Bumper year for National Trust as recession, staycations and weather boost visits, spending and membership, as 08/09 Annual Report is published.
Evidence that recessions favour the National Trust – even during a wet summer – has been piling up at the charity’s central office in Swindon as the hectic summer season draws to a close with membership at an all time high.
At the half-way stage in its financial year, the figures show visitor numbers at pay-for-entry properties up by a startling 18 per cent, reaching more than 12 million visits by the start of September compared to 14.8 million for the whole of last year.
Membership recruitment is nearly 21 per cent up with the total membership now at 3.76m – more than a quarter of a million higher than two years ago.
The Trust’s catering and retail operations are also up by 22 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, and bookings at holiday cottages are 8 per cent higher than last year.
The latest statistics compare favourably with last year’s outcomes, published today (Monday 14 September) in the charity’s Annual Report for 2008/9.
Yet even then, in last year’s washout summer and credit crunch autumn, visits were only down by 1 percentage point at pay-for-entry properties.
In his introduction to the report, Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the Trust, writes: 'A confident and constructive spirit matters at a time like this, when so many are dispirited and distressed.
We are not immune from the recession, but our founders’ vision – that everyone should benefit from the joy and inspiration of beautiful places – has never been more compelling than it is today.'
Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, added: 'What is most gratifying is our research into how much people enjoy their visits.
All the evidence is showing that our drive to bring our properties to life, give people the chance to get more involved in our work and provide them with an inspiring and very enjoyable visit is paying huge dividends.
What is more, any additional revenue we earn goes straight back into our properties for conservation work and to support our growing emphasis on engagement.'
The 2008/09 Annual Report – entitled ‘Time Well Spent’ - shows the margin achieved between net operating revenues and operating expenditure at 21.5 per cent, above the long term 20 per cent target though slightly below the 22.1 per cent target set for the year.
This was achieved through tight cost control and a focus on engaging people in a year when income suffered: commercial results were down by £4 million under target, but membership held up.
This margin is vital because any surplus generated by the Trust is split roughly fifty-fifty to support reserves and boost conservation spending.
The report also reports on the highlights of a busy and proactive year, including the launch of the campaign to save Sir John Vanbrugh’s masterpiece - Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland - a massive switch over to low energy light bulbs across the Trust’s 300 properties, the BBC’s Autumnwatch at Brownsea Island, another surge in volunteer numbers to 55,000 and receipt of the generous gift of three Historic House Hotels – one of the largest single donations in the Trust’s history.
The report shows that the Trust’s continuing success has enabled a substantial boost to its conservation efforts. Three quarters of all properties now have agreed and prioritised conservation objectives and half have now established a baseline against which improvements can be measured – both above target outcomes.
Commenting on the outcomes, Finance Director Andrew Copestake said:
'At the start of the year, we were not clear whether the recession was a threat or an opportunity. As it turns out, it seems to be turning into a bumper year – even legacies are up, despite the difficult financial environment.
However, the Trust is always on guard against complacency, and a good year can easily be followed by a poor one. The good news is that, thanks to our members and visitors, our reserves continue to grow to give us some protection against the bad times.'
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