Friends of Corinium Museum Charity No. 1118026
Trustees’ Report for Year ending 31[st] October 2023
“The Friends support the work and objectives of the Museum by helping with fundraising for special events, the acquisition of artefacts, raising public awareness and participating in the work of the Museum.”
1. Membership
Numbers have remained fairly static with the number of new Members balancing losses which primarily result from the high age profile of membership. Focus continues on the need to attract younger members of the community.
2. Committee
We were joined by a new member, Colin Cheek, whose IT skills are being applied in the design of a new website. An appeal was made for a new secretary to join the Committee.
3. Museum operation and stafing
Museum staff under the leadership of Emma Stewart (Museum Director) have had to adapt to a change in the Museum operating company, following the termination of the SLM ten years contract and the District Council’s award of a new contract to Freedom Leisure.
The commitment and creativity of the Museum team provides an excellent backing for the Friends’ Committee’s activities, enabling us to work together to support public events and workshops and generally to identify opportunities which can help to enhance public profile.
4. Events in 2023
Friends enjoyed a visit to the Roman baths in Bath and had a private talk from Amanda Hart who had left her post as Director of the Corinium Museum in 2022 to take up the role of Roman Baths Director.
We were able to assess progress since last year’s summer dig at the Seven Sisters tumulus with another well-attended visit.
The Committee manned a stand at the annual Winstone Trust lecture in the Parish Church which is always well attended and provides a good opportunity to raise profile and try to attract recruits from a wide group.
The various social events are seen as a good recruitment opportunity and Members are encouraged to introduce their friends and acquaintances, bearing in mind the importance of attracting younger members of the community.
5. Acquisitions
A post-Medieval silver seal from the locality was acquired through the British Museum for £450. As identified in Section 7, we are focussing on some important future projects.
6. Finances
- The Treasurer’s Report at the AGM confirmed that the Friends had made a small surplus from the Gladiators Exhibition, shown in a consolidation of income and expenditure from three financial years.
The level of retained funds has been improving with a view to providing for known projects (see below).
7. 2024
-
The Friends have committed to the funding of the conservation costs (some £6,000) of two Roman cavalry swords which have been gifted to the Museum and we will also assist in further fundraising for some £20,000 for their display. There is a community initiative to obtain on loan from the British Museum and to display in the Museum, a well-known local Roman mosaic which was removed from the town some two hundred years ago. Its return to the town will be a high profile event giving scope for wider public activities.
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Archaeological excavations upon the line of the Roman Ermin Way (A417 highway improvements) are under way, finds from this falling into the category of Known Unknowns.
8. Public Profle and Fundraising
Work is in progress to create a more comprehensive website which makes it easy for members of the public to join the Friends and pay online, for Members to book and pay for events and for people to make donations for our identified projects. A card reader has also been acquired, enabling electronic donations to be made.
9. Summary
The Committee recognises that the key to a successful voluntary organisation is for the Committee and Members to enjoy their roles, the activities and the social interaction and to feel that progress in fulfilling the charity objectives is being made. We appreciate having a membership which is active and engages well in enjoying the Museum and helping to enhance its profile.
Edward Allsop Trustee and Hon. Treasurer August 2024
Friends of Corinium Museum
Registered Charity No. 1118026
Accounts for year ending 31st October 2023 for Charity Commission
INCOME
| Subscriptions Donations Gift Aid Bank Interest Gladiator Exhibition Easy Fundraising/Just Giving Friends visit to Bath Fundraising EXPENDITURE Receptions/Recruitment Administration Purchase of Artefacts Membership of BAFM and insurance Project Payments Visit to Bath Subscriptions Miscelllaneous Website Bank charges Net Balance for year Balances brought forward Account balance at year end |
4,233.50 7,734.73 1,088.68 467.74 13,783.50 49.75 985.00 600.00 |
|---|---|
| 28,942.90 852.22 82.39 450.00 400.00 9,984.00 953.00 216.00 1,250.00 520.00 98.06 |
|
| 14,805.67 14,137.23 31,557.29 45,694.52 |
(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts S•ction A Independent Examinèr's Report Report to tho trusle Friends of CorinltAn Museum On xcounts for the year ended 31 0th2023 Charlty no | 1118026 (if any) Set out on pagos 1 and 2 atlached I report to ts truee8 on nry examinatk>n of the K¢ounts ofthe thve chartiy nhe TnJst'> forthe year ended Ro8ponglbllllJw •Thl basis of r•port As thè tharws trustee8, you are resFLYffjlble for the pieparatp)n of I 8ccwnts in actrdance wllh the requkoThnt8 of the Charilies Act 2011 (Ihe kt"). The tharitys twstees CCsIder that an wjdit is not required for this yr under $8ctio) 144 of th8 Act and that an independent ein81Th I report In respect of my examin8ticrf) of the Trust's ac£ounts carried out under sectiffi 145 of th8 2011 Act and w) carrying out my examination, I have folkmed 811 the applicable Direct1x given by the Charity CoMmisOn under 8ectkm 145151(b) ACL Indep6ndent My hclths a revth of accountlTrJ rncord8 kept by the charlty oxamlnerf8 8tat•mont and a comparison of the CoUnts presented with those records. l also Indudes consideratKm of any unusLAI Ilen or disclosures in the 8ccount8, and seeklrwJ explanations from the ITU8tees conceming any Suth matters. The pror2thJres uTrJertaken do rM)t provmle all the evidence that would be rnquired in an audit, a1 consequently rK) rpinlon is gNen as io whelher the accixjnts prewt a Irue and fair vithrf and the report is limited to those mattern set out in the &atemert bebw. .1 ha oynpldod my ewrotn arKI I confinn that no matsiial m8tt8r8 have com8 to my attentK tn connedth with the exarnination. Tknh gives me cause to b8lk8ve that in. any mateii81 respt. a) acycnting reo)rds were not kept in attoance lth seciion 130 of the Charities A£t or b) the 8¢Unts do accord with the 8CJxiinliry record8 I have no aThJ rove c¢rfne ro$S no matters In with tho examination b vthich attention slM)ukl be dravm in this report in ordér to enable a proper uThlerstaThSir#a of the accounts to be rnachaj. Signed: 15th August 2024 Nam: Mark V4fj1ton Rèlevant profwional Chartered Accountant IER Oct 2018
qualifKalion(s) or body [FCA of The Instibjte rf C1HrteI Ac(xyJnknts in England Wales (rf any): Address: GL7 6BE Section B Disclosure Onty complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. IrKlependent eXaniHil( of cjwity a(unts. drecti)r* Glve here brlef delals of any items that the examinor wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sèction A Indendent Examlner's Report Report to thè t160$ FrEnds of Corinium Museum On acMunts for the year end•d 31# Odober 2023 Charlty no ' 1118026 Irf any) 1 2 attach I report to th8 trustees on my examrthK>n charity fft TN8t'} for the yeareThJwJ Zl the )Unts ol th8 abovo RpOn11b1IIII01 and ba•1• of roPQrt A8 thè tharW8 truste88. you are respon8bb fi)r the preparation of the accounts In acC¢)rda wlth the requireThnt8 of the Chfirllles Act 2011 (Ihe kt?. The thantys trustees Ihat drt is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and ttrHt an examinthn is I report in respect of my examination of the Trusvs accwnts catried OLrt under section 145 of the 2011 Act WKI in carying out my examinaticn, I have followed all the applicable DITl)n8 given by the Charty Convni8sK)n under Sectlon 145(5Xb) of Ihe ACL Independent My examlnailon k¥Jude8 a revltrw of8(x(ntlr records kept by thè charity •xamlnef8 8tstsmant and 8 comparison of the accounts presented wilh th08e records. l 8180 Indudes consKleration of any unusual ilem or disclosure$ in tr 8Lccunts, seeking explanat1 from the truste8s conceming any suth matters. The tKo(%thres urKlertaken do rK)t provKle all the evidence thatwould be required in an audit. arrfj nseqUentty no inV) 1$ giv8n as to vthether Ihe acc(MJnts present a and fair vithrf and the rq)ort is limited to those fflatteTr set (Jt in the statsment beh)w. .1 hav8 cc¥npld•d my ex8mirAtbn aThJ I nfim7 that no rle[la1 mater8 have com8 to my attenti with the ex&nlr0tion, vthkh giv88 rne cause to b81i8v• that in. any rnaterial respect; a) a¢minting rerdS V•pre not kept n ardance with 8edion 130 of the charit Act or b) the a¢Unts do rK)l accord with the 8¢(XMJnOThJ reoJrd8 I have no con¢xms aThJ IBve ccmre xross no matters in ConrOn with the examinatk)n to vthich attention sfL>ukl b8 drawn in this report in order to enablo a proper uthrstarKllTrJ of the accourts to bo reathed. Signed: 1V August 2024 Name: ma V4fj1ton Rolevant prof•ssSonal Chartered ALrounlant IER Oct 2018