Ocean Conservation Trust Limited

Registered charity 1032491 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM LIMITED

Latest income
£7.5m
Latest spending
£7.6m
Registered
1994
Accounts read
FY2025

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.

What the accounts disclose

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.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Ocean Conservation Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2025)

Total income
£7.5m
Total spending
£7.6m
Cost of raising funds
£1.6m
Reserves (reported)
£10.1m
Employees
180

Reported reserves equal ~16.0 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Devon

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/01/2025£7.5m£7.6m
31/01/2024£7.0m£6.7m
31/01/2023£6.4m£5.7m
31/01/2022£5.2m£4.5m
31/01/2021£3.2m£4.1m

Common questions

Is Ocean Conservation Trust Limited financially healthy?

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.

FunderYearAmount
WHEELER MILL FOUNDATIONFY2025£59k
THE DIXON FOUNDATIONFY2023£50k
THE DIXON FOUNDATIONFY2024£15k
CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£3k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund27/11/2012£509k"Seagrass for Seahorses"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund25/01/2002£48k"National Marine Aquarium - Web Based Learning - Pilot Project"

Funders of similar charities

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