Company Registration No. 3362107 (England and Wales) Charity Registration No. 1062400 The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Tbe Dorset Nathral History and Arcbaeological Society Contents Reference and Administrative tktails Report of the Trustees 2-12 Independent Auditors Report 13-16 Statement of Financial Activities 17 Balance Sheet 18 Statement of Cash Flows 19 Notes to the Financial Statements 2041 Tbe Dorset Iyarnral History alld Archaeologlcal Soclety Reference and Administrative Detsils Charity Name The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Other Names Dorset Museum Trustees Tracy Chevalier Claire Dixon David French Jean Lang (Chair) Sian Merriott (stood down January 2025) Hazel Orniond Tracey Parsons Peter Sharnian Laura Southall Jim Smylie (stood down September 2024) David Tucker Morag Wood Dorset Council Representstive Cllr D Northam (stood down December 2024) Registered Office Dorset Museum 66 High West Street Dorchester, DTI I XA Company Registration Number 3362107 Charity Registration Number 1062400 President Sllsa￿ Lady Bradbury Vice-Presidents G Pitt Rivers OBE DL P Seaton Sir P Williams Bt. G Yarker BEM FSA Executive Director C Dixon Auditors Scott Vevers Ltd Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 65 E&8t Street Bridport, DT6 JLB Bankers Lloyds Bank pl¢ 1-2 High West Street Dorchester, DTI I UG Solicitors Humphries Kirk 40 High West Street Dorchester. DTI I UR I￿v￿tment Advisors Charles Stanley & Co Ltd Mey House Bridport Road Dorchester, DTI 3QY The Dorset Natural History and Arcbaeological Society AnDual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 Introduction The Trustees. who are also Directors for the purposes ofthe Companies ACL present their report and the fmancial statements of the Charity for the year ended ) l March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a Directors, Report and Accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in not¢ I to the financial statements and comply with the Charites Act 201 I, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Associatio￿ and Reporting by Charities". Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). Reference aDd Administrative Details Admini.%trntive infnrniation is given in a separate section at the front of these accounts. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGE￿E1￿[ The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society ("Ihe Society" DNHAS") is an educational charity which is an incorporated charitable tn]st and a company limited by guarantee (Charity number: 1062400 Company number: 3362107). The Society and its Museum. Dorset Museum, is owned by its members. The members elect a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the overall strategy and governance of the Society and its Museum. The charity is variously referred to throughout this report as either '%he Charity" the Society" or '%he Company" The governance of the Society and its Museum is set out in Articles of Association approved by Companies Hous¢ and the Charity Commissioners and registered on 7 December 2012. In addition, there is a set of 'Regulations' which were adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Society at a meeting held in July 2014 and further updated in February 2020 and January 2021. They are a revised version ofthe 'Rules ofth¢ DNHAS, adopted in Match 1998. They reflect the Board's cu￿ent understanding of th¢ governing Articles of Association and provide supplementary details relevant to their practical application in the operation of the Society. Direetors and Trustees The Directors of the Company are the Charity's T￿￿te¢S for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees. The Trustees serving durlng the year and since the year4nd are as follows: Tracy Chevalier (elected December 2023, s¢¢ond tenn) Claire Dixon (by virtue of her posltion as Director from 17 July 2023) David French (¢lected December 2023, second tenn) Jean Lang (Chair) (¢l¢cted December 2023, second term) Sian Merriott (elected December 2021, second terni- stood down 15 January 2025) Hazel Onnond (elected December 2024) Tracey Parsons (elected December 2023. second terni) Peter Sharman (elected December 2022) Jim Smylie (elected December 2021- stood down 27 September 2024) Laura Southall (elected December 2022) David Tucker (elected December 2023) Morag Wood (elected Dec¢mber 2021, second terni) Dorset Council Representative Cllr D Northam (stood down December 2024 to reflect a constitutional Change) Tbe Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Annual Report of tbe Trustees Uncluding Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the Company. All of the T￿￿e¢S are members of the Company and guarantee to contribute £ l in the event of a winding up. Eleven of the Trustees are elected by members of the Society at the Society's Annual General Meeting following a call for nomination to memb¢rs and external advertisement. These eleven Trustees serve a three-year tern] with the option of offering themselves for a second three-year tenn. (Trustees who have served for six years are not eligible to stand for re-election without a period of at least one year out of office). The remaining Trustee is the Executive Director. Prior to December 2024 when a constitutional change was made, the twelfth Trustees was appointed by Dorset Council. New Trustees are introduced to the governance, objectiv¢s and activities of the Society by the Executive Director 8nd Board Chair and provided with Charity Commission advisory documents. The Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for the Society. The Board sets overall strategy and makes decisions on all major policy and constitutional issues. It is responsible for the final approval of the annual budget and accounts, monitoring the solvency of the Society and safety of its &55ets. All Trustees sign a declaration of their eligibility to stand and record relevant details in a Conflict of Interest Register which is updated annually. Th¢ Board meets quarterly but keeps the frequency and effectiveness of its meetings under review. The Regular subcommittee of the Board is: The Finance Committee of the Board, which monitots and helps set both revenue and capital budgets for the Society. It also oversees and scrutinises matters relating to the Society's investments, reserves including monitoring movement in pension liabilities, financial policies and oversight of health and safety and compliance. The Board sets up sub groups as necessary. During the year the Health and Safety wup has met regularly, ce&sing in October 2024 with the positive outcome of the Health and Safety Audit. This will be kept under review. The Society is managed and developed by the Executive Director and the staff in accordance with the strategy, and within the budget. set by the Board. The Executive Director and staff are supported in delivering these activities by a large number of volunteers. The Board and staff use the Museum Accreditation rules of the Arts Council of England (ACE) and the policies of th¢ Museums, Association and Association of Indep¢nd¢nt Museums as guidelines in operating and developing the Museum & Art Gallery, whtch has filll Accreditation status with ACE. The Museutn & Art Gallery is a member of the Wessex Museums Trust, which has been recognised as an ACE National Portfolio Organisation for the period 2022-2027. The Society is represented on the Wessex Museums Trust's board by the Executive Director. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIvfTES The objectives of the Society are: The advancement of education for the general benefit of the publi¢ in the are&5 of archaeology, the natural sciences, natural history. literature, music, the fine and decorative arts, antiquities and local history relating more especially to the County of Dorset. The acquisition, preservation, Conservatio￿ &thibition and development (as far as possible) of collections relating to archaeology. the natural sciences, natural history, literature, music, the fine and d¢cordtive arts. antiquities and local history relating more especially to the County of Dorset. The Dorset Natural History 2nd Arcbaeological Society Annual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 Success is assessed in ternis of numbers of visitots to Dorset M￿¢Um & Art Gallery and of the users of the collections. and the qualitative feedback they give. The numbers of educational and other groups, the individuals involved and the feedback they provide, gives further quantitative and qualitative dat &8 does evaluation of the number attending events and ￿sIng publications. Where achievable, economic and other impacts on the community are assessed through targeted studies. The incom¢ generated compared with th¢ expenditure needed to undertake them provides critical measures of financiaI short- tern) viability and long-term sustainability. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Overview Claire Dixon. Executive Direetor and Jean LanLS Chair ffrf the R(bxrd (bf Tru4te.es Dorset Museum & Art Gallery began this financial year with an ongoin& long-tern] financial Challenge and need for continued significant visitor growth. It has been critical to secure sufficient income to cov¢r increased tunning costs caused by the relatively new building and economic climate. We continued to invest the £250,000 of resilience funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for specific worL including new digital marketing Strate￿es, a national Vli plan and a high-quality exhibition programme alongside some other smaller workstreams. We have continued to significantly exceed the visitor numbers achieved in the first few years since re-opening but fell slightly behind the previous year. Exhibitions continued to be critical to foorfall, notably the Wildlife Photographer of the Year that was displayed during the Summer months. The periods when ther¢ was no exhibition were longer than ideal and the impact on footfall wgs evident. We require continued growth to achieve a position of sustainability, but we have been very successful in reducing our expenditure and securing income through grants and Eegacies, to deliver a surp1￿$ budget. Whilst this is an incredible achievement, it does not indicate long-t¢rn] sustainability due to the inability to predict income through legacies, grants and donations. A clear focus on rnarket1n￿PR and high-quaEity exhibitions continues to be crucial to our long-term survival and success. Externally, we continue to face the challenges caused by the war in Ukraine, the impact of Brexit on tourism, the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty. In addition, the uncertainty caused by the recent budget announcements makes it difficult to rely on or anticipate any long-tern] support from government funding. This is further echoed by the Arts Council review and extension to NPO funding until 2028, due to insufficient cultural strategy being available to inforni the funding round that had been expected in 2025. We cannot understand the long-terni future of cultural funding and investment until the review outcomes are known and the impact of devolution is fillly understood, as central funding could be reallocated to local and mayoral authorities. Our efforts to build a positive relationship with Dorset Council and target the Dorset tourist market during the summer period have proven critical. Our working relationship with the Council indicates positive supporL as demonstrated by their investment in our energy solutions, collection storage, partnership working and cultural investment. Now that we have a 11 year of data to indicate our potential reach and understand how to best market our offer, committing ore budgets to ongoing development of marketing and PR is ¢ritical to our long-terni success, &$ we come to the end of the NLHF Resilience Grant. This year, learning participation has continued to grow, with record numbers of schools booking sessions, workshops and visits as part of the 'Gladiators of Britsin, exhibition. This will create a legacy of new workshop options for future years, aligning with the National Curriculum beyond the life of the exhibition. Our work with local community groups continues to increase participation amongst those traditionally underserved by heritage, with new groups engaging including Age UK. Attendance at events continues to be mixed but a new pricing structurc and approach from January 2025 has deliver¢d more consistency and ensured events are profit making at point of delivery. Free to enter events continue to b¢ hugely popular, enabling those to visit who would otherwise be prevented by the financial barrier The Dorset Nathral History and Arcbaeological Society Annual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 of an admission fee. Wedding bookings continue to diminisEL with many more Museums and heritage institutions ceasing to offer them, due to their high cost and impact on capacity with limited financial benefit. We renewed our wedding license and welcomed a small number of bookings, keeping this under review to ensure all comm¢r¢ial activity is profit driven and not compromising our core offer or visitor experience. Other privat¢ room hire h&s increased and the Christmas season remains the most significant for generating income. We continue to receive excellent feedback about the Museum & Art Gallery, our exhibitions and the friendliness of our staff and volunteers. W¢ won awards from Dorset Tourism, Arts Council England and Visit England, demonstrating our high quality offer. The Society's financial crisis remains present, but the success of this financial year means we have protected our reserves, generating a small surplus. We received final payments of grants and donations previously committed as part of the transformation project. We secured a Headley Trust grant commitment of £36,000 per year for three years to support our work in archaeology. We were granted £5,000 by the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Trust and received more than £52,000 in legacies. A new approach to admissions has encouraged an increase in general donations and we again secured Museum and Galleries tax relief to offset related expenditure from the core budgel. Mosl significantly, visitor footfall growth h&8 continued to exceed that of the first few years of re-opening, despite us programming fewer exhibitions. We saw a slight fall in gift aid, a priority income area for future years. Retail perfornied well with the new shop products increasing our profit margins. Overall, our annual income dropped by almost £44,000 before investments, largely due to the reduction in comn]er¢ial events. However, our expenditure was reduced by more than £42.000 before depre¢iatiorL I￿gelY accounted for by rationalising contracts and costs, a small restructuring of staff and grant funding to offset core costs, notably marketing and exhibitions. Much of this funding cannot be relied on long term and it is not currcntly anti¢ipat¢d that a surplus budget will be achieved in future years, although work will continue to secure grants and donations to support our core work We continue to demonstrate thaL with appropriate levels of investment in our public programme and marketing, we can achieve the required levels of footfall and income to achieve a posltion of viability although the Board recognises it r¢mains a challenge. Visitor Numbers This year we welcomed 39,868 visitors to the museum, which was 60 % ahead of 2021-22 and 2022-23, but 140/0 down on 2023-24. This is largely due to the huge success of Elisabeth Frink that drove up visitor numbers during 2023-24, as well &s longer periods between exhibitions. These gap5 in our programtne will be reduced in future years Colleetions Management All Saillts We have continued to move Collections from this building and funding enabled the recruitment of a Curator of Archaeology, which will accelerate this work over the next three years. The Curator of Archaeology has written an All Saints Church Project Strategy that outlines work objectives. logistics, safety recommendations and priority steps. Discussions are taking place with Dorset Council, to explore other buildings we might relocate our collections to. Collections Seven photo slide cabinets were moved to the Dorset History Centre The Geology collection moved to the CDC and has been organised in StratI￿phiC order The Photography collection moved to the cr￿ except for five parish boxes whose photographs are being digitised in the CDC before beÈng moved, the nitrate collection remains under review Some of the social history collection has been frozen where necessary and moved from Old School into the CDC The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Annual Report of the Trustees Uncluding Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 We secured Treasure from Charlton Marshall, Stalbridge, Melcombe Horsey. Hilton, Sixpenny Handley, Wootton Fitzpaine and Halstock Acquisitions included a painting called Askerswell Hoard by Brian Rice, a Tomasina Rackett 18 ¢ntury toy collectiotL a small number of artworks by contemporary Dorset-b&sed artist Martyn Brewster, two drawings from the Powys Society, a silver salver presented to Reverend and Mrs Henry Moule in recognition of their work against choler4 two book volumes from Thomas Hardy's library and four framed photographic artworks, The Dorset Stour, by Roger Polley and John Woodman Loans in included collections to support the FrinL Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Gladiators of Britain exhibitions Loans out included human remains and entomology collections for research purposes, a polyptych of four paintings, August Evening, Lyme Regis, by Jeremy Gardin¢T for an exhibition of his worK Turning the ride. at Sherborne Hous& four artworks lent to Russell Cotes Art CTallery k Mii.qe.Iim for its Artists in Pwbeck exhibition, which received over 16,000 visitors. several Frink works for the A View From Within exhibition tour to Museum & Art Swindon and social history folk culture objects for the Wessex Museums touring exhibitio￿ Un/Common People We have progressed to the second stage application, to secure DeSI￿atIOn ststus for the Thomas Hardy collection o Funding from AIM enabled us io progress the documentation of the metalwork collection Section 106 wt fLmded a new de-humidifier and packing materials for All Saints Researchers have worked on the museum's archaeology, natural history, social history and art collections Special ethibitions programme Temporary Gallery: April 2024 - Elisabeth Frink.. A ￿leWfrorn Within July - November 2024- Wildlife Photographer ofthe Year January - May 2025 - Gladialors ofBritain Community Gallery: April 2024: Awakened by Frink July - October 2024- Sensing the P￿t O¢tober-November 2024 Youth Voice "We All Bloom Differently" November 2024 - 21. April 2025 - Community Quilt April - 9 June Weymouth College Take over project 'The Hidden Side of the Museum" June- 23 June 2025 Refugee exhibition Youth Voice T¢mporary Displays: February - July 2024 - John Brown." Revealing the slory of aformer slave in Dorset February- July 2025 - Brynley andNotley Learning and Engagement Schools Programme The forn]al schools programme has seen significant growth this year. The team reached 2,537 pupils, delivering 82 school sessions and engaging 120 pupils through the loan boxes. In additio￿ the Learning Team completed the final year of the Urban Nature Project with Natural History Museum, creating workshops that incorporate Dorset & Art Gallery's Natural history collection. The project requires students to become local experts, help observe and collect new data and take action through science to make a real difference. Pupils explore our hidden collectio￿ discover how early scientists worked and develop their own scientific thinking. The Dorset Natural History aDd Archaeological Society Annual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 Community Engagement Projects During the year of reportin& 1,219 people were reached through our community engagement work and 30 community sessions were delivered. Highlights include: Meeting Elisabelh Frink A group of people from undetserved audiences engaged with the work of Frink through eight creative workshops that culminated in a display in the con]munity Gallery and the inclusion of their work in the main exhibition. wess￿ in 100 objects Staff, volunteers, community groups and young people came together to select highlights from our Collection to feature in this digital exhibitio Sensing the Pa Staff, volunteers and community groups came together to create a touch and audio display of the art b&8ed project with Dorset Blind Association and Charn]outh Heritage Centre. Community Quilt This was a collaborative project that invited community groups, visitors, volunteers and staff at DoTset Museum & Art Gallery to craft small squares inspired by artefacts from the museum's collection and the history of Dorset. These individual squares were then joined together to create a large, vibrant quilt. Public Engagement activities Heritage Open Days= Th¢ Muscum ran frcc bchind thc sccnes tours for ti¢k¢t holders, all wcrc ￿llY booked. Monthly lecture series: Our monthly l¢cture series continued to see mixed results, with som¢ lectures selling out but others having to be cancelled or held in smaller spaces. A new approach in 2025 that focusses on our exhibition themes or works in collal)oration with partn¢r organisations has seen an increase in participation and ensured a viable way forward, with new free daytime talks on offer as and when speakers offer to contribute to the progTamme. Gallery tours: A regular programme covers a mix of subjects and spotlight taIks. Festival of Archaeology: A progtamme of events included finds days, talks 2nd family workshops. Teachers evening: A teacheTS' event demonstrated to schools what the Museum has Éo offer and encourage future bookings. 'Relaxed and Quiet openings, have moved to a regular monthly slot and engagement and participation is slowly increasing Exhibition5: An events programme is created to support our exhibitions, including lectures, trails and family activities during school holidays. Storytelling." Regular sessions have taken place monthly since June, welcoming 45 participants Family activities: 15 activities delivered during school holidays engaging with 323 children and their families. Christmas w&8 impacted by the sad loss of a volunteer who had led this the previous year, so new workshops were organized at short notic¢ with little marketing and had to be cancelled. The piogratnme will be reviewed for 2025 The Dorset Natural History and Arcbaeological Society Annual Report of the Trnstees Uncluding Directors. Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 Fundraising Grants Section 106 DC SLA All Saints Robinson Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Trust Dorchester Town Council Pilgrim Trust Shigeru Fujita Weld Moule and Du Boulay Wessex (Frink) Wessex (Budget reliefj NHM Urban Nall￿e Project £ 21,549.50 £ 50,000 £ 10,994 £ 51)0 £ 5,000 £ 31)0 £ 4,420 £ 1,000 £ 20,000 £ 95,185 £ 11,669 £ 32.138 £ 23,071 Legacies £52244 FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial Report The accounts which are highlighted within this report show a trading period of the financial year running l April 2024- 31 March 2025. Total income received for the year ending 31 March 2025 was £l.011,150 Compared with £1,055,745 in 2024. Total unrestricted income including corporation tax recoverable. investment and pension gains for the year ending March 2025 was £1,068.484 (2024: £1,058,146) with expenditure of £1, 111,733 (2024: £1,186,562). This included a depreciation amount of £10,301 (2024: £14,122), th￿$ showing a surplus of £51,936 (2024: deficit of £128,416) after funds transfer. Restricted fund income for the year ending 31 March 2025 was £236,159 (2024: £183.701) with expenditure of £492,837 (2024: £1,603,392) this includcd a depreciation amount of £322,128 (2024: £1,461,225) which is related to the capital project. During th¢ year, the charity reviewed the pattern of consumption of economic benefits associated with its land and building improvements. As a result, the Trustees changed the depreciation method applied to these assets from the 10 years straight line method to the 50 years straight line method. The Trustees consider that depreciating th¢ assets over 50 years reflects the expected usage pattern and future economic benefits of the land and building improvements. Th¢ impact of the change in the current financial year was a decrease in depreciation expense of £1.139,097 with a corresponding increase in the net income of the charity. Prior period fjgures have not been restat¢d. Total funds carried forward &s at the ¢nd of this fiscal year were £1 1.129,711 (2024: £11,429,638), including restricted funds of £1 0,586, 104 (2024: £10.937,967). As noted elsewhere in the report and in the accounting policies the charity has agreed with Dorset Council. that this will be postponed until 2027128 with an agreeable inter¢st rate in place. The Dorset Natural History and Archaeologieal Society Annual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 Regarding the ongoing op¢rational financial stability ofthe clwity, we have againmoved closer to reaching the levels of income and expenditure required, to enable the Society to operate viability by 2026 but this is based on unpredictable income including grants and legacies. We continue to rely on income assumptions relating to donations, exhibition tax relief and core funding grants whilst footfall increases. but not sufficiently to offset core expenditure. Our investment portfolio which is managed by our agent Charles Stanley is continually monitored under strict guidelines therefore protecting our investments and reserves during this volatile time. RESERVES The reserves of the Society consist of all unrestricted funds that are not linked to f￿ed assets or required for specific purposes. These unrestricted funds are reduced by the pension fund deficit. The Trustees continue to monitor the pension liabilities and the reserves of the Society closely and are aware of the need to match variable income against fixed commitments. wilh day-to-day working needs being met by careful management of short-terni liquid resources. The main m￿eum building was gifted io The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. The main Museum buildings, which are made up of the Crickniay Building (including part of the Victorian galleries). Williams House and the Brawne Extensiory have not been capitalised in the BaIance Sheet, &8 reliable cost information is not available and it is not considered beneficial to the users of the Financial Statements to attempt to establish an estimated valuation. However. the property is insured for £35.2m. RISKS Risk logs for the Society are maintained and kept under regular review. The main risks for each that were managed during 2024-2025, along with their statlls at the final year en(L were &s follows: Risk Description Visitor numbers remain consisiendy ioo low for the income from commercial activities and grants to Compensate Mitigation Grants requested, debt management being negotÉated. plan in place and increase to marketing budget p¢nding approval, costs understood and man 2023 budget is based on visitor numbers experienced in 2022 with an uplift in entrance fees due to changes in charging. 2024 will be based on new marketing strategy to support growth. Dors¢t Museum becomes competitive in Dorchester, Dorset and the South West. Handover notes in place Salary reviews have resulted in positive adjustm¢nts Employee Support Programme in place Mental Health First Aid being put in place Recruitment plan in place Fewer than expected visitors to Dotset due to Covid-19 1 Cost of living Staff departures I staff burnout Government action limits tourism economy without compensation Safeguard any surplus from previous years Income diversification plan implemented The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Annual Rewfrrt of the Truste&s Oncluding Directors, Report} Year Ended 31 March 2025 General changes in heritage landscape of Dorset challenge Dorset Museum and limit visitor numbe￿ e.g. Jurnssic Coast Museum and Weymouth Museum Remain closely in touch with storyline developmenL nurturing positive partnerships. Ensure offer at Dorset Museum continues to evolve. offering new experiences. Review joint ticketing options and / or complementary activities. Renew digital engagement which has the edge over larger, more corporate sites. Maintenance works requires museum to close Buildings are well maintained and risks understood Communications management plan, to ensure individuals are protected and a corporate respons¢ is provided. Br¢ra PR to provide support. Training to be provided to Trustees and SMT Proccsscs arc agrccd from th¢ outset to cnsu risk register is fully addressed. Staff are supported to lead the process by SMT Board of Trustees provide additional mentoring and support Finance c aci is monitored Reserves will need to be used to manage any spike in inflation Mid-year reforecast improves understanding of risk Alternative funding sources to be considered Income diversificalion required Plan B 2nd plans for closure to be worked up Access to collections is recorded and tracked via digital keys and SI￿ in books. regular Staff presence across collection sites H&S Action Plan is in place with all critical actions complete, support from specialist advisors is available and in use Safeguarding policy has been reviewed, training is in progress, new processes ensure effective reporting and recording, safeguarding Trustee nominated to su rtDSO All requir¢ments of cyber insurance have been met with regular scanning being done and responses to actions and notifications being recorded Competitive salaries improved but not meeting MA guidelines and remain und¢r review, retention still ositive. Good forward planning is essential to manage supply chain issues, understanding contingency need SociaI media challenge or negative I unfriendly publicity arising from programming themes. Wessex Museums Partnership choilenges the capacity of core staff within DNHAS Price inflation provides pressu￿ on all areas of non-salary spending, disproportionately incrth8ing costs io Museum doesn't generate surpluses 202415 onwards Theftlvandalism to collections 12 Lack of Health and Safety compliance leads to major incident 13 Lack of appropriate safeguarding provision leads to major incident 14 Breach of cyber security 15 Employment market very challengin& particularly for cole skills 16 Global instability disrupts activity, e. materials supply, consumer confidence, energy and services 10 The Dorset Natural History and Archaeologieal Society Annll21 Report of the Trustees Oncluding Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 Marcb 2025 17 Decisions I position on local issues or progratnming themes draw public criticism, disenfranchises members IT transition fails and IT support andlor cyber security is compromised Good governance is uphel4 a clear and unambiguous statement is issued about decision makin& context and conclusions Current provider is overseeing recruitment and transition and will be available to support &8 needed. Recruitment committee set up to identify process for new Tn￿eeS 18 19 Change in key trustees or reduction in overall Board membership e.g. Chair, Finance Chair 20 Extreme weather event Temporary closure of site. Install signs and e website and SM comms All staff are encouraged to get Covid_19 and flu vaccines and boosters Dispersed working is still possible for some and Covidsafe measures aTe ado ted Working from home enabled, SMT meets regularly. Time off allowed for vaccines, booster jabs LegaI advice being taken and actions taken in line with advice 21 Covid_19 resurgence significantly increases sickness absence 22 Covid-19 causes long-term absence of a senior manager 23 Legal challenge impacts on financial resources and public reputation PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS The focus of th¢ Society's plans in the immediate future remains th¢ sustainability of the Museum. Primary workstreams which must b¢ achieved over the coming years are: Continuation of the new Marketing Strategy to drive footfall and put Dorset on the map. Fiiithicial sustainability through footfall growd4 driv¢n by a strong cxhibition programm¢, commercial income enabled by effective pricin& effective fundraising to support core work, management of expenditure Revised pricing to ensur¢ all commercial activity generates sutTicient profits. Ongoing care for world class collections to enable learnin& research and participation Clear oversight of compliance including Health and Safety, HR and Safeguarding to protect and develop staff and volunteers, manage capacity, protect wellbeing and enable outputs to support income growth. To bring equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do To respond actively and responsibly to the climate emergency Our Forward Plan and Actlvlty Plan are set out in detail and managed by theTru5tees. STATEMENf OF TRUSTEES) RESPONSIBILfTIES The Trustees (who are also Directors of Th¢ Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report (incorporating the Directors. Report) and the financial statement in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdotn Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affai￿ of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the period. In preparing these financial sL4tements, the Trustees are required to: The Dorset Natural History and Arcbaeological Society Annual Report of the Trustees (Including Directors, Report) Year Ended 31 March 2025 select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. C observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102). E make judgments and accounting estimates that are re&8onable and prudent. state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departuies disclosed and explained in the financial statements; E, prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements Comply with Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for tsking re&sonable qtepq fnr the preventinn and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far &s th¢ Trust¢¢s are aware: There is no ￿levant audit inforn]ation of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware. and E, The Trusiees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves awaTe of any relevant audit inforniation and to establish that the auditor is aware of the infonnation. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the COTporat¢ and financial inforn]ation included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissari￿ffl of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Auditors The auditors, Scott Vevers Ltd, are deemed to be re-appointed under Section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006. Small company provisions This report h&8 been prePa￿d in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006. On behalf of the board Mrs J M Lang, Cha of the Board of T tees Date:... 12 The Dorset Natural History aDd Archaeologi¢21 Society Independent Auditors, Report to the Trnstees Year Ended 31 March 2025 Opinion We have audited the financial statements of The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for the year ended 31 March 2025 set out on pages 17 to 41. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). This report is made solely to th¢ charity's TTUSte¢s, as a body, in accordance with Part four of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent pern]itted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charitabl¢ cotnpany's Trustees as a body. for our audit work, for this report. or for the opinions we have fonned. In our opinion the financial statements Eive a true and fair view of the state of the charitable Company's affairs &s at 31 March 2025 and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expendI￿re, for the year then ended. have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice" and have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements Ihat are relevani 10 our audii of The financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethic￿ Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sutTicient and appropiiate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAS (UK) require us to report to you where: the T￿￿ttes, use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the fmancial statetnents is not appropriate. or the Trustees have not disclosed in the financial statem¢nts any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charitable company's ability to continue to adopt the going concem basis of accounting for a period of at ie&8t twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Other inforniation The Trustees are responsible for the other inforn]ation. The other inforniation comprises the infomiation included in the Trustees, annual report. other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other inforniation and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our reporL we do not express any forni of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility IS to read the other infomiation and, in doing so, consider whether the other inforn]ation is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we 13 The Dorset Natural Hi8tory and Archaeological Society Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees Year Ended 31 Marcb 2025 identify such material tnconsistencies OT appatent material misstatements, we are required to deterniine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other inforniation. If, based on the work w¢ have perfonned. we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other inforniatioffj we are required to r¢port that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstat¢ments in the directors, report. We have nnthing tr) repnrt in ￿spect nf the fnllnwing matters tn which the. c.harities Ac.t 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion- the infonnation given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees, Annual Report" or the charitable company h&s not kept adequate accounting records. or the charitable company financial ststements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns. or we have not received all the inforniation and cxplanations we require for our audit. Responsibilities of Trustees As explained more fully in the Trustees. Responsibilities StateTnent set out on page 10. the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the pr¢paratTon of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fail view, and for such internal control as the Tn￿tte$ deterniine is necessary to enable the Preparation of f￿anCIal statements that are free from material misstatemenl whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the choritable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosin& as applicable, matters related to a going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidats the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternalive but to do so. Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the fiDaDcial statements We hav¢ been appointed as auditor under section 151 of th¢ Charities Act 2011 and rcport in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that ACL Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements &8 a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material missLqtement when it exists. Misstatem¢nts can arise from fraud or eryor and are considered material if, tndividually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influenc¢ the economic decisions of ￿serS taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-complianc¢ with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in rcspect of irregularities. including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 14 The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society IndependeDt Auditors, Report to the Trustees Year Ended 31 March 2025 Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of iTregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows: the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. - we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with Trustees and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the charity sector. - we assessed the extent of Compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management. and identified laws and r¢gulations were communicat¢d within the audit t¢am regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compli8J]ce throughout the audit. We assessed the susceptibility of the charity's financial statements to material misstatem¢nL including obtaining an und¢rstanding of how fraud might occur, by: - making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud" and considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations. To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls we: pcrfvnii¥d illi