The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The objectives of African Parks UK (‘AP-UK’), as set out in Paragraph 3 of its Articles of Associations, is “to advance environmental protection, in particular the long term sustainability of national parks, protected areas and other nature areas in Africa for the benefit of nature and people by supporting the management and financing of national parks, protected areas and other nature areas in Africa, and all that is directly or indirectly related to this or can be conducive to this, all in the broadest sense.”
As a registered charity, AP-UK acts as the fundraising entity in the UK for African Parks Network (‘APN’), a not for profit organisation based in South Africa.
APN takes on the direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long term management of national parks and other protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities throughout Africa. The aim of APN is to rehabilitate each park under management, making them ecologically, socio-politically, and financially sustainable long into the future, for the benefit of people and wildlife. APN secures long-term mandates from the government, typically for 20 years or more, puts in place critical funding solutions to secure money for the parks and installs effective management, including a board that sees representation from APN, the government, and local communities.
Accordingly, AP-UK grants monies received in the UK directly to APN in the furtherance of its objectives of rehabilitation and long term-management of protected areas in Africa.
2024 saw substantial progress in increasing efficiency and compliance across all institutional areas at APN, particularly enhancing social safeguards and strengthening grievance and redress mechanisms. While this required significant resources, it meant a stronger foundation and commitment to the organisation’s core values and purpose, with the unwavering support from partners and funders.
APN officially launched an innovative funding mechanism, the Verifiable Nature Unit (“VNU”), at Davos in January 2024. APN has been working on this new endeavour for three years, with three pilot transactions completed during the year.
APN also officially launched its Rhino Rewild initiative, which aims to rewild 2,000 captive-bred white rhino acquired in South Africa across the African continent in the next 10 years, with 376 rhino moved through 2024.
Other highlights included:
APN manages two national parks in South Sudan and undertook a historic survey that allowed the South Sudanese government to confirm the world’s largest land mammal migration on Earth, in South Sudan. This event triggered extensive media attention;
Liuwa National Park in Zambia completed a 20-year milestone under APN’s management in partnership with the Barotse Royal Establishment and the Government of Zambia; and
A long-term management partnership with the Ethiopian Government for Gambella National Park was finalised, making it the 23rd park in the APN portfolio.
APN manages 23 parks across 13 African countries, an area of more than 20 million hectares. APN has the ambition to manage 30 parks by 2030, and an additional 10 through our incubation program.
African Parks UK – Update
2024 was the fifth year of operations of AP-UK and the third full year for the board installed in November 2021. The year set out with a successful African Parks Learning Journey to Rwanda, initiated by the AP-UK Board, with a small group of prospects visiting Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks. These kind of trips are considered one of the best ways to grow the African Parks supporter group and the trip led to several gifts to the organisation.
AP-UK also continued to engage in the UK, both directly with donors and prospective donors. In May we had South Sudan Park Manager David Simpson in London for a well attended engagement event. David’s address was very well received.
In early 2024 African Parks was the target of human rights violation allegations in the UK press, to which the APN Board had already commissioned an independent investigation. African Parks chose to communicate mostly directly with its key supporters and stakeholders and through updates online.
Omnia Strategy LLP, a specialist human rights law firm, conducted an independent investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo and submitted their report to the APN Board. The recommendations resulting from this process are now being implemented. APN is committed to ensuring the protection of human rights throughout its operations.
Overall, the focus remained on creating more awareness of the critical work of APN throughout Africa, often in challenging circumstances.
Donations for the organisation continued to come from a relatively small number of individuals, ranging in size, and from a few foundations and Postcode Planet Trust (via People’s Postcode Lottery). This income was used to cover a number of parks under management by African Parks, notably the parks in Zimbabwe and Kafue National Park in Zambia. The funding from the Postcode Planet Trust was for unrestricted use.
AP-UK continued to lead the fundraising associated activities in the UK with support from the staff from African Parks’ European fundraising office in the Netherlands. The costs generated by AP-UK in 2024 were covered by donations from the AP-UK Board.
In January 2025, APN appointed a dedicated fundraiser to be based in London and to target the UK, with support from the AP-UK Board.
The Statement of Financial Activities set out on page 8 of the financial statements provides an overview of the charity’s incoming resources in its initial period of fundraising.
Incoming funding totaled £3,000,245 (2023: £2,335,727), comprising monies received from the Postcode Planet Trust of £1,500,000 (2023: £1,600,000), donations from individuals and other foundations of £1,490,080 (2023: £728,227) and gift aid receivable of £10,165 (2023: £7,500).
Resources expended on charitable activities amounted to £3,891,279 (2023: £2,935,223), of which £3,854,914 (2023: £2,902,500) expended on making grants and £36,365 (2023: £16,159) on governance costs. In the prior year £16,564 was expended on raising funds. There was no such expenditure in the current year. The deficit for the year was £891,034 (2023: £599,496).
The deficit arises due to the mismatch in the timing of the recognition of donations under accounting standard FRS102 and the recognition of the onward grant to APN.
In this respect a donation is recognised when APUK is entitled to it, it is probable to be received and it can be reliably measured. Accordingly, APUK has recognised donations at the point of commitment when it meets with the foregoing. Some of these donations have been long term commitments over several years.
By contrast, APUK only commits to the onward grant to APN of the inward donations when the associated cash is received. The grants to APN are recognised in the accounts when they are communicated in writing to APN. In this respect the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 includes grants to APN of £1,255,000 for which the related income was recognised in prior years.
AP-UK’s trustees feel the level of reserves are appropriate given that the charity has no office and very limited staff on its payroll. Being part of the larger APN, APN signs off on the budgeted expenditures of the charity and provides the funding needed to cover the charity’s expenses.
The trustees of AP-UK see no material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on AP-UK's ability to continue as a going concern, as AP-UK has no recurring liabilities and APN has sufficient cash on hand to support AP-UK, if required. Part of the cash on hand includes €14 million in free reserves, held by Stichting African Parks in the Netherlands on behalf of APN, that can be used to bridge the funding gap at the end of each year, i.e. to fund costs that APN has not been able to meet through donations and revenue generating activities. APN has not drawn from this reserve since 2013.
Plans for future periods
Africa is home to 25% of the global biodiversity that provides critical ecosystem services, driving the continent’s economy and serving as buffers to climate change. However, the continent is experiencing a dramatic loss of biodiversity, from habitat loss and degradation, direct overexploitation of wildlife and fishery species, and the spread of certain non-native invasive species. This loss of biodiversity affects livelihoods, water supply, food security and lessens resilience to extreme events, particularly for people living in rural areas who are often the poorest. APN is steadfast in its commitment to playing a pivotal role in the global effort to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030. The trustees underscore this commitment and the urgency associated with it.
The impact of the organisation in the African landscape continues to be recognized globally by both private and institutional donors, and although the number of donors in the UK is currently small, we are extremely pleased to see donors loyal in their support to the work of APN. AP-UK continues to raise awareness for the outstanding work of APN in an effort to grow the supporter network. Having a full-time senior fundraiser, working from the UK from January 2025, underscores this commitment to the UK activities of APN.
The Trustees are considering expanding and/or reshaping the board in 2025/2026 to reach a broader set of supporters.
AP-UK is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland, with company registration number SC650944. AP-UK is also a registered charity in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, with charity registration number SC050047.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in AP-UK. All of the trustees are members of AP-UK and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Board members use their own network of contacts to identify suitable candidates possessing the necessary knowledge and skills to act as trustees of AP-UK. At the present time, AP-UK has four trustees, which is considered adequate for its purposes. In accordance with paragraph 8 of AP-UK's Articles of Association the number of trustees shall not be less than three.
Trustees are recruited on the basis of their existing relevant knowledge. Information relating to AP-UK's legal status, finances and activities are provided in advance of appointment. Trustees are expected to identify their training needs and to take measures to ensure that these needs are met.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of African Parks UK (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the statement of financial position, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
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.
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 charity’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.
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 other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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. 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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect irregularities, including fraud. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and management.
Our approach was as follows:
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the charitable company and determined that the most significant are those that relate to the reporting framework (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 (FRS102)), the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, and the relevant direct and indirect tax compliance regulation in the United Kingdom.
We understood how the charitable company is complying with those frameworks by making enquiries of management and seeking representations from those charged with governance. We corroborated our understanding by reviewing supporting documentation including board meeting minutes and correspondence with regulatory bodies.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the risk of management override of internal control and by designating revenue recognition as a fraud risk. We performed journal entry testing by specific risk criteria, with a focus on journals indicating large or unusual transactions based on our understanding of the business. We tested specific transactions reconciling to source documentation, ensuring appropriate authorisation of the transactions, and that the income was applied in accordance with the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and the restricted terms of grants and donations, where applicable.
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our procedures involved enquiries of management and those charged with governance, review of grants payable, review of legal and professional expenses and review of board meeting minutes.
The charitable company is a regulated entity under the supervision of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. As such, the Senior Statutory Auditor considered the experience and expertise of the engagement team to ensure that the team had the appropriate competence and capabilities.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://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 charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members and trustees 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 charitable company, the charitable company’s members as a body,and the charitable company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
African Parks UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Summit House, 4 - 5 Mitchell Street, Edinburgh, EH6 7BD.
The nature of the charity's operations and principal activities are set out in the Trustees’ Report.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, based on the ongoing financial and operational support from the African Parks Network. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Fundraising
Bank charges
Travel and accommodation
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
Included in other payables is £1 owed to a previous trustee, following monies advanced to the charity in a prior year.
During the year one trustee made a donation to the charity of £20,250 (2023: three trustees donated £26,346).
The analysis of auditor's remuneration is as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The charity had no material debt during the year.