Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 1* April 2024 to 31st March 2025
Charity registration number: 1108344
Objectives and Activities
The purpose of the charity as set out in its Governing Document is to educate the public by the promotion, support, assistance and improvement of the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.
This is achieved by raising funds for the charity by: -
Identifying and inviting speakers of interest and of relevance to the Gallery collection. Arranging visits to collections outside Bath.
Attracting new members so to increase income for the charity by subscriptions. Publicising Gallery and Friends activities on the Friend’s independent website.
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in arranging all activities. The Trustees have taken outside advice on fundraising and recruitment and survey of members opinions. The Trustees are actively engaged in a full risk assessment process because of changes in Local Authority and Gallery management. They have actively reduced risk in some areas of activity and have addressed succession planning. The Trustees constantly review their skills mix and have recruited another new member to become a Trustee at the next AGM.
Achievements and Performance
Income levels have been well maintained despite closure of the permanent collection main gallery for major structural repairs. This major alteration has subsequently been completed followed by public reopening and FOVAG members’ celebrations. Membership numbers fluctuate but the overall trend has been upwards with increasing attendances at lectures. Grants have been made towards purchases for the collection. A substantial sum from the capital fund has been expended on the refurbishment, for educational purposes, of a large redundant space, which is now open to the public including families from April 2025. A large additional gift towards that scheme from a Friend has been attracted and is eligible for Gift Aid. Lectures in a temporary facility off site have attracted interest from numbers of people with whom the charity had no previous contact.
Financial Review
Treasurer’s Report - Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2025
Copies of the Annual Accounts have been circulated to all Members with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. They have been checked by Carolyn Bruce-Jones our independent Examiner as required by the Charity Commission.
We are as always extremely grateful to the various donors who have supported us during the year in different ways including a donation of £5500 towards the cost of installing extra equipment in the Modelling Room and three anonymous donations— one of £2500 and two of £2000 each. Avery successful appeal for contributions towards the cost of conserving the painting of Henry VIII raised almost £4000 towards the final cost of £8732.
We continue to benefit from the Gift Aid scheme and claimed the very useful contribution of £4543.43 on this year’s donations and subscriptions.
As a result of these generous donations and including the large amount received last year, we have been able to make grants in this financial year of £105,894. The largest payment was £85000 for our contribution to the cost of refurbishingthe Modelling Room. Other grants included a donation £6178.16 for the cost of audio-visual equipment and a hearing loop in the Modelling Room. Our purchase of picture framing equipment for £3433.50 was put to good use in the preparation and framing of the prints for the Mirror of Mirth exhibition enabling a substantial saving on costs of picture framing and allowing more pictures to be exhibited for public benefit than could otherwise have been afforded — a benefit which will be of use for many years to come. In February we contributed £1134.00 towards the purchase at auction of a painting of a former Mayor of Bath, Simon Crook. A full list of grants appears in the accounts. We thank all our members and contributors for their support enabling us to continue to assist with improvements to the Gallery and its holdings and educational facilities. Our excursions and regular talks organised by the Events sub-committee have been very successful and contributed over £2500 towards our funds after expenses.
The donations box on the stairs in the Gallery has contributed £276 although this is less than previously, hopefully it will soon improve now that Upper Gallery is reopened. Our membership income has increased slightly in the year,
and we have just under 400 members or almost 500 if counting individual members in joint memberships. The Gallery staff are very helpful in recruiting new members and we have a steady stream joining us throughout the year. Whilst our funds in hand at the end ofthe year are considerably less than the previous year end due partlyto the advance payment of the contribution towards the refurbishment of the modelling room, we continue to hold sufficient funds to meet our ongoing costs and likely requests for assistance from the Gallery staff. All funds held by the Charity are unrestricted. However, the Trustees have allocated funds for future grants as follows. Provision for future Gallery extension — balance of Haber legacy (including accrued interest)
£87408.00
Governance and Management
The Charity is a Charitable Unincorporated Association governed by a constitution dated 4" February 2005 and registered with the Charity Commission. During the year a proposal was developed by Trustees for approval by the members at the AGM to change the structure of the Friends to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. At the June 2025 AGM the Trustees were authorised to undertake the necessary steps to achieve this.
Trustee selection methods.
Where people with required skills are identified, they are invited to attend Trustees meetings to observe how business is conducted and allow them to continue towards election as a trustee if they so wish. One such person is now attending meetings. When at Trustees’ meetings they attend as observers and do not have voting rights.
If wishing to be elected as a Trustee a CVis circulated to all members before the next AGM and a free vote by members conducted at the AGM. The AGM papers circulated in advance include the invitation for any memberto stand for election as a Trustee by submitting a CV. Existing members are actively encouraged to recruit new members and to propose anyone interested in becoming a member and Trustee.
Reference and Administrative details
The Nameofthe Charity is The Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery
Registered Charity Number is 1108344
The Charity’s principal address is Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath BA2 4AT
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|The|Trustees|during|the|year were:|-|
|Dr|Michel|Rowe|Chairman|.|
|Mr|John|Ennor|Treasurer|
|Mrs|Lucia|Grimshaw|
|Mrs|Sandra|Le|Marchant|
|Mrs|Marian|McNeir|
|Mr|David|Metcalfe|
|Dr Cathryn|Spence|
|Mrs Candida|Thring|Appointed|7™|June 2024|
|Mrs|Pam|Twohig|
|Mrs Vivien Womersley|Retired|24° June|2025|
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Declarations
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of
Signature°t ustees of the Charity /]
;Yr? ( 7
(| a i ii
Full Name Michael John Rowe John William Ennor
Position Chairman Treasurer ' |
Date (94 ' 7/28
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—GED) HARTY, ommssion [OEprosaae |
Period end
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|8|Restricted|
|Recommended|categories|by|Unrestricted|income|Endowment|Prior year|
|activity|a|funds|funds|funds|Total|funds|funds|
|£|£|£|£|£|
|Incoming|resources|(Note|3)|FO1|FQ2|FO3|FO4|FO5|
|Income|and|endowments|from:|
|Other|ilh|
|Total|so [et ees ||eet|eee|erie|
|Resources|expended|(Note|6)|
|Expenditure|on:|
|Raising funds|sos]|4,163]|||4 t63 T4581 ||
|Charitable|activites|soo]|105,804]|=|||||105,894 [5,540|||
|Total|ee|ee|ee|ee|ae|
|gains/(losses)Net income/(expenditure)|before investment|Si3}-Pe68,434|-|68,434|||61,005|
|NetExtraordinary income/(expenditure)items|sie}$15|(5OBA||eb4es ||eine|
|Transfers|between|funds|spo||
|Other|recognised|gains/(losses):|
|Gains and losses on revaluation|of fixed assets for the charity's own use|$18lc|(‘kerr|
|Net movement in funds|so [664s [=|||848A ||OT,00B|
|Total funds carried forward|ra|Se ee|SsLe|
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8
z
8 Restricted
Unrestricted income Endowment Total this Total last
6 funds funds funds year year
£ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets FO1 F02 F03 F04 F05
TangibleIntangible assets (Note 15) ilhl
Heritage assets (Note 14) p2 | |CeO!
assets (Note 16) ps | |De;
Investments (Note17) om | |Pee
Current assets Total fixed assets 00s PURO T Te i ee
Stocks (Note 18) pos | | | E260
Debtors (Note 19) cor | gat | Ta | |
Investments (Note 17.4) B88 eS OEE
Cash at bank and inTotal hand (Note 24) = 00 [-TA7U37 [OST| 2B OTT
current assets 10 [T7285] 27D
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year (Note 20) B11 2,690 2,690 2,750
Net current assets/(liabilities) 612 [TIBI] dC OTS ODD
Total assets less current liabilities B13 Oe 213,029
Creditors: amounts falling due after
one year (Note 20) B14
Total net assets or liabilities B16 144,595 oS 144,595 213,029
Funds of the Charity
Endowment funds (Note 27) B17 - Po _— #逫7T-«C«d
Restricted income funds (Note 27) B18 fe - P|
Unrestricted funds B19 144,595 - 144,595 213,029
Revaluation reserve B20 PF
Totaltunds on [OS
ne ee ees
Signed by one or two two trustees on behalf of all Date of
the trustees signature Print Name approval |
AMAS, [ MD.] [Rowe] [o2bubap
| XJY fi- ? _ dd/mm/yy /
PeLFeww oe [otfouhord4
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Signed by one or two two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
CC17a (Excel)
1
01/04/2025
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zh, CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the
| (a3) | FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts
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Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees tain oo Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery On accounts for the year | 31° March 2025 Charity no | 1108344 ended (if any) Set TT out on pages | | report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
| 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.
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Signed: |. 7 ECC -hirw Date: | /2 /5/ Zo
Name: |CAKOL'WV Bei (E- JANES
Relevant professionalas
qualification(s) or body AL A
(if any):
Address: (VE STOLE FRM (OLE BeuTOr’
LBAIC OPT
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