Ocean Conservation Trust Limited
Registered charity 1032491 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM LIMITED
Advance the education of the public in, and promote the conservation of, living marine and freshwater aquatic organisms by the provision of an aquarium and museum and other programmes of education and research and to disseminate the useful results of such research for the benefit of the public
Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Animals · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the group made a loss of £125,175 for the year ended 31 January 2025, primarily due to prior-year VAT adjustments. Despite this, the trustees report that free reserves of £2,227k exceed the stated policy target of approximately £1.5m, and the group maintains a cash position equivalent to 5.9 months of operating costs.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Fundraising cost ratio: 27.0% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“For every £1 spent on fundraising we raised £3.70 to deliver our charitable objectives.” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three months of operating costs (approximately £1.5m) (held: £2.2m)
“The Trustees have set a free reserves level that would cover 3 months of operating costs (approximately £1.5m) over the next 3-5 years.” — page 27
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Marine Coastal Processing Limited (The company is owned by Mark Perry (Key Management Personnel) In the year, Ocean Conservation Trust purchased services from Marine Coastal Processing Limited totalling £300 (2024: £nil). At the balance sheet d ate the amount d ue to/from Marine Coastal Processing Limited was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).
“Marine Coastal Processing Limited (The company is owned by Mark Perry (Key Management Personnel) In the year, Ocean Conservation Trust purchased services from Marine Coastal Processing Limited totalling £300 (2024: £nil). At the balance sheet d ate the amount d ue to/from Marine Coastal Processing Limited was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: NMA Operations Limited, National Aquarium Limited, Scylla Reef Limited
“The Charity has several wholly owned subsidiaries, namely: • NMA Operations Limited – a company limited by shares that manages the trading operations incorporating retail, café and functions sales and associated trading costs. • National Aquarium Limited – a charitable company limited by shares makes grants to external conservation projects. • Scylla Reef Limited – a company limited by shares set up solely to hold legal title to an artificial reef (dormant company).” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by PKF Francis Clark LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Ocean Conservation Trust (matched by registered charity number).
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£1.6m
Reserves (reported)
£10.1m
Reported reserves equal ~16.0 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (48% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 21.0% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (22/09/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- William Joseph Oultonchair
- Charlotte Davies
- Duncan Vaughan · trustee of 1 other charity
- Joseph Patrick Lavery
- Matej PFAJFAR
- Mr K Lewins
- Olivia McLaughlin
- Paul Cox
- Professor Jeremy Alan Roberts
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Devon
Income and spending
Common questions
Is Ocean Conservation Trust Limited financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the group made a loss of £125,175 for the year ended 31 January 2025, primarily due to prior-year VAT adjustments. Despite this, the trustees report that free reserves of £2,227k exceed the stated policy target of approximately £1.5m, and the group maintains a cash position equivalent to 5.9 months of operating costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PKF Francis Clark LLP.
Who funds Ocean Conservation Trust Limited?
Funders whose own accounts filings name Ocean Conservation Trust Limited as a grant recipient include WHEELER MILL FOUNDATION, THE DIXON FOUNDATION, CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
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