## **FRIENDS OF THE OXFORDSHIRE MUSEUM** 

## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** 

## **For the year ended 31 December 2025** 

## **Registered charity number:** 1007798 

## **Principal address:** 

Park Street Woodstock OX20 1SN 

## **1. Reference and administrative information** 

## **Trustees serving during the year** 

The following trustees served during the year ended 31 December 2025: 

**Trustee Position** Edward Dowler Chair Dr E Poskitt Trustee Gary Hereward Munro Trustee/ Hamilton Treasurer Rosemary Wharton Trustee Rosalind Margaret Williams Trustee Jill Dora Saint Trustee 

Rosalind Margaret Williams and Jill Dora Saint were appointed during the financial year and therefore served as trustees from 4 June 2025. 

## **Appointment after the year end** 

Kirk Nunn was appointed as a trustee on 3 June 2026, after the end of the reporting period. 

Independent examiner 

Roy Smith 

## **2. Structure, governance and management** 



The Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum is an unincorporated charitable association governed by its constitution, which was reviewed and approved at a Special General Meeting held on 6 December 2023. 

Under the constitution, management of the Association is vested in the Trustee Board. The trustees exercise independent control over the management and administration of the charity, take legal responsibility for its activities and ensure that it complies with its governing document and prevailing charity law. 

The Trustee Board is required to comprise no fewer than four and no more than eight members of the Association. The Board includes the charity’s honorary officers and may include up to three additional members. New trustees may be appointed by the Board, subject to confirmation of their appointment at the next Annual General Meeting or, if earlier, at a Special General Meeting. 

At the Annual General Meeting the Association shall elect the Trustee Board and its appointment of Honorary Officers from within its numbers. The Chairman and one third of the other Honorary Officers shall retire each year but shall be eligible for re-election 

The Trustee Board is required to meet at least four times each year. This includes a meeting to consider and approve the draft annual accounts before they are submitted to the Annual General Meeting for confirmation. The quorum for a meeting of the Trustee Board is three trustees. 

The constitution also requires the Annual General Meeting to be held within three months of 5 June. The business of the Annual General Meeting includes consideration of the annual report on the work undertaken by or under the authority of the Trustee Board and consideration of the charity’s annual accounts. 

All funds and assets held by the Association must be applied in furtherance of its charitable objects. Cheques and electronic payments must be authorised by the Treasurer and another trustee. The annual accounts must be independently examined where required by legislation or otherwise scrutinised by a person independent of the management of the charity before being submitted to members at the Annual General Meeting. 

The trustees regularly consider the principal financial, operational and governance risks facing the charity. Appropriate financial controls are maintained, and the trustees seek to ensure that the charity’s resources are used responsibly and only in support of its charitable purposes. 



## **3. Charitable objects** 

The object of the Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum is: 

The education of the public by the promotion, support, assistance and improvement of the Oxfordshire Museum through the activity of a group of Friends. 

In furtherance of this object, the charity may: 

- generally further the charitable purposes of the Oxfordshire Museum; 

- support and coordinate research, exhibitions, publishing, education, advertising and related work; 

- raise funds and receive subscriptions and other contributions; 

- appoint representatives to other relevant bodies; 

- invest funds that are not immediately required; and 

- take other lawful steps to promote its charitable objects. 

## **4. Public benefit** 

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning the charity’s activities. 

The charity provides public benefit by supporting the preservation, acquisition, interpretation and display of objects connected with Oxfordshire’s history and heritage. It also supports exhibitions, educational initiatives, children’s activities, public talks, learning resources and improvements to the experience of Museum visitors. 

The trustees are satisfied that the activities undertaken during 2025 furthered the charity’s objects and provided identifiable benefits to the public. 

## **5. Activities, achievements and performance** 

## **Oxfordshire Iron Age Hoard** 

The charity’s most significant achievement during 2025 was its support for the Oxfordshire Iron Age Hoard. 



A successful Crowdfunder campaign generated income of £11,322.70. Associated Gift Aid of £1,688.00 was also received, producing total Crowdfunder-related income of: 

£13,010.70 

The Crowdfunder proceeds of £11,322.70 and related Gift Aid of £1,688.00 were applied to the Iron Age Hoard project during the year. 

This was an important achievement for the Friends and demonstrated the support of members, donors and the wider public for preserving significant items of Oxfordshire’s archaeological heritage. The trustees thank everyone who contributed to, supported or promoted the campaign. 

## **Acquisitions** 

The Friends continued to support the Museum with the acquisition and preservation of historically significant objects. 

During the year, the charity provided funding for items and projects including: 

|including:||
|---|---|
|**Acquisition or project**|**Amount**|
|Medieval coin|£180.00|
|Medieval coin hoard|£600.00|
|Roman hoard coins|£481.00|
|Viking fnger ring|£150.00|
|Trophy|£187.42|
|Oxfordshire Iron Age Hoard|£1,010.0|
|expenditure|0|



These acquisitions help the Museum to preserve, interpret and display objects connected with the history and archaeology of Oxfordshire. 

## **Exhibitions** 

The Friends continued to support the Museum’s programme of exhibitions during 2025. 

This included paying a deposit of £1,535.70 towards a wildlife photography exhibition. 

Support for exhibitions helps the Museum to present new subjects, encourage repeat visits, attract a wider audience and provide 



opportunities for visitors to engage with history, art, archaeology and the natural environment. 

## **Education and learning** 

The charity supported a range of educational and learning activities during the year. 

## This included: 

|This included:||
|---|---|
|**Educational or learning**|**Amou**|
|**activity**|**nt**|
|Children’s activities|£400.0<br>0|
|Classroom accreditation fees|£635.0<br>0|
|Loan boxes|£310.0<br>0|
|Museum learning course|£130.0|
|fundraising|0|



The support provided for children’s activities, learning resources and visitor assistants contributed to the Museum’s educational work and helped make its collections more accessible to visitors. 

Loan boxes also allow objects and learning materials to be used for educational purposes beyond the Museum’s permanent displays. 

## **Talks, events and member activities** 

The Friends organised and supported talks, events and social activities for members and the wider public. 

The annual Tea Party generated income of **£310.62** . 

Expenditure connected with talks and events included: 



|**Activity**|**Amou**<br>**nt**|
|---|---|
|Speaker fees and|£998.0|
|expenses|0|
|Michael Black|£100.0|
|refreshments|0|
|Entertaining|£257.0<br>8|



These activities provide opportunities for members and visitors to learn more about Oxfordshire’s history, archaeology, art, heritage and Museum collections. 

## **Membership and fundraising** 

The trustees were pleased with the level and diversity of the charity’s income during 2025. 

Membership subscriptions generated **£5,408.42** , while Gift Aid relating to members generated a further **£864.75** . 

The charity also benefited from donations, investment income and successful fundraising initiatives. Significant amounts included: 

- CCLA interest of £2,204.97; 

- Trevor Hendy donations of £2,273.65; 

- a donation of £1,500.00 from the West Oxfordshire District Council Chair’s Garden Party; 

- general donations of £290.00; 

- a Frank Collingwood donation of £300.00; and 

- charitable donations through Benevity of £50.00. 

The trustees were pleased that the Friends were able to grow and diversify their income while continuing to support exhibitions, acquisitions, educational activities and other Museum projects. 

The trustees thank the charity’s members, donors, volunteers and supporters for their generosity and continued commitment. 

## **6. Financial review** 

## **Financial result** 

Total income for the year ended 31 December 2025 was: 



## **£26,213.12** 

Total expenditure for the year was: 

## **£24,254.21** 

This resulted in a surplus for the year of: 

## **£1,958.91** 

The reported fund balance at 31 December 2025 was: 

## **£64,954.90** 

Based on the year’s surplus, the corresponding balance brought forward at 1 January 2025 was: 

## **£62,995.99** 

## **Income** 

|**Income**||
|---|---|
|**Income category**|**Amount**|
|CCLA interest|£2,204.9<br>7|
|Donations|£290.00|
|Charitable donations through<br>Benevity|£50.00|
|Crowdfunder income|£11,322.<br>70|
|Frank Collingwood donation|£300.00|
|Gift Aid relating to Crowdfunder|£1,688.0<br>0|
|Gift Aid relating to members|£864.75|
|Miscellaneous income|£0.01|
|Membership subscriptions|£5,408.4<br>2|
|Tea Party|£310.62|





**Income category Amount** £2,273.6 Trevor Hendy donations 5 WODC Chair’s Garden Party £1,500.0 donation 0 **£26,213. Total income 12** 

The charity’s principal sources of income were the Iron Age Hoard Crowdfunder, membership subscriptions, donations, Gift Aid and investment income. 

The Crowdfunder and its associated Gift Aid accounted for **£13,010.70** , representing approximately half of the charity’s total income for the year. 

## **Expenditure** 

|**Expenditure**||
|---|---|
|**Expenditure category**|**Amount**|
|Bird boxes|£75.27|
|Children’s activities|£400.00|
|Crowdfunder payment – Iron Age|£11,322.|
|Hoard|70|
|Deposit for wildlife photography|£1,535.7|
|exhibition|0|
|Entertaining|£257.08|
|Classroom accreditation fees|£635.00|
|Frank Collingwood donation|£300.00|
|Museum learning course fundraising|£130.00|
|Garden Group|£358.77|
|Gift Aid relating to Crowdfunder|£1,688.0|
|donation|0|
|Insurance|£470.00|
|Laptop|£880.00|
|Loan boxes|£310.00|
|Local groups|£13.00|





## **Expenditure category** 

## **Amount** 

Medieval coin £180.00 Medieval coin hoard £600.00 Membership administration £730.78 Michael Black refreshments £100.00 Microsoft Office subscription £104.99 £1,010.0 Oxfordshire Iron Age Hoard 0 Refunds £165.00 Roman hoard coins £481.00 Speaker fees and expenses £998.00 Sunflower membership £0.00 Trophy £187.42 Viking finger ring £150.00 Visitor assistants £740.88 Website hosting £274.74 Zoom £155.88 

## **Total expenditure** 

**£24,254. 21** 

The largest item of expenditure was the payment of Crowdfunder proceeds towards the Iron Age Hoard. 

Other significant expenditure related to: 

- the wildlife photography exhibition; 

- acquisitions for the Museum’s collections; 

- educational and children’s activities; 

- visitor assistants; 

- talks and speakers; 

- membership administration; and 



- the technology and administrative costs required to operate the charity. 

The trustees consider the charity’s financial position at 31 December 2025 to be satisfactory. 

## **7. Investment policy** 

The constitution permits the charity to invest funds that are not immediately required for its charitable purposes, subject to any conditions imposed by law. 

During the year, the charity received **£2,204.97** of interest from its investment with CCLA. 

The trustees seek to manage the charity’s funds prudently, balancing the need to preserve capital and maintain access to funds with the opportunity to receive an appropriate return on money not required for immediate expenditure. 

## **8. Reserves policy** 

The charity held a year-end fund balance of **£64,954.90** at 31 December 2025. 

The trustees aim to retain sufficient reserves to: 

- meet the charity’s normal administration and operating costs; 

- meet existing commitments to the Museum and other supported projects; 

- respond to suitable requests for future acquisitions and exhibitions; 

- manage unexpected reductions in income or increases in expenditure; 

- provide funding when important acquisition opportunities arise at short notice; and 

- ensure the charity can continue operating effectively. 

The level of reserves is reviewed by the trustees in the context of planned projects, outstanding commitments and the charity’s expected income and expenditure. 



The trustees consider the level of reserves held at 31 December 2025 to be satisfactory and sufficient to support the charity’s current activities and future commitments. 

## **9. Risk management** 

The trustees are responsible for identifying and managing the principal risks facing the charity. 

The principal areas considered include: 

- safeguarding the charity’s funds and other assets; 

- ensuring payments are appropriately authorised; 

- maintaining accurate membership and financial records; 

- protecting personal information; 

- ensuring expenditure is within the charity’s objects; 

- managing commitments to exhibitions and acquisitions; 

- maintaining adequate insurance; 

- ensuring continuity in the management of the charity; and 

- complying with the constitution and applicable charity law. 

The constitution requires payments to be authorised by the Honorary Treasurer and another trustee. This provides an important financial control over the use of the charity’s resources. 

The trustees are satisfied that proportionate controls are in place to manage the charity’s principal risks. 

## **10. Independent examination** 

In accordance with the constitution, the annual accounts are subject to independent examination or scrutiny by a person independent of the management of the charity. 

The independent examiner for the year ended 31 December 2025 is: 

Roy Smith 

The accounts and the independent examiner’s report will be presented to members for consideration at the Annual General Meeting. 



## **11. Plans for the future** 

The trustees intend to build on the achievements of 2025 and continue supporting the Oxfordshire Museum in accordance with the charity’s objects. 

Priorities include: 

- supporting further Museum acquisitions; 

- contributing towards exhibitions and improvements to displays; 

- supporting children’s, educational and learning activities; 

- organising talks, events and activities for members; 

- developing membership income; 

- encouraging the use of Gift Aid; 

- seeking suitable fundraising opportunities; 

- maintaining engagement with existing members and supporters; and 

- working with the Museum to identify projects where support from the Friends will provide the greatest public benefit. 

The trustees will seek to build on the success of the Iron Age Hoard campaign and identify further opportunities for members and the wider public to help preserve and celebrate Oxfordshire’s heritage. 

## **12. Trustees’ responsibilities** 

The trustees are responsible for: 

- preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and annual accounts; 

- maintaining adequate accounting records; 

- ensuring that income and expenditure are properly recorded; 

- safeguarding the charity’s assets; 

- ensuring funds are used only in furtherance of the charity’s objects; 

- maintaining appropriate financial controls; 

- taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities; 

- arranging for the accounts to be independently examined where required; and 



- presenting the annual report and accounts to members at the Annual General Meeting. 

The trustees confirm that they have complied with their responsibilities under the charity’s constitution. 

## **13. Approval** 

This Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the Trustee Board on: 

**Date:** 28[th] July 2026_________________________________ 

and signed on behalf of the trustees by: 


**Signature:** 

**Name:** Edward Dowler 

**Position:** Chair 

**Date:** 3[rd] August 2026__________________________________ 



|**~Htat~•tltfd****_"•tJ•Mtts_**to11**Oiken**|**~102'5**<br>201S||
|---|---|---|
|**fl£CEt~S**|||
|Gffts,Doni,tlonsi,nd_at~,_volUNUJ"'rt!<:e-lpt~|£.}4008lS|£.\1'01"}S1|
|lt'tterestohDeposits|£.211)497|£.\59}1<3|
|Oth@rrt!<:elpts{ncncountlntatslncamei|||
||£.~,213.12|_!13,6647__!_|
|**PAVM£NTS**|||
|Charftttbleactivities|£.24,2!>-4 2'1|£13,67597|
|Otherpayments(notcountintasExpenditure)|||
||£.24.2!>-4.21|£13,675.97|
|**NET RECEIPTS/ (PAYMENTS)**|£1,958.91|-£11.26|
|**CASH FUNDS**- **LASTVEAREND**|£62,995.99|£63,007.25|
|**CASHFUNDS**-**THIS Y£AR END**|E64,9S4.90|<br>£62,995.99|
|**Signed**on**behalf**oftheTrusteesoftheFriendsoftheOxfordshireMuseum|||
||_Go~~/7_||
|EdwardDowler(Chairman)|GaryHamilton|(Treasurer)|
|**Members**|2025<br>2024||
|Single Memberships|116<br>124||
|Double Memberships|52<br>56||
|TotalMembers|220<br>236||



|His Grace,theDukeofMarlborough|SirHUROBrunner|
|---|---|
|OrHagan Bayley|MrsShella Budden|
|MrCartGiffin|MsCherry Gray|
|MrsValerieMendes|MrsTHendy|
|TheLucyGroup|Mrs8Hope|
|Mr&MrsJakeman|OrElizabethPoskitt|
|MissCarolAnderson|MrRobin Richardson|
|MrandMrsJBanbury|Lady SayeandSele|