a"; | CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 April 2024 To 31 March 2025
Charity name: Dorset Archives Trust
Charity registration number: 1000142
Objectives and Activities
| a | 2 reference |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Summary of the |
rae | The purpose ofthe Trust is ‘Saving Dorset’s Disappearing History.’ This is | |
| purposes of | achieved through the education ofthe public through the promotion of | ||
| the charity | Dorset’s Archives situated in the Dorset History Centre (DHC) in | ||
| as set out in | Dorchesterthrough events and learning opportunities also by supporting | ||
| its | the DHC to acquire, catalogue, conserve and digitise archival material. | ||
| governing | |||
| document | |||
| Summary of the main |
ara 146an |
The objects ofthe Trust reflect its main activitieswhich are to: | |
| activities in | e | encourage, promote and assist in the formation and development | |
| relation to | of a group ofMembers ofThe Dorset Archives Trust | ||
| those | |||
| purposes | e | generally, further the purpose ofthe Dorset History Centre and | |
| fora public |
encouragethedevelopment ofthefacilities afforded | ||
| Seataiae the |
e | to raisefundsandto inviteand receivecontributionsfromany person or persons whatsoever byway ofsubscription, donation |
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| activities, | and otherwise provided the Trust shall not undertake any | ||
| projects or | permanent trading activities in raising funds for its charitable | ||
| services | object | ||
| identified in | |||
| the accounts. |
e | engage in, support and co-ordinate voluntary assistance, publishing, education, advertising and otherwork forthe |
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| furtherance ofthe above objects | |||
| e | appoint representatives and delegates to | ||
| any other bodies with whom the | |||
| Members of The Dorset Archive Trust | |||
| may be concerned | |||
| e | establish a forum of owners and users of archives, the Dorset | ||
| History Centre and other interested persons or groups to increase | |||
| public knowledge of Dorset's Archives and history | |||
| e | takeanyotherlawfulactiontopromotethesaidobjects. |
Statement Para Trustees are very mindful of the need to act in the interests of the charity. confirming une A declaration of interests is taken at every meeting and any funds raised whether the are strictly invested into the defined purposes of the charity. trustees The trustees have had due regard to the Commission’s guidance at all have had relevant times. Our regard to public benefit is demonstrated by the regard to ongoing acquisition of archival materials — stored at the Dorset History the Centre and available for public viewing: facilitation of public events to guidance provide education on Dorset’s history. issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: pf 80RPreferencePd Policy on grant making No separate policy exists, but grants are |
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| Para 1.38 | made in compliance with the charity's | |
| stated objects. | ||
| Policy on social investment | ||
| including program related | Para 1.38 | |
| investment | ||
| Contribution made by | The trustees are all volunteers whose | |
| volunteers | Para 1.38 | contributions are critical to the charity’s |
| wellbeing and its ability to deliver positive | ||
| outcomes. | ||
| Other | ||
| Achievements and Performance | ||
| a | ||
| Summary ofthe main achievements ofthe charity, |
Para28 | The Trust performsa really important role in supporting and facilitating thework of |
| identifying the difference the | Dorset History Centre to acquire, preserve | |
| charity's work has made to | and make accessible the archival heritage | |
| the circumstances of its | of Dorset. During the financial year2024- | |
| beneficiaries and any wider | 25 The Trust has: | |
| benefits to society as a | ||
| whole. | e Led a fundraising campaign to |
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| support the cataloguing ofthe | ||
| archive of world-renowned author | ||
| Thomas Hardy. This resulted in a | ||
| crowd-funding programme along | ||
| with two applications to other | ||
| charitable trusts and foundations. | ||
| This raised over £17,000 towards a | ||
| total project cost of £75,000. | ||
| e Initiated a fundraising campaign to |
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| raise £35,000 to catalogue the | ||
| archives of Dorset dialect poet | ||
| William Barnes. | ||
| e Paid for various items to be used at |
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| Dorset History Centre — including | ||
| oral history digital recording | ||
| devices. | ||
| e Supported the purchase of several |
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| thousands of pounds worth of | ||
| archiveswhicharenowheldaspart |
Other
Achievements and Performance
of the permanent public collection including correspondence by Thomas Hardy. DHC has been able to benefit from funding for purchases from the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries; DAT has acted in support where FoNL has been unable to support e Putona range of public events both in-person and online which have both entertained audiences regarding the heritage and history of Dorset and have raised funds to support the Trust’s activities.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: . ; Para 1.41 objectives set [cdl Lae Performance of fundraising activities against objectives | para 4.41 set ; j ; Para 1.41 against objectives basis Man ( i Financial Review Review of the charity’s Dorset Archives Trust has a healthy financial position at the end | P11 balance sheet for a small charity; at the of the period year-end we held £77.509.33 of which £56,813.82 is in restricted funds for specifically agreed purposes and £20,695.51 in unrestricted funds. Statement explaining the Our unrestricted funds of £20,695.51 will be policy for holding reserves pea 22 used to cover our ongoing operational stating why they are held costs and to support the work of Dorset History Centre - support for equipment to aid the preservation or storage of archival materials and having funds on hand to purchase archival material which might come onto the open market at short notice. Funds may be used as a requirement for ‘match funding’ when applying for grants to facilitate a large acquisition
| Reasons for holding zero reser Pore onc a deficit Explanation ofany uncertainties about the |
Tews [owes Para 1.24 Pate/h2s |
n/a None |
|---|---|---|
| charity continuing as a going | ||
| concern | ||
| Additional information (optional) | ||
| You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: | |
| The charity’s principal | Public events | |
| sources offunds (including | para 1.47 any fundraising) |
|
| case. | ||
| Membership Fees & Gift Aid | ||
| Investment policy and | N/A | |
| objectives including any | Para 1.46 | |
| social investment policy | ||
| adopted | ||
| A description ofthe principal | Key risks are: | |
| risks facing the charity | Identification and recruitment of new, | |
| . Para 1.46 |
successor trustees when current trustees | |
| step down. | ||
| ac | ( |
Structure, Governance and Management
|Description ofcharity’s
trusts:|i|||
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|a
‘
constituted?
Trustee selection methods
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.
.
including details of any|ff
Para 1.25
Trustees are voted into office at theAGM
Para 1.25
P
for a three-year period.||
|constitutional provisions e.g.|||
|election to post or name of|||
|any person or body entitled|||
|to appoint one or more|||
|trustees|||
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Policies and procedures Trustees are inducted into the work of adopted for the induction Para 1.51 Dorset History Centre — meeting staff and and training of trustees hearing about the work they do, as well as the nature and variety of the historic collections held. New trustees meet with the Chairman and Hon Secretary to discuss the work of the
charity and the contribution that they might make. The board endeavours to undertake an annual review of the charity’s priorities which includes a review of its founding principles and the actions it is taking to deliver on these. The charity's organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any Fieres 4184 related parties ara Lea
Reference and Administrative details
Dorset Archives Trust Othernamethecharityuses | Registered charity number 1000142 Charity’s principal address Dorset History Centre Bridport Road Dorchester Dorset DT1 1RP
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Name of person
Tries ew Dates acted if not for (or body) entitled
stants Office (if any) whole year to appoint trustee
if an
Christine Fowler Chairman from 14.12.2023 - present
05.12.2024
Sam Johnston Hon Secretary 2009 - present Po
Debbie Shaw 2016 - present Ss
Annie Nethercott Membership Secretary 2016 - present Po
Sara Loch Trustee (Chairman from | 2012 — present
16.05.2024 —
05.12.2024)
Julia Carter 2014 - present Pp
Vicky McDonagh 2015 - present a
Jacqui Halewood Minutes and admin 2016 — 05.06.2025
secretary
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Corporate trustees — names of the directors at the date the report was approved [Directorname |—“‘“‘“C;ésSdOC™—CSdCS en Q
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description ofthe assets | None |
|---|---|
| held in this capacit | |
| Name and objects of the | None |
| charity on whose behalfthe | |
| assets are held and how this | |
| falls within the custodian | |
| charity's objects | |
| Details ofarrangements for | |
| safe custody and | |
| segregation ofsuch assets | |
| from the charity’s own | |
| assets |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) aa Full name(s) |}Samuel Johnston Position (eg Secretary, |Secretary Chair, etc) Date! + December 2025
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Dorset Archives Trust
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Dorset Archives Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Caran .
Name: Kerry Gill
Address: 15 Ludlow Road, Weymouth, Dorset. DT4 OHB Date: 28" May 2025
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|Dorset1st AprilArchives2024|to Trust 31st AccountsMarch|2025|[)|©|R S E-|
|ARCHIVESa|Wanita|TRUS]bb|eT|
|2024-2025|2023-2024|
|Receipts|£|£|
|Bank|Interest|536.59|419.98|
|Gift Aid|- general|484.43|317.62|
|Subscriptions|1724.00|1642.00|
|Donations|- General|3436.51|1543.00|
|Donations|-|Purchase|Fund|288.75|4812.00|
|Donations|-|Purchase|Fund|(Hardy)|2928.75|
|Donations|- Sponsor a Box|0.00|10.00|
|Donations|-|Barnes|For|All!|21713,.33|
|Donations|- Goodden|Family Archive|21875.00|
|Donations|-|East|Dorset railway|civil-engineering drawings|455.00|
|Donations|- Railway|Plans|conservation|&|digitisation|4755.00|
|Donations|-|Unlocking|Hardy|14482.75|
|Events|1834.00|1913.87|
|55276.36|~|29896.22|
|Expenditure|
|Events|202.76|320.75|
|Purchase|Fund|1956.96|5744.46|
|Purchase|Fund|- Hardy donation|refund|50.00|
|Dorset|History|Centre:|
|Unlocking Hardy|24389.08|
|Frink|Exhibtion|Case Appeal|460.00|
|Railway|Plans|conservation|&|digitisation|2377.50|2377.50|
|Student|Bursary|156.00|200.00|
|East|Dorset|railway civil-engineering|drawings|455.00|
|Volunteer Training|100.00|
|Equipment|950.00|309.72|
|Sundry|40.00|
|General|Administration|
|Insurance|90.00|90.00|
|Website|316.80|285.12|
|PayPal,|CAF & Auction|House|transaction|fees|382.16|92.70|
|31466.26|"9880.25|
|Profit/Loss for the Year|23810.10|20015.97|
|Balance|at|Bank|
|Lloyds|77509.33|53682.35|
|PayPal|0.00|16.88|
|77509.33|53699.23|
|Balance|at|Bank|77509.33|53699,23|
|Balance|Brought forward|53699,23|33683.26|
|Profit/Loss for the Year|23810.10|20015.97|
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| Restricted Funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Balance | |
| 01.04.24 | in year | in year | to/from | 31.03.25 | |
| General | |||||
| Funds | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Dorset Archive Trust General Reserve | 3000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3000.00 |
| Dorset HistoryCentre Capital Reserve | 5000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5000.00 |
| Purchase Fund | 914.45 | 288.75 | 1956.96 | 1791.80 | 1038.04 |
| Purchase Fund -Hardy | 0.00 | 2928.75 | 167.10 | 0.00 | 2761.65 |
| Sponsora Box | 282.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 282.50 |
| Barnes ForAll! | 0.00 | 21713.33 | 196.70 | 0.00 | 21516.63 |
| Goodden FamilyArchive | 0.00 | 21875.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 21875.00 |
| Frink Exhibition CaseAppeal | 540.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 540.00 |
| Railway Plans-conservation& digitisation | 2377.50 | 0.00 | 2377.50 | 0.00. | 0.00 |
| StudentBursary | 800.00 | 0.00 | 156.00 | 156.00 | 800.00 |
| UnlockingHardy | 24389.08 | 0.00 | 24389.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| £37,303.53 | £46,805.83 | £29,243.34 | £1,947.80 | £56,813.82 |
Purchases:
A Rate Book: Local History Interest. This Rate Book' for ‘Whitechurch' (sic) is an MS volume and dated 1837-1840
81.25
Lamb, Alexander, 'Reasons for Converting Portland Roads into a Harbour'
225.00
Arthur Bradbury (1898-1978) a studio archive comprising sketch books ,drawings, paintings, prints, scrapbooks, photographs,documents and other ephemera by and relating to Bradbury, early 20th century onwards
| Arthur BradburyBradbury (1898-1978) a studio archive comprising sketchcomprising sketchsketch books ,drawings,,drawings, paintings, prints, scrapbooks, photographs,documents and other ephemeraother ephemeraephemera by andand relating toto Bradbury, early 20th century onwardsonwards |
|
|---|---|
| 1400.00 | |
| Deeds, Documentsand Indentures, Dorset. 35 vellumdocuments1742 -1923 together with 220thCfoldersof | |
| office documents andcorrespondence all concerning Dorset personsand or/places. Includes 1866document | |
| signed by78Wareham inhabitants | 114.31 |
| Collection ofold Dorset farm auction catalogues with an 1811 printed map ofthefieldsandhouse of | |
| “MonkwoodFarm"inMarshwood,StokeAbbot,... |
136.40
£1,956.96