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| Resilient! The RSPB's finances have never looked healthier |
THERE is good news on the finances of the RSPB ahead of the society's annual meeting on Saturday morning (October 4).
Over the past 12 months, its income has soared by 14.8 per cent to a record £195-million.
RSPB bosses have described the growth, which is revealed in the 2024-25 annual report, as "excellent".
The uplift is attributable partly to increased membership, which now stands at almost 1,200,000, but more to monies generously left in their wills by deceased members and supporters of the RSPB.
This latter sum came in at a record-breaking £49.1-million.
The coffers were also swelled by record amounts of grants and donations from trusts, corporates and other benefactors.
Meanwhile, total expenditure on employing staff, maintaining its reserves, land purchases, education and other activities came in at £177-million
So the Bedfordshire-based charity ended its year in the black by £18-milllion.
Despite the robust financial position, the annual report strikes a cautionary note.
"We face huge inflationary pressures on our running costs,"it says.
"We also continue to see global economic uncertainty, primarily through the threats, consequences, and escalation of events stemming from international tensions, conflicts and political instability, all of which are continuing to have a knock-on effect on the global economy.
"The uncertain financial and external context has meant rapidly rising running costs.
"The cost of goods and services has continued to rise, and the National Insurance threshold change announced in the budget in October 2024 meant we now need to find over £2-million extra in
our budget every year.
" The external volatility looks here to stay, and we must continue with careful financial management to maintain our financial sustainability for the future.
"We remain financially resilient, and are within our policy reserves range."
The report ends on an upbeat note: "The support and commitment of our members and supporters remains strong.
"This gives us a sound financial base to meet the challenges ahead in our mission to save nature."
