlife, soil, dark skies, sound in nature, and sustainable food. Through art, games, stories and questions, they shared their ideas and helped shape what the exhibition could look and feel like.

Through this project we were able to put our equitable partnership model and new co-working with children guidance into practice. We learned a lot as an organisation. Working in this way—co-creating with children, giving them real influence, and embedding creativity—brought new energy and ideas to our team. It showed the value of taking time to plan, listen and reflect. Most of all, Our Place on Earth reminded us why we do what we do: to make science exciting, inclusive, and meaningful for every child. This project has set the standard for how we want to work in future—putting children’s voices at the heart of everything.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Improving access to science for early years and children with special educational needs

In 2024, we launched the Early Years Development Project to explore how environmental science experiences can better serve children under five and those with special educational needs (SEN).

Through hands-on workshops with local schools, nurseries, and families, the project trialled two new concepts—Minibeasts & Me and Habitat Playpark—using a collaborative model that brought together external early years specialists, designers, and Wonderseekers’ own team. This co-creation approach helped surface what young children respond to, what families and practitioners value, and how inclusive, curiositydriven science can be embedded into early play.

This project not only informed future exhibit design but also shaped wider organisational learning. It sparked a shift towards deeper early years integration, with recommendations to embed champions across the Charity and appoint a dedicated early years lead. A comprehensive learning report now guides staff training and best practice.

Thanks to Winchester City Council and the Rural Prosperity Fund, we have improved our outdoor learning and play space for children to explore nature safely. Biodiversityfriendly fencing and planting has created a safe area for children and a great environment for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Taking science and nature experiences into communities

We believe that by giving children access to engaging science and nature experiences and equipping them with essential science enquiry skills, children can choose to live healthier and more sustainable lives.

That's why we continue to prioritise and invest in removing barriers for children, especially for those who are underserved due to low socio-economic opportunity, disability, special educational needs, impairment or illness.

This year our Equity, Community Engagement and Outreach (ECO) team delivered a wide-reaching and impactful programme, engaging over 16,700 children, families, and community members through 122 activities. Working in close partnership with schools, local authorities, scientists, artists, and cultural organisations, the team led projects that broke down barriers to engagement with science and deepened our reach into underserved communities.

Major projects included COSMOS, a European collaboration exploring children’s views on science and society; Rushmoor Climate Trackers, an ongoing satellitethemed environmental science programme; and Our World from Space, which used our mobile planetarium to explore Earth observation. Together, these initiatives blending hands-on science, storytelling, and creative expression.

The team also ran 86 community events in areas including Rushmoor, Southampton, the Isle of Wight, and Leigh Park—ranging from school holiday clubs and science festivals to bespoke sessions for young carers and SEN schools. Their work ensured inclusive and fun access to science, often reaching those least likely to visit a science centre.

Inspiring science at Winchester Science Centre

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105,956 public visitors to
Winchester Science Centre.
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We relaunched our events programme in 2022/23, experienced
initially testing our enhanced daytime offer for families, 67% a planetarium
a new Christmas experience and evening events for show
families and adults.
Winchester Science Centre offers an exciting and dynamic science
experience for children aged 3 to 12 and their families. In addition to
two floors of interactive exhibits, a seasonal live science programme
features wow demos, science shows with audience participation, experienced
presenter-led planetarium shows and themed self-guided activities. 68% a live science
show
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In 2024/25, over 1,000 families shared their experiences with us through our post-visit survey.

Their stories paint a powerful picture of how Winchester Science Centre is engaging families in science and making science accessible for all. Here are some of the themes that come up time and time again:

Families consistently praised our hands-on, play-based experiences as essential for learning:

An excellent way to help learning through real-life examples.

Children, in particular, learn through play.

Our commitment to inclusivity was celebrated by visitors, particularly families of children with additional needs:

Wonderfully inclusive for children with disabilities and additional needs.

Sensory backpack is a brilliant offering... the planetarium session was lovely for my autistic son.

Our team was frequently recognised for their warmth, expertise, and ability to engage young minds:

The staff were excellent... talking to my 4-year-old twins on a level they could understand.

The immersive wonder of the planetarium was a standout experience for many:

My daughter who has Selective A truly magical moment for our Mutism spoke lots in the centre. whole family. In the planetarium she said 'I'm crying tears of happiness

Some visitors shared constructive feedback about barriers they face—vital insights that help shape our ongoing improvement. Cost of living was cited as a key barrier to repeat visits and the busy spaces, despite mitigation, continue to present challenges for neurodivergent children.This feedback helps to inform our pricing structures and our accessibility development.

95% of families told us they would recommend Winchester Science Centre to others.

In term time, the Science Centre is open exclusively for educational visits midweek. The educational programme is designed to support KS1 and KS2 school trips, SEN schools/groups and home education visits.

The all-inclusive school trip includes a themed discovery workshop, a presenter-led planetarium show and time for students to explore the two floors of interactive exhibits the Science Centre has to offer, ensuring every child gets the most from their visit. In addition to our own schools' programme, we’re delighted to have continued our partnership with Butterfly Conservation, delivering free outdoor learning at their flagship reserve, Magdalen Hill Down, and at Winchester Science Centre.

41,085 educational visitors to Winchester Science Centre (-4% on previous year). This number include children and their accompanying adults who visited as part of a school trip, SEN school or group visit, or home education visit.

We are committed to ensuring that every child—regardless of their background, ability, or interest—can access the wonder of science. We do this by removing barriers to engagement through inclusive pricing, accessible design, and meaningful support for diverse needs.

We continue to offer tiered pricing for schools, with up to 60% subsidies for those with higher numbers of children eligible for free school meals. Family visitors also benefit from advance booking discounts, and we continue to offer free entry for foster families, carers, and personal assistants.

A major development this year was the launch of Discovery Pens—a tool that allows visually impaired, English as an additional language, and low-literacy visitors to independently engage with exhibits. Ten pens are now available for free loan, following a year of development and testing.

Throughout the year, we delivered inclusive events including SEND and home educator days, British Sign Language interpreted shows, and quieter and subtitled sessions, and partnered with groups such as Hampshire Autistic Scouts, Autism Hampshire, and Young Carers to tailor access to their needs.

Finally, we completed all preparatory work for replacing the Science Centre’s sole lift—an essential improvement to ensure step-free access. The work will be completed in 2025.

Thank you to our volunteers!

The trustees and staff thank all our volunteers who have given their time, skills and expertise to support our Charity. We'd also like to thank our Patron, Young Steering Group, Young Design Panel and Project Board for their valuable time and the contribution they make.

As an educational charity, we love to provide opportunities for young people to gain work experience. Through Winchester Science Centre, we hosted seven work experience placements for KS3/KS4 students in years 10-12. The students worked alongside our Curiosity Team supporting the delivery of our school visits programme and experiencing all the ‘behind the scenes’ development and preparation that goes on.

We are also pleased to offer several student internships annually. This year, we welcomed two students studying teaching to come and experience science education outside of a classroom setting and a student from Eastleigh College as part of their Supported Internship Programme. All placements were held with the Curiosity Team, supporting the schools and public programmes.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Future plans

In last year's annual report, we prioritised four key areas of long-term and short-term development.

Excellent progress has been made this year in each, details of which have been included in the previous pages of this report.

Child-centred science and nature partnerships

Working in collaboration with others is one of our core values and something we have been doing for many years with community, university, charity and corporate partners. However, these relationships have often been developed for a specific activity, programme or project and always led by adults. Over the past year, we have developed an equitable partnership model, where children, subject experts and Wonderseekers are contributing and benefiting equally from working together. The model has been tested through our projects Sound of Biodiversity, Our Place on Earth and Early Years.

We are now looking to embed the learning into our everyday practices and continue to adopt this model for all future projects. In 2025/26 we will be working with children and ecologists to carry out a year-long biodiversity survey of the chalk downland mosaic landscape surrounding our Science Centre. This data will help us understand the current richness of the land and identify opportunities to enhance it.

South Downs science and nature action

We are proud custodians of some of the UK’s rarest habitats – a mosaic landscape of chalk downland in the South Downs National Park. We are uniquely placed to work with children, to support children, through science and nature engagement to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to take action against climate change and biodiversity loss. We have ambitious plans to deliver on this aim, through the development of an extensive new activity programme at Winchester Science Centre, in communities and in partnership with others.

Delivering a project of this scale takes time to develop, especially when it’s done through equitable partnership with children and partners, and through a process of co-creation. Our focus is on securing support and funding for this important and transformative project.

Early years science and nature experiences

Our research indicates 40% of children that visit Winchester Science Centre are aged three to six years, but the experiences available to them are predominantly designed for slightly older children. Last year's Early Years project has increased organisational knowledge about early years engagement. An outcome of the project has been to update our interpretation strategy for this age group and develop a brief for a new outdoor experience at Winchester Science Centre.

For the year ahead, we are embedding our learning into our everyday practices and working to secure funds to make the outdoor experience concept a reality.

Sustainability

In line with our Group Sustainability Strategy, we are actively working to reduce our environmental impact. The most significant way we can do this is to invest in our Science Centre building and infrastructure. Over the past year we have worked with multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Hoare Lea to understand what actions we can take and the impact of those actions.

The designated reserve created last year specifically for sustainability and infrastructure, has enabled us press ahead with Hoare Lea’s recommendations. In 2025/26 we are planning to replace the oil-fuelled heating system with a more sustainable hybrid Air Source Heat Pump and electric alternative.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Financial review

Science Centre Operations

Our Science Centre has faced significant challenges during the year. Contributing to the deficit was a downturn in visitor numbers, particularly during the summer months. Footfall was 36% below budget during this period, primarily due to a combination of factors including external economic pressures on families, changes in visitor behaviour, and consistent warm and dry weather. This downturn is reflective of the wider UK visitor economy.

Overview

This year has been a period of strategic investment and external challenge, with a focus on positioning the Charity for long-term sustainability and growth. While the Charity has returned a deficit for the year, this outcome is in line with its plans and reflects the intentional investment in the Charity’s long-term strategic ambitions, which include resourcing the development of future-facing initiatives and the strengthening of internal capabilities.

Financial Performance

The Charity has reported a deficit of £192k, which reflects a combination of planned investments and increased operating costs. These include the costs of strategic consultancy and design work, leadership and staff time devoted to forward planning, and the internal capacity required to shape our long-term direction.

Alongside these investments, we experienced rising staff costs and increases across support services such as Finance, HR, IT, Management, and Premises. A portion of these pressures was due to a flood incident which was offset by a one-off flood damage insurance claim of £151k. The remaining expenditure reflects our commitment to building a resilient organisation capable of delivering high-quality science engagement to children and families for years to come.

However, since the Christmas period, we have seen a recovery in footfall, with visitor numbers returning to more typical levels. This recovery is encouraging and demonstrates the resilience of the Science Centre as an important asset for the Charity. We are optimistic that with continued investment in marketing and improvements to our offering, we can grow the Centre’s reach and return it to its previous performance levels.

Strategic Investments

One of the key drivers of our deficit this year has been deliberate investment in long-term strategic planning. These investments include both external costs — such as consultancy, design and strategic development — and internal resource allocation, including leadership time, project management, and organisational capacity-building. While not all of these are coded under fundraising, they are foundational to shaping the Charity’s next chapter and ensuring future income diversification and growth.

We are already seeing promising early signs of progress, including strengthened relationships with funders and partners, and positive feedback from major funders such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, despite an unsuccessful initial application. This work positions us well for future opportunities.

Expenditure Management

The Charity has maintained a disciplined approach to expenditure management. Operational costs remained broadly in line with expectations given the decrease in footfall seen, and staff continue to prioritise spending on mission-critical activities, ensuring that resources are directed towards maximising the impact of our work.

Looking Forward

While this year’s financial results reflect a deficit, we remain confident that, with a recovery in Science Centre attendance, combined with the investment made in fundraising and implementation of the strategic plan, the Charity is well-positioned for the future. The Charity is actively exploring additional revenue-generating opportunities as outlined in our future plans and investment in green infrastructure to reduce our carbon output and strengthen our financial position.

The trustees are committed to closely monitoring the Charity’s financial performance and ensuring that it continues to operate in a sustainable and responsible manner. The strategic investments made this year will enable the Charity to return to surplus in the near future, continuing to support our mission, providing inspiring and educational experiences to children and their families.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Income

Total group income for the year was £3,682k, a decrease of £85k (2%) on 2023/24.

Expenditure

Expenditure across the organisation rose by £554k (17%) from 2023/24 as the Charity looked to make strategic investments to secure its long term sustainability.

Donations and legacies – note 3

Income from Donations and Legacies was 27% down on 2023/24 which had included the generous gift in kind of the lease of the land surrounding the Science Centre valued at £230k.

Charitable activities – note 4

Income derived from charitable activities increased by £39k (2%) despite a significant shortfall in visitor footfall. Admission income decreased by £105k from 2023/24 as public footfall fell by 9k visitors to 106k visits and schools' visits decreased by 5% from 42k to 40k.

The Charity continued to expand the grant funding received for its engagement and outreach activities, resulting in a decrease in income from self-funded outreach activity of £14k to £18k.

This decrease in income generated by charitable activities was offset by £151k from a flood damage insurance claim relating to August 2024, the corresponding costs are included in governance and support costs (note 8).

Income from trading activities – note 5

Despite challenging conditions income from trading activities increased by £50k (6%) to £963k. Shop and café trading revenues remained stable at 2023/24 levels as pricing increases offset lower levels of sales. Events activities expanded by 27% from £187k in 2023/24 to £237k in 2024/25 thanks to continued return on the investment made in the staff team.

People costs – note 11

People costs increased by £231k (14%) to £1,929k in 2024/25 as the Charity made further investments in its staff team, including posts in fundraising. Pay inflation continued to be driven by increases in the real living wage, with the Charity awarding pay increases ranging from 5% and 10.1%, with the lowest paid staff again receiving the greatest increases.

The average full-time equivalent employees for 2024/25 was 55 (2023/24: 51).

Expenditure on charitable activities – note 7

Expenditure linked to delivery of the Science Centre and outreach activities increased 20% from £2,179k to £2,623k. This increase was driven by rising staff costs (£100k) and the increase in allocated support costs (£309k, see note 8).

Expenditure on raising funds – note 6

Trading costs rose by 7% to reflect the increased events activity, whilst fundraising costs increased by £34k (36%) as the Charity invested in this function to support the delivery of its ambitious future plans.

Governance and support costs – note 8

Governance and support costs increased by 43%, driven by a 117% increase in premise and office costs of £282k. This increase was a result of the damage caused by the flood at the Centre, taking on new office premises at The Point, Eastleigh for the expanded staff team and outsourcing the cleaning of the Science Centre.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Reserves policy

The Charity holds both restricted and unrestricted funds, with the unrestricted funds covering both designated funds, funds set aside by the trustees for a specific purpose, and general funds, reserves which provide working capital and resources for unforeseen financial difficulties.

The Charity’s policy on unrestricted general reserves is set based on forecast income and expenditure, the likelihood of material risks crystallising which would not be covered by future income or insurance, and horizon scanning for possible opportunities that may require some upfront investment.

The general unrestricted reserves is set with regard to:

The trustees have assessed the impact and likelihood of uninsured risks to create an expected value, which is reduced by the assessment of mitigating controls, to set the appropriate level of general unrestricted short-term reserves to be held. This value is formally reviewed on an annual basis with the opportunity for any material changes to be picked up within the risk review process.

In 2023/24 the Charity aimed to hold general unrestricted reserves of £400k – £450k, equivalent to three months of expenditure for full operations. This is still considered appropriate for 2024/25.

The designated Outdoor Science Engagement reserve of £600k created in 2022/23 has been maintained to support the Charity’s future investment in developing and delivering its outdoor science engagement plans.

In line with its sustainability strategy, the Charity recognised the need to invest in the Science Centre’s infrastructure, to reduce the Charity’s carbon footprint and safeguard its long-term sustainability. A Capital Investment and Sustainability reserve of £500k was created in 2023/24 and is expected to be spent in 2025/26 on the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps to replace the oil-fired boilers.

Investment Policy

The Charity seeks to optimise the financial return from its investments consistent with its values, its appetite for risk, its strategic objectives and plans for the use of its funds, and its overall financial position.

The Charity retains sufficient funds in highly liquid assets to enable it to meet its day-to-day needs. Other funds are moved into more liquid assets in line with planned expenditure with maturities managed to match the planned expenditure.

The Charity envisages using most if not all of its other funds over the next three to five years with limited tolerance for capital risk. Funds may be held only in UK sterling accounts with banks with a minimum rating of A- or invested in diversified money market funds. Credit risk is managed by limiting the maximum exposure to any one institution to 50% of the Charity’s total cash balances.

Principal risks

The principal risk faced by the Charity during 2024/25 was the tough external environment, characterised by the ongoing cost of living crisis, restricted public spending and greater competition for funding. The longer term risks for the Charity continued to be its ability to increase its impact and strengthen its resilience.

In 2022/23 it created a £600k designated reserve, recognising the seed funding required for an outdoor science centre project to build capacity and reduce its reliance on income generated through its predominantly indoor science centre experience. In 2023/24 it created a £500k designated reserve in response to the need to invest in the Charity’s carbon footprint and safeguard the Charity’s longer-term sustainability. During 2024/25 the Charity adopted a blending fundraising model to reduce its reliance on traditional funding sources and engaged in preparatory work to deliver on its strategy and invest in its infrastructure.

The Trustees believe that sound risk management is integral to both good management and good governance practice.

Risk management is part of the Charity’s decision-making and is incorporated within strategic and operational planning.

General reserves outcome

Unrestricted reserves now stand at £3,152k, of which £2,766k were designated and £386k were general unrestricted reserves. (Further details of the reserves held in the Charity and its subsidiary are provided in Note 20 of the Financial Statements on p50.)

Whilst the outcome for general unrestricted reserves falls short of the target range the trustees and the Charity will be seeking to rebuild its general unrestricted reserves, the trustees remain committed to using the Charity’s funds to support our beneficiaries now and in the future. By pursuing the outdoor science engagement projects, investing in the Charity’s building and reducing its environment impact, future risks are being managed and the focus remains on growing charitable impact in a financially sustainable way.

The Trustees recognise that risk is inherent in any operation and that some level of managed risk is essential if the Charity is to achieve the greatest impact for its beneficiaries.

Wonderseekers manages risk through a top-down-bottom-up approach assessing longer-term strategic risks alongside shorter-term operational and project risks.

The Executive Team maintains departmental and project risk registers identifying key risks to their departments and projects, which are updated and cascaded quarterly.

Any fast-moving or escalating risks during the quarter are reported at the Executive Team Meetings on a monthly basis or sooner if required. Risks are cascaded to the Chair of Trustees and Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee as required.

The Executive Team reviews the Charity’s Risk Register monthly. The Charity risk position is reviewed quarterly by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and risk is a standing agenda item at all quarterly board meetings.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

During 2024/25 the Charity’s most immediate risks, and its strategies to manage them, were as follows:

Energy consumption and carbon emissions

Risk: Recruitment and staff retention

The Charity would be unable to deliver its strategy due to staff losses and recruitment difficulties.

This would manifest itself as an increase in vacant posts, higher recruitment costs, and missed targets and timelines.

Risk mitigation strategy: The Charity took steps to maintain a positive workplace culture, championed by the Director of People and Culture.

Pay and benefits were reviewed regularly by the Executive and Trustees (NR Co and FARC).

Staffing, including recruitment and retention, was a standing agenda item for the Executive team and additional strategic oversight and support was provided by an HR lead trustee.

Risk: Ageing building

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2021/22 Tonne~CO2 2022/23 Tonne~CO2 2023/24 Tonne~CO2 2024/25 Tonne~CO2 % change in emissions
Electricity KWh 251,582 58.15 244,354 51.58 247,041 55.59 261,067 58.86 +5.56%
Heating Oil litres 37,174 102.55 27,901 76.97 27,088 74.64 25,250 69.57 -6.79%
Business Travel miles 3,734 0.85 5,239 1.77 15,524 2.78 18,333 3.22 +13.66%
Fuel Purchase litres 574 1.26 599 1.29 729 1.52 619 1.29 -15.1%
Water m³ 1,546 0.23 1,691 0.25 2,197 0.39 1,978 0.30 -23.1%
Waste tonnes 29.03 5.84 49.50 7.19 44.50 6.59 23.85 2.07 -68.6%
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The Charity would face increased costs due to unplanned expenditure on building infrastructure.

This would result in missed expenditure targets and an unplanned reduction in reserves.

Risk mitigation strategy: Investment continued to be made in the Estates team to build capacity and resilience, which enabled regular, preventative maintenance.

Preparatory work was undertaken to improve the Charity’s infrastructure and reduce its carbon footprint. This included engaging Hoare Lea, a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy firm, which is a specialist in building services. (The Charity’s boiler and chiller are expected to be replaced in 2025/26.)

Electricity (↑ 5.56%)

Emissions from electricity increased slightly despite similar usage levels. This rise is attributed to unplanned energy demand in September 2024, when flood damage required prolonged use of industrial fans and drying equipment. This anomaly impacted what is usually a low-consumption month.

Business Travel (↑ 13.66%)

Heating Oil (↓ 6.79%)

A year-on-year reduction in emissions This increase reflects both an actual rise reflects targeted interventions, including in outreach and programme delivery improved monitoring, updated heating travel, and improved data capture. schedules, and new preventative Notable contributors include increased maintenance protocols. A further use of trains, taxis, ferries, and buses, reduction is anticipated as we transition as well as higher mileage for fewer air to a hybrid Air Source Heat Pumpjourneys. electric boiler system.

Risk: Inability to secure funding for future strategic development

Wonderseekers has ambitious plans to expand its community-based impact and redevelop Winchester Science Centre into a science and nature hub, including use of the new land at Morn Hill as a living lab.

Without sufficient funding, these plans would be delayed or scaled back. This could impact the Charity’s long-term growth, restrict its programme reach, and reduce its momentum with partners and stakeholders.

Risk mitigation strategy: Wonderseekers adopted a blended funding approach, recognising the need to consider alternative funding sources such as social investment loans alongside traditional funding sources and use of its reserves. Phasing of investment in the development of the Morn Hill site was explored to align the Charity’s ambition with available resources, while maintaining its ambitions and developing its stakeholder support.

Fuel Purchase (↓ 15.1%)

Water (↓ 23.1%)

Changes to our community engagement and outreach programmes have resulted in a slight decrease in vehicle use.

Emissions from water usage decreased significantly this year, reflecting a 23% drop in consumption. This reduction is likely the result of improved water efficiency measures, including better monitoring and operational practices.

*Waste Emissions (↓ 68.6%)

Emissions from waste have decreased significantly this year, largely due to a 46% reduction in waste tonnage, with the most major decreases seen in glass, food and general waste. Additionally, the diversion of our general waste going to energy generation as opposed to landfill and a change in the governments waste emissions conversion factors also contributed to our reduced emissions figure.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Structure, governance and management

Wonderseekers is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

Our Charity is governed by our Articles of Association, which sets out the Charity’s powers and authorities. The objective of the Charity is detailed in the Articles of Association:

To advance the education, knowledge and understanding of the public, in particular the young, in basic technological and scientific principles and processes, particularly through the improvements of the links between industrial, commercial and educational bodies and institutions.

The Charity’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sparking Curiosity Ltd, operates the onsite shop and café under licence from the Charity and gift aids the maximum permissible amount of its profits to the Charity (see note 10 to the accounts).

Wonderseekers operates under principles documented in our Code of Governance, which comply with the Charity Governance Code for larger charities (2020).

The Board of Trustees holds all the Charity’s powers and authorities.

The Board is ultimately responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of the Charity and for the protection of its assets. The Board receives regular updates on the major risks likely to affect the Charity and ensures these are properly documented and that mitigating actions are in place and actively managed. The Board receives regular updates on the handling of personal data held by the Charity and ensures the policy and procedures are compliant with legislation.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities the trustees have carefully considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. Operational management is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, Ben Ward, and the Executive Team.

Board of Trustees

The trustees, also Directors under company law, are elected by the Board at the Annual General Meeting and serve for a three-year term.

Trustees can be re-appointed for up to a maximum of three terms. The performance of individual trustees, including the Chair, is informally reviewed each year. All trustees give their time freely and no Trustee has received

remuneration in the year. Details of Trustee expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in notes 11 and 23 of the accounts.

The Board issues public advertisements for trustees and aims to attract a diverse range of candidates with the skills the Charity needs. It values the benefits of a membership with a variety of backgrounds, expertise and experience. New trustees undertake an induction programme that includes meeting the Executive Team and fellow trustees. It also covers the Charity’s aims and how they are being fulfilled, the Code of Governance including Committee structures and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where an appropriate budget has been allocated to cover Trustee expenses and course fees.

Board and committee membership and attendance

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Mrs Phyllida James 21/10/2021 4 of 4 1 of 1 6 of 6 2 of 2
Mr Malcolm Kemp 18/10/2023 3 of 4 1 of 1 6 of 6 3 of 3
Mrs Tajinder Leonard 26/11/2019 4 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 3 1 of 2
18/10/23
Dr Janet Owen (appointed Chair 4 of 4 1 of 1
24/11/2023)
Mrs Sue Parr 26/11/2019 26/05/2024 1 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 1
Katherine
Mrs Roberts 21/10/2021 25/10/2024 2 of 3 1 of 2
(Katie)
Ms Yvonne Rowland 18/10/2023 4 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 3
Mrs Sara Sullivan 26/11/2019 4 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 3
Ms Linda Taylor 18/10/2023 4 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 3
Dr Rutang Thanawalla 21/10/2021 4 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 6 1 of 2
Mr Thomas Wyman 18/10/2023 3 of 4 1 of 1 3 of 3 2 of 3
Ms Catherine Day 25/10/2024 21/04/2025 2 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 2
Title First name Last name Appointed Stepped down Full board Apr, Jul, Oct, Nov, Feb AGM Oct FARC May, Jul, Oct, Dec, Jan, Jan NomRem Jun, Oct, Jan Fundraising June, Oct Purpose & Impact Jul, Oct, Mar
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Board effectiveness

A skills audit of the Board was completed in 2024 to help shape the future make-up of the Board and form part of future effectiveness reviews.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Organisation

The Board holds five meetings a year, one dedicated to strategy, and has established the following four committees: Finance, Audit and Risk; Nominations and Remuneration; Purpose and Impact and Fundraising which report to the Board.

The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee is independent of the management of the Charity. It has the standing and resources to report directly with opinion and oversight to the Board of Trustees on the annual report and accounts and other financial reports, the risk management process and risk register, delivering value for money, policy maintenance and the Charity’s whistleblowing arrangements. It is also responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Trustees about the performance, appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditors.

The Nominations and Remuneration Committee reports to the Board on governance effectiveness, the structure, size and composition of the Board, succession planning and on the salary and benefits of the CEO and members of the Executive Team.

The committee makes recommendations to the Board of both the Charity and its subsidiary for approval of new trustees, chairs and deputy chairs of both Boards and committees. It also recommends salary and benefits for the CEO, Executive Team, appointment of CEO and carries out an annual review and update of the Code of Governance.

In reviewing the salary and benefits for the CEO and the Executive Team the committee considers salary benchmarks for equivalent roles in the sector. The committee sets individual performance in the year against the objectives agreed in each annual review and makes a salary review recommendation to the Board for approval.

The Purpose and Impact Committee is responsible with the Executive Team for coordinating the delivery of science content for the benefit of children and public benefit. It aims to ensure coherence in all activities, a clear rationale for new projects and adherence to the Charity's values.

The Fundraising Committee contributes expertise as well as regional and industry sector perspectives to the development and successful operation of the fundraising programme. Members contribute ideas and engage with other trustees to open new fundraising sources. The responsibility for developing the fundraising strategy and delivering fundraising activities rests with the Executive Team.

Related parties and co-operation with other organisations

Any relationship between a Trustee or senior manager of the Charity with a university, sponsoring company exhibition, or an organisation contracted to work for the Charity is openly disclosed to the Board.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The Charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the parent charitable company and the group, and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Financial statements

Provision of information to auditors

So far as each of the Trustees at the time the report is approved are aware:

Auditor

A resolution to reappoint HaysMac LLP as auditor will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

In preparing this report the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

The Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 23rd October 2025 and signed on its behalf:

Dr Janet Owen Chair of Trustees

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Wonderseekers

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Opinion

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Wonderseekers for the year ended 31st March 2025 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ Annual Report and the Chair’s statement. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In our opinion, the financial statements:

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Wonderseekers (continued)

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and of the parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ Annual Report (which incorporates the directors’ report).

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 32, the trustees (who are also the directors of the group and of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Based on our understanding of the group and the environment in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to charity and company law applicable in England and Wales, and we considered the extent to which noncompliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to revenue recognition, and management override of controls. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the group’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the group’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the group and the group’s members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Jane Askew

Senior Statutory Auditor, For and on behalf of HaysMac LLP, Statutory Auditors 10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1AG

Date:

28 November 2025

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities

(incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the year ending 31st March 2025

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Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds funds 2025 2024
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 3 414 141 555 758
Charitable activities: 4
Science Centre 2,091 - 2,091 2,038
Engagement and Outreach 18 - 18 32
Income from investments 55 - 55 26
Other trading activities 5 963 - 963 913
Total 3,541 141 3,682 3,767
Expenditure on:
Raising funds: 6
-
Other trading activities 1,251 1,251 1,141
Charitable activities: 7
Science Centre 2,378 55 2,433 2,045
Engagement and Outreach 92 98 190 134
Total 3,721 153 3,874 3,320
Net income/(expenditure): (180) (12) (192) 447
Transfer between funds 20 7 (7) - -
Net movement in funds (173) (19) (192) 447
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 20 3,325 284 3,609 3,162
Total funds carried forward 3,152 265 3,417 3,609
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The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year, and all income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheet

As at 31st March 2025

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Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets:
13 1,386 1,537 1,386 1,537
Land, buildings, plant and equipment
Heritage assets:
14 227 229 227 229
Land
Total fixed assets 1,613 1,766 1,613 1,766
Current assets:
Stocks 15 39 36 7 9
Debtors 16 170 209 178 183
Short term investments 1,000 450 1,000 450
Cash at bank and in hand 1,005 1,592 827 1,496
Total current assets 2,214 2,287 2,012 2,138
Liabilities:
Creditors:
17 (410) (444) (376) (416)
Amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets 1,804 1,843 1,636 1,722
Total assets less current liabilities 3,417 3,609 3,249 3,488
Total net assets 3,417 3,609 3,249 3,488
The funds of the Charity 20
Restricted income funds 265 284 265 284
Unrestricted funds:
Designated 2,766 2,847 2,766 2,847
General unrestricted 386 478 218 357
Total unrestricted funds 3,152 3,325 2,984 3,204
Total Charity funds 3,417 3,609 3,249 3,488
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Wonderseekers (the parent entity) reports a deficit for financial year 2024/25 of £239k (2023/24: £384k surplus).

The financial statements of Wonderseekers (registered number 02014929) were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 23rd October 2025 Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees

Dr Janet Owen Janet Owen

Chair of Trustees

  1. The notes on pages 58 - 72 form part of these financial statements

The notes on pages 58 - 72 form part of these financial statements

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Consolidated and Charity Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ending 31st March 2025

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Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by
A 74 717 (8) 708
operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of plant and equipment (111) (38) (111) (38)
Purchase of heritage asset 0 (230) 0 (230)
Net cash used in
(111) (268) (111) (268)
investing activities
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash
(37) 449 (119) 440
equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the
2,042 1,593 1,946 1,506
beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
B 2,005 2,042 1,827 1,946
of the year
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Consolidated and Charity Statement of Cash Flows (continued)

For the year ending 31st March 2025

Notes to the cash flow statement

A) Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow generated from operating activities

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Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Net income/(expenditure) for the year (192) 447 (239) 384
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 263 318 263 318
Decrease/(increase) in stocks (3) 3 2 (1)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors 39 (71) 5 (20)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors (34) 17 (40) 24
Loss on disposal 1 3 1 3
Net cash (used in)/provided by
74 717 (8) 708
operating activities
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B) Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

B) Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Group
2025
£’000		 Group
2024
£’000		 Charity
2025
£’000		 Charity
2024
£’000
Cash in hand
Cash on deposit		 1,005 1,592 827 1,496
1,000 450 1,000 450
Total cash and cash equivalents 2,005 2,042 1,827 1,946

C) Analysis of changes in net debt

C) Analysis of changes in net debt
As at As at
1st April Non-cash 31st March
2024 Cash-fows changes 2025
Unrestricted cash 1,592 (587) - 1,005
Total 1,592 (587) - 1,005
  1. The notes on pages 56 - 70 form part of these financial statements

The notes on pages 58 - 72 form part of these financial statements

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

Notes to the Financal Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025

1. Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention. Wonderseekers meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Wonderseekers is a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales. The Registered Office is: Telegraph Way, Morn Hill, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ.

Group financial statements

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA), Consolidated Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows consolidate the financial statements of the Charity and its subsidiary undertaking. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis.

No separate SOFA has been prepared for the Charity alone as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Preparation of accounts on a going concern basis

The Group’s primary source of income continues to be visitors to the Science Centre.

After careful consideration of the Group's current financial position, with due attention paid to the Group’s cash flows, liquidity and borrowings, and future plans and prospects, the trustees are confident that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future which is at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts.

Income

Income is recognised when the Group has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount is measurable.

Donated services and facilities

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the Group, which is the amount the Group would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the Group. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the Group which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a particular purpose.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Group’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the Group.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following headings:

Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the Group but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, facilities, personnel, IT and governance costs which support the Group’s activities. These costs have been allocated between the cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The basis on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 8.

Tangible fixed assets

The Group has elected to use the ‘deemed cost’ option on transition to FRS102 for Land and Buildings which have been revalued as at 31 March 2014 and have been depreciated from that date. Other tangible fixed assets are capitalised at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:

Asset category Annual rate
Intellectual assets 10%
Planetarium 5% – 33.3%
Offce equipment 20%
Computer equipment 25% - 33.3%
Technical equipment 6.7% – 33.3%
Exhibition equipment 14.3% – 33.3%
Equipment library 20%
Motor vehicles 25%
Freehold buildings 2%
Freehold land Nil

Heritage assets

The Group holds land as a heritage asset to support the Group’s primary objective of furthering the public understanding, particularly the young, of scientific principles and processes, enabling expansion into the natural sciences. The 9.7 acres of land is an excellent example of biodiverse chalk downland, home to a range of flora and fauna unique to this habitat and is highly visible to all visitors to the Science Centre and currently accessible for research and restoration purposes.

The Group was gifted a 125-year lease of the heritage asset which has been recorded under the ‘deemed cost’ approach at its valuation as at the grant of the lease. The asset is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis. The asset is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease at 0.8% per annum.

Stock

Stock is included at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.

Short term investments

Short term investments are cash deposits held with financial institutions with maturities of greater than three months. They are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions with original maturities of less than or equal to three months. These are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Creditors

Short term trade creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are initially measured at the transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Operating leases

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Corporation tax

The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

Any profits generated from the Charity’s trading subsidiary Sparking Curiosity Ltd will be transferred to the parent with a gift aid payment and therefore no taxation is due.

Financial instruments

The Group has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation

IIn the application of the Group’s accounting policies, described in the accounting policies above, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The Trustee representatives consider that the following are key estimates;

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

2. Legal status of the Charity

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Charity.

3. Income from donations and legacies

3. Income from donations and legacies
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Donations and grants
458		 667
Membership subscriptions
97		 91
Total
555		 758

The Charity benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers, details of which are given in our annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.

4. Income from charitable activities

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2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Science Centre:
Admission fees 1,932 2,037
Exhibit Sponsorship 8 -
Tax Relief - 1
Insurance claim 151 -
Total 2,091 2,038
Engagement and Outreach:
Outreach workshops 18 32
Total 18 32
----- End of picture text -----

5. Income from other trading activities

5. Income from other trading activities
2025
£’000		 2024
£’000
Fundraising events
Trading operations		 237 187
726 726
Total 963 913

6. Expenditure on raising funds

Direct staff
costs
£’000		 Other direct
costs
£’000		 Governance
support costs
£’000		 Other support
costs
£’000		 Total
2025
£’000
Total
2024
£’000
Trading costs 295 509 12 307 1,123
1,047
Fundraising costs 94 34 - - 128
94
Total 389 543 12 307 1,251
1,141

7. Expenditure on charitable activities

Direct staff
costs
£’000		 Other direct
costs
£’000		 Governance
support costs
£’000		 Other support
costs
£’000		 Total
2025
£’000		 Total
2024
£’000
Science Centre
Engagement and Outreach		 1,008 528 21 876 2,433 2,045
23 103 2 62 190 134
Total 1,031 631 23 938 2,623 2,179

8. Analysis of governance and support costs
Direct staff
costs
£’000		 Overheads
£’000		 Total
2025
£’000		 Total
2024
£’000
Governance costs
Finance, HR and IT costs
Management costs
Premises and offce costs		 - 34 34 36
313 101 414 379
196 112 308 236
- 523 523 241
Total 509 770 1,279 892

Support costs related to the building have been re-allocated on a square footage basis, whilst other costs have been re-allocated on a direct cost basis.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

9. Net income for the year

----- Start of picture text -----
Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
This is stated after charging: £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Depreciation 262 318 262 318
Auditor’s remuneration for:
Audit 24 22 18 17
Taxation services - 5 - 5
Operating lease rentals:
Plant and machinery 10 12 10 12
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11. Analysis of staff costs, Trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

2025
£’000		 2024
£’000
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 1,729 1,536
150 128
50 34
Total 1,929 1,698

The number of employees whose emoluments exceeded £60,000 during the year was:

10. Investment in subsidiary and trading income

The Charity has a wholly owned trading subsidiary, Sparking Curiosity Limited (Company Number 10661776), which is incorporated in England and Wales. A summary of the trading results of the subsidiary to 31 March 2025 is shown below. This includes a management charge levied by the Charity of £393k (2024: £347k). Audited accounts are filed with the Registrar of Companies.

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2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Turnover 876 813
Cost of sales (348) (364)
Gross profit 528 449
Other operating charges (413) (381)
Profit for the year before tax 115 68
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2025
Number		 2024
Number
£100,001 - £110,000
£90,001 - £100,000
£80,001 - £90,000
£60,001 - £70,000		 1 -
- 1
- -
1 1

Pension costs are allocated to activities in proportion to the related staffing costs incurred.

The trustees were not paid and did not receive any other benefits from employment with the Charity in the year (2024: £0). Four trustees were reimbursed £579.90 for travel costs during the year (2024: £74.10). No trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the Charity (2024: £0).

The key management personnel of the Charity comprised the trustees and Senior Leadership Team. The total employee costs of the key management personnel of the Charity were £418k (2024: £396k).

The capital of the company comprises 100 ordinary shares of £1 each. The maximum permissible amount of the subsidiary’s reserves of £168,374 will be transferred to the parent by 31 December 2025 such that no tax will be payable by the subsidiary.

12. Staff numbers

The average monthly head count was 88 staff (2024: 102 staff) and the average monthly number of full-time equivalent employees (including casual and part-time staff) during the year were as follows:

(including casual and part-time staff) during the year were as follows:
2025
Number		 2024
Number
Science Centre
Offce and management		 43 41
12 10
Total 55 51

All staff were employed by the Charity.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

13. Tangible fixed assets – Group

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Work in Intellectual Freehold land
progress assets Equipment and buildings Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024 - 253 2,686 1,087 4,026
Additions 48 - 63 - 111
Transfers - - - - -
Disposals - - (24) - (24)
As at 31 March 2025 48 253 2,725 1,087 4,113
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 - 253 2,102 134 2,489
Charge for year - - 242 19 261
Eliminated on disposal - - (23) - (23)
As at 31 March 2025 - 253 2,321 153 2,727
Net book value:
As at 31 March 2025 48 - 404 934 1,386
As at 31 March 2024 - - 584 953 1,537
----- End of picture text -----

In July 2016, the land and buildings were inspected by Andrew Smith & Son of Winchester to obtain a current open market valuation at 31st March 2014. The buildings were valued at £1,000k and the land at £125k. The trustees restated opening balances on 1 April 2015 in accordance with the deemed cost option of FRS 102. Had the deemed cost option not been elected, at 31 March 2025, the cost of freehold land and buildings stated above would be £7,621k, and the net book value £5,222k.

13. Tangible fixed assets – Charity

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Work in Intellectual Freehold land
progress assets Equipment and buildings Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024 - 253 2,685 1,087 4,025
Additions 48 - 63 - 111
Transfers - - - - -
Disposals - - (24) - (24)
As at 31 March 2025 48 253 2,724 1,087 4,112
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 - 253 2,101 134 2,488
Charge for year - - 242 19 261
Eliminated on disposal - - (23) - (23)
As at 31 March 2025 - 253 2,320 153 2,726
Net book value:
As at 31 March 2025 48 - 404 934 1,386
As at 31 March 2024 - - 584 953 1,537
----- End of picture text -----

14. Heritage assets - Group and Charity

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Land Total
£’000 £’000
Cost or valuation:
At 1 April 2024 and 2025 230 230
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 1 1
Charge for year 2 2
Eliminated on disposal - -
As at 31 March 2025 3 3
Net book value:
As at 31 March 2025 227 227
As at 31 March 2024 229 229
----- End of picture text -----

Heritage assets relate to the £230k donation from Arqiva of land adjacent to the Charity's site at Morn Hill, Winchester, on a long term lease (125 years) with a peppercorn rent, which was donated in 2023/24. The Charity's external valuer (Lambert Smith Hampton) carried out a desk based survey of the land as at 31 March 2024. The valuation was based on the current use of the land and relevant planning policy.

Summary of Transactions: There were no other transactions in the five years prior to the year end date of 31 March 2025.

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

15. Stock

15. Stock
Group
2025
£’000		 Group
2024
£’000		 Charity
2025
£’000		 Charity
2024
£’000
Shop goods for resale
Heating fuel		 32 27 - -
7 9 7 9
Total 39 36 7 9

During the year, £317k (2024: £346k) of stock was recognised as an expense.

16. Debtors

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Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Trade debtors 57 49 48 43
Prepayments 67 50 67 34
Grants 4 - 4 -
Events 6 3 - -
Tax relief 3 - 3 -
Amounts owed from group undertakings - - 24 16
Other 33 107 32 90
Total 170 209 178 183
----- End of picture text -----

17. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

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Group Group Charity Charity
2025 2024 2025 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Trade creditors 119 104 111 90
Accruals 90 48 78 41
Taxation and social security 49 50 49 50
Other creditors 21 16 21 16
Deferred income 131 226 117 219
Total 410 444 376 416
----- End of picture text -----

18. Deferred income

Deferred income comprises: advance ticket sales related to admission to the Science Centre and for events held after 31 March 2025 of £64k (2024 £89k), deferred membership from annual passes of £51k (2024 £51k) and deferred grant income of £16k (2024 £86k).

(2024 £86k).
Group
2025
£’000		 Group
2024
£’000		 Charity
2025
£’000		 Charity
2024
£’000
Balance as at 1 April 226 135 219 132
Amount released to income and expenditure account
Amount deferred in year		 (226) (135) (219) (132)
131 226 117 219
Balance as at 31 March 131 226 117 219

19. Analysis of assets and liabilities between funds

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Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted
funds funds Total funds funds Total
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Group:
Fixed assets 265 1,121 1,386 284 1,253 1,537
Heritage assets - 227 227 - 229 229
Current assets - 2,214 2,214 - 2,287 2,287
Current liabilities - (410) (410) - (444) (444)
Group total 265 3,152 3,417 284 3,325 3,609
Charity:
Fixed assets 265 1,121 1,386 284 1,253 1,537
Heritage assets - 227 227 - 229 229
Current assets - 2,011 2,011 - 2,138 2,138
Current liabilities - (376) (376) - (416) (416)
Charity total 265 2,983 3,248 284 3,204 3,488
----- End of picture text -----

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

20. Movement in funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Transfer
At 1st between At 31st
April 2024 Income Expenditure funds March 2025
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted funds:
Widening Participation and Outreach - 86 (105) 19 -
Millennium Project 284 - (19) - 265
Other restricted funds - 55 (29) (26) -
Total restricted funds 284 141 (153) (7) 265
Unrestricted funds:
Designated:
Planetarium 254 53 - - 307
Fixed Assets 1,254 - (242) 110 1,122
Heritage Assets 229 - (2) - 227
Outdoor Science Engagement 600 - - - 600
Environmental Infrastructure 500 - - - 500
Exhibition 10 8 (8) - 10
Total designated funds 2,847 61 (252) 110 2,766
Unrestricted:
General unrestricted 357 2,604 (2,640) (103) 218
Total general unrestricted funds 357 2,604 (2,640) (103) 218
Total unrestricted funds 3,204 2,665 (2,892) 7 2,984
Total charitable funds 3,488 2,806 (3,045) - 3,249
Trading subsidiary 121 876 (829) - 168
-
Total group funds 3,609 3,682 (3,874) 3,417
----- End of picture text -----

Restricted funds

The Charity received donations and grants which the donor specified to be solely used for particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the Charity.

Widening Participation and Outreach

A number of discrete projects to reach underserved audiences. Projects included outreach activities in school and community settings.

Millennium Project

A capital development project for the creation of the Science Centre, placing restrictions on the use of the building.

Unrestricted funds

These are funds available for the general objectives of the Charity. Included within unrestricted funds are designated funds that the Charity has put aside for a specific purpose. The Charity has existing fixed assets that are essential to its operation, the value of which has been designated. A designated fund, Outdoor Science Engagement, was established in 2022/23 to support the Charity’s ambitious future plans. The heritage asset donated in 2023/24 has been designated to further support these plans. A further designated fund of £500k was also created in 2023/24 to support the charities work to improve its infrastructure and reduce its carbon footprint.

The transfers between general unrestricted funds and designated funds represent the movements on each of these funds in the year.

See note 27 for prior year comparatives

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2025

21. Operating lease commitments – Group and Charity

26. 2024 Statement of Financial Activities (Prior Year)

The future operating lease payments are as follows:

The future operating lease payments are as follows:
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Within one year 5 6
Total 5 6

22. Pension scheme

During the year £50k (2024: £34k) was paid into a defined contribution pension scheme. At the year-end contributions of £10k (2024: £7k) were due to the scheme.

23. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

24. Limitation of liability

Wonderseekers is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. At the year ended 31 March 2025, there were 10 members (11 members at 31 March 2024), each of whom has undertaken to contribute a maximum of £1, if required, in the event of the winding up of the company.

25. Capital commitments

At 31 March 2025 the Charity had committed to replacing the lift at the Science Centre. The total order value was £44k, of which £35k is included as work in progress and £9k outstanding. Work is due to be completed in July 2025 (2024: nil).

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds
funds funds 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 700 58 758
Charitable activities:
Science Centre 2,038 - 2,038
Engagement and Outreach 32 - 32
Income from investments 26 - 26
Other trading activities 913 - 913
Total 3,709 58 3,767
Expenditure on:
Raising funds:
Other trading activities 1,138 3 1,141
Charitable activities:
Science Centre 1,997 48 2,045
Engagement and Outreach 108 26 134
Total 3,243 77 3,320
Net (expenditure)/income: 466 (19) 447
Transfer between funds - - -
Net movement in funds 466 (19) 447
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 2,859 303 3,162
Total funds carried forward 3,325 284 3,609
----- End of picture text -----

For people and planet - Annual Report 2024/25

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ending 31st March 2024

27. 2024 Movement in funds (Prior Year)

----- Start of picture text -----
At 1 Transfer At 31
April Incoming Outgoing between March
2023 resources resources funds 2024
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Restricted funds:
Widening Participation and Outreach - 57 (57) - -
Millennium Project 303 - (19) - 284
Other restricted funds - 1 (1) - -
Total restricted funds 303 58 (77) - 284
Unrestricted funds:
Designated:
Planetarium 199 55 - - 254
Fixed Assets 1,517 - (298) 35 1,254
Heritage Assets - - (1) 230 229
Outdoor Science Engagement 600 - - - 600
Environmental Infrastructure - - - 500 500
Exhibition 22 - (12) - 10
Total designated funds 2,338 55 (311) 765 2,847
Unrestricted:
General unrestricted 463 2,841 (2,182) (765) 357
Total general unrestricted funds 463 2,841 (2,182) (765) 357
Total unrestricted funds 2,801 2,896 (2,493) - 3,204
Total charitable funds 3,104 2,954 (2,570) - 3,488
Trading subsidiary 58 813 (750) - 121
-
Total Group funds 3,162 3,767 (3,320) 3,609
----- End of picture text -----

Charity information

Registered office

Telegraph Way Morn Hill Winchester Hampshire SO21 1HZ

Registered charity no.

294582

Bankers

Lloyds Bank PLC 49 High Street Winchester Hampshire SO23 9BU

Solicitors

Paris Smith LLP 1 London Road Southampton Hampshire SO15 2AE

Moore Barlow LLP The Oriel Sydenham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 3SR

Auditors

HaysMac LLP 10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1AG

Patron

Megan McCubbin

Life members

Mr Jeremy C Booker ACA Mr Colin Brook Dr Dolores Byrne OBE HonFIET CEng Professor Malcolm J Coe FRAS FHEA Dr Ian C Jenkins MSc Dr Toby StJohn King MA PhD CEng FIMechE Mr David Livermore OBE Ms Terry V Marsh FRTS FRSA Mr David Morgan Sir Martin Read CBE, MA (Cantab), D.Phil (Oxon), FIET Mrs Elizabeth M Wallace

Board of Trustees

Dr Janet Owen, FRSA, AMA, MA (Cantab), MA, Chair Sara Sullivan, Deputy Chair Catherine Day (Appointed 25th October 2024, Resigned 21st April 2025) Phyllida James Malcolm Kemp Tajinder Leonard Janet May (Appointed 17th July 2025) Sue Parr (Resigned 26th May 2024) Katie Roberts (Resigned 25th October 2024) Yvonne Rowland James Sheppard (Appointed 17th July 2025) Linda Taylor Dr Rutang Thanawalla Thomas Wyman

Executive Team

Ben Ward FRSA, Chief Executive Officer

Kay Rothwell, Chief Finance and Risk Officer (Appointed 20th August 2025) Grant Brisland, Chief Operating Officer (Appointed 1st May 2025)

Registered Office: Telegraph Way Morn Hill Winchester Hampshire SO21 1HZ

www.wonderseekers.charity www.linkedin.com/company/wonderseekers/

Registered Charity No. 294582 Registered Company No. 02014929