December 2005
Contents
Gift Aid - new arrangements and branding
New Director for Ecsite's Brussels office
Eurobarometer reveals a mix of confidence and scepticism
NEWS FROM THE ECSITE-UK OFFICE
Gift Aid – new arrangements and branding
Ecsite-uk has a seat on the ‘Attractions Gift Aid Liaison Group’ (AGALG), lobbying and liaising on members' behalf. The outcomes are as positive as we could sensibly expect.
Important information follows!
1. HM Revenue & Customs guidance notes
The definitive sources of information are the legislation and the HMR&C Guidance, prepared by HM Revenue & Customs, to be found on their website
www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/chapter3-insert.htm
This gives details of rules about benefits that may be offered to incentivise participation, within the standard Gift Aid limits. NB Gift Aid provisions apply only to donations, not to admissions charges.
The AGALG has spoken to HMR&C concerning the potential use of vouchers as an incentive to visitors up to the permitted Gift Aid value, that could be exchanged for goods and/or services. HMR&C are not prepared to give written guidance, as they do not wish to be seen to be encouraging such arrangements. From AGALG's point of view, the important requirement is to ensure that all eligible attractions operate in an acceptable manner, to avoid many after-the-event challenges and the potential headline-making controversies that could ensue. It has been agreed that we can advise that the ‘Gift’ can be ‘goods or services’ up to the defined value, and may be issued by means of a redeemable voucher, subject to the maintenance of an adequate audit trail to meet HMR&C requirements. HMR&C have confirmed that this is not wrong, or misleading.
Another extremely important clarification has been about the potential to promote an admission charge to all visitors that includes the additional (ie 10% minimum) element, subsequently only claiming Gift Aid in respect of those who are eligible UK taxpayers, and who agree to make a donation of an equivalent amount. It has been confirmed that this can be acceptable provided that it is absolutely clear that the ‘10% extra’ is voluntary, and that the net price or normal admission charge is clearly advised, with visitors choosing to pay the net cost if they wish.
2. Branding: logo and standard texts
The Branding design guidelines which have been developed for free use by all Attractions participating in the Gift Aid scheme, are available in pdf format.
AGALG's Branding design guidelines (PDF file)
We acknowledge the help of London Zoo and Cravens Advertising in developing this. The developed version is capable of being used with all the variations of +10%/benefits/inclusive and annual schemes.
The more the logos are used, the greater public recognition will be, and we believe the easier it will become to persuade visitors to participate.
3. Promotional point of sale materials
It could be helpful to have stocks of the standard visual (i.e.the branded logo - as shown above) in printed form, to be made available in a few basic sizes, perhaps:
- as counter cards
- as showcards and posters (paper and on lightweight card)
- as vinyl window decals
and possibly in some other formats. AGALG has no funds to do this.
RSVP: Please would you indicate (by email to enquiries@ecsite-uk.net) whether your organisation would support Ecsite-uk in sharing in the pro rata cost of the origination of these materials? ie would you find this useful? Or would you prefer to produce your own?
NEWS FROM ECSITE’S BRUSSELS OFFICE
New Director for Ecsite's Brussels office
Starting formally on 1 February 2006 is Catherine Franche, taking over from Walter Staveloz. (Through December/January they will hand-over and share tasks.)
Catherine says: “Museum professionals are at the heart of my career; representing them, listening to their needs, developing useful services and tools towards a goal we share. While presently employed in France at OCIM (Office de Coopération et d’Information Muséographiques), I have worked in Canada at the Société des musées québécois, organisations both devoted to networking, sharing and bringing resources, information, services to museums, and for OCIM, specifically to the science communication community.
“My two nationalities – French and Canadian – and living and working in different countries are an advantage: once a frame of mind is open to North American and European values and methods, cultural diversities are more readily integrated and appreciated. Shades of cultural differences have for me become sources of ideas and creative inputs.’
Welcome to Brussels, Catherine, and welcome to Ecsite.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
ReDiscover book published
A full-colour ReDiscover book has been published, showcasing all of the exhibitions supported under this major funding programme in which 64 grants were given, totalling £34 million.
Spanning the length and breadth of the UK, projects were funded from Aberdeen (Satrosphere) to Plymouth (National Marine Aquarium), Machynlleth (Centre for Alternative Technology) to Norwich (Inspire). And the diversity of projects is vast – from the Eden's Project's storytelling ‘mechanical theatre’ for raising issues in science, to bringing engineering alive with the revitalisation of Brunel's steamship, the ss Great Britain.
The publication is available free of charge. To order a copy, please email:
publishing@wellcome.ac.uk
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR
First UK MSc in Creative Non-Fiction Writing
A new Masters programme in Creative Non-Fiction Writing launched in October 2005 at Imperial College London. The first programme of its type to run in the UK, the creative non-fiction course tackles writing at length by developing craft skills that combine analytical expertise, factual research, and explanatory techniques.
The programme's focus is on popular science writing. Writing with the explanatory clarity of Richard Dawkins in The Blind Watchmaker, as engagingly as Bill Bryson in A Short History of Nearly Everything or as dramatically as James Watson in The Double Helix demands literary skill of a high order. Course organisers recognise that being a subject expert or diligent researcher and competent exponent of facts and ideas is no longer enough to write a successful non-fiction title.
Course details are at www.imperial.ac.uk/sciencecommunication [archived - link removed]
Or contact course leader, Jon Turney, at jonturney@dsl.pipex.com
RESOURCE
Eurobarometer reveals a mix of confidence and scepticism
November’s special issue of RTD info (the quarterly magazine published by the European Commission presenting a mix of research results and debate on scientific subjects of interest to a wide, non-specialised readership) presents the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on science and technology, carried out for the first time in 32 countries simultaneously – a combined population of 570 million.
The Eurobarometer on S&T attitudes has been published every year since 1992: use it to track trends.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/rtdinfo/special_euro/index_en.html
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Explore the Eureka! Moment
Explore the Eureka! Moment is designed to encourage children aged 3-12 to explore and recognise their own creativity, and features a series of multi-media exhibits, puzzles and interactives which reflect Eureka!’s ‘learning through play’ ethos.
One of the key elements of the 110m2 exhibition, The Big Brain allows children to explore the act of creativity as it happens and discover where new ideas come from, how inventions become a reality and how problems lead to solutions. In other areas children are encouraged to generate new ideas and develop their own creative abilities through fun hands-on activities.
The exhibition has been enjoyed by thousands of families at venues in Yorkshire and Humber since it was launched in May 2004, including Bradford Industrial Museum and York Museum and Gardens.
Explore the Eureka! Moment will be available for hire at venues across the UK from early 2006. The exhibition is supported by a full set of marketing materials and educational resources.
For further details about the exhibition, price and availability please contact Tudor Gwynn, Exhibitions Director on 01422 330069 or email tudor.gwynn@eureka.org.uk.
DIARY DATES
Caring for the Blue Planet
29 January to 2 February 2006, Boulogne sur Mer
The 3rd international meeting ‘Acting together for the future of the Blue Planet’ is organised by the World Ocean Network (www.worldoceannetwork.org) and partners at NAUSICAA, Centre National de la Mer, in Boulogne sur Mer.
The event, under the aegis of the IOC/UNESCO and UNEP/GPA will immediately follow the Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands taking place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Participants of the meeting and experts from the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands will have the opportunity to state their priorities regarding sustainable use of the ocean (eg global campaign to raise public awareness).
For more information or to pre-register, contact the World Ocean Network: meeting@nausicaa.fr
Public Engagement Conference
3-4 April 2006, Manchester
The Wellcome Trust presents: ‘Science for all? Is public engagement engaging the public?’, 3-4 April 2006, at the Manchester Conference Centre
The Public Engagement Conference will bring together the expertise and ideas of science communicators, educators, artists, scientists, policy- makers and community leaders to explore how we can truly connect every part of society with the science that affects all our lives.
So, whether you are already involved in public engagement or want to find out how to begin, come along to the conference to explore the successes and experiences from existing projects, to debate the vital issues and to begin to answer the big question: Is public engagement engaging the public?
Ecsite Annual Conference 2006
8-10 June 2006, Mechelen
The Ecsite Annual Conference 2006 is in Mechelen (just outside Brussels), hosted by Technopolis, the Flemish science centre.
The themes for 2006 are:
- Trends and challenges in cutting edge research and technological development
- Science centres: children only?
- What are they really learning?
Ecsite Conference 2006 first announcement (PDF file)
For details, contact conference@ecsite.net and watch the website for announcements www.ecsite.net
Science Communication Conference
13-14 July 2006, London
The 2006 Science Communication Conference will take place 13-14 July at the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Savoy Place, London.
Plans are to split the conference into three strands looking at:
- Science Education - linking formal and informal learning
- Science Communication - science and the media, science PR and science events
- Science in Society - public engagement, policy through dialogue, SIS strategy
There will be a mixture of plenary, group and workshop sessions as well as lunchtime discussions and working lunches covering more practical skills. As in previous years there will be a drinks reception and conference dinner.
Draft versions of the programme will be circulated via the pscicom e-mailing list for comment, if you would like to make suggestions of sessions, projects or speakers please contact nick.hillier@the-ba.net.
Ecsite-uk
Dr Melanie Quin, Executive Director
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
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