2023-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1126995 Company Registration No. 06700294 (England and Wales)

VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

|Trustees|| Cameron| |---|---| ||G Rice| ||JT Hannaby| ||G Parker| ||J Reynolds| ||JH Smythe| ||S Seymour| ||G Dawson| ||R Batstone| |Charity number|1126995| |Company number|06700294| |Registered office|19 Church Street| ||Wantage| ||Oxfordshire| ||OX12 8BL| |independent examiner|Chapman Worth Limited| ||2 The Old Estate Yard| ||High Street, East Hendred| ||Wantage, Oxfordshire| ||OX128JY|

VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

CONTENTS

	Page
Trustees’ Report	1-3
Statement ofTrustees’ Responsibilities	4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Statement of Financial Position	7-8
NotestotheAccounts	9-17

VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing 1 January 2016).

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The members who are the trustees havea liability of £1 on the winding up of the charitable company. Vale and Downland Museum (Wantage) is a registered charity, registered in England, number 1126995. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

| Cameron

G Rice E Green (resigned 27 July 2023) JT Hannaby J Mitchell (resigned 27 September 2022) G Parker J Reynolds JH Smythe S Seymour (appointed 23 March 2023) G Dawson (appointed 23 March 2023) R Batstone (appointed 27 July 2023)

The trustees are appointed either by nomination from other organisations or by co-option by the existing trustees.

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company.

The charitable company has a trading subsidiary, Vale and Downland (Retail) Limited, which runs the cafe in the museum.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association are:

• a) To promote and maintain for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Vale and Downland area the existing museum owned by the Vale and Downland Museum Trust or any successor museum and thereby to advance education and provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants

• b) To take over all the assets and undertaking of the Vale and Downland Museum Trust (registered charity number 270466).

Achievements and performance

After closures as a result of the pandemic the Museum has been able to remain open since July 2021. It has resumed and expanded its programme of events, activities and visits. These are a great success thanks to the continuing hard work of the staff and volunteers. The Board wishes to record its appreciation for all they do.

Overall the Museum and supporting services are performing satisfactorily and are expected to continue to do so, subject of course to there being no recurrence of the pandemic.

Financial review

The result for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 was a deficit of £31,440 on income of £151,513 (2022: deficit of £37,972 on income of £132,105). At 31 March 2020 Lains Barn was reanalysed as an investment property and was revalued to be carried at the trustees’ estimate of its market value. At 31 March 2023 the Company had accumulated reserves of £1,800,422 (2022: £1,831,862). There were no restricted fund balances at 31 March 2023.

The net book value of tangible assets at 31 March 2023 including the investment property was £1,691,184 (2022: £1,708,406). The free reserves, the difference between the value of tangible assets and unrestricted funds, have reduced from £123,456 to £109,238 over the year. The Board believes that this free reserve level is adequate to meet the ongoing needs of the charity. However, it notes the long-term increase in costs which it is taking steps to address.

The Company holds the Museum property at 19 Church Street under a long term lease which has an enduring value to the Company. This has a net value, in the books of account, of £576,349. If in remote circumstances the Company needed to vacate the property, there is a risk that the written down value may not be realisable.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Public Benefit

The Board has noted the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 and given regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. Society in general benefits from the charity's work through the provision of a museum that is free to all to visit and promotes education and social awareness.

Reserves policy

The trustees consider that reserves are required to meet fluctuations in receipts and payments, and also to cover contingencies and risks. The cash reserves of the Museum were significantly depleted during the pandemic period. However, the trustees consider that there are adequate reserves to enable the Company to meet its objectives for the forthcoming year. The adequacy of the reserves policy is reviewed annually.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provision relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

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| Cameron .
Chairman { Unnr Open. Date , ;
- LO Oct ZO
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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees, who are also the directors of Vale and Downland Museum (Wantage) for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

• prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity 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 charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

| report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 6 to 17.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees, who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of Company Law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, | report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination | have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

| have completed my examination. | confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. 3, the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by Charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of lreland (FRS102).

| 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. , AnnaKLChapmanL0YMOUFFC Chapman Worth Limited Chartered Accountants Unit 2 The Old Estate Yard High Street, East Hendred Wantage, Oxfordshire Dated: 20/10/2023 OX12 8JY

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
		funds	funds	2023	2022
	Notes	£	£	£	£
Incoming resources from generated funds
Donations and legacies	2	36,433	2,330	38,763	50,405
Investment income	3	94,626	-	94,626	80,749
		131,059	2,330	133,388	131,154
Incoming resources from charitable activities	4	18,124	=	18,124	951
		149,183	2,330	151,513	132,105
Resources expended	5
Charitable activities
Direct charitable expenditure		177,075	2,330	179,405	166,363
Governance costs		3,548	-	3,548	3,714
Total resources expended		180,623	2,330	182,953	170,077
Net income/(expenditure) forthe year
before investment gainsand transfers		(31,440)	-	(31,440)	(37,972)
Net gains on investments	10	-	-	-	-
Gross transfers between funds		-	-	-	-
Net movement in funds		(31,440)	-	(31,440)	(37,972)
Fund balances at 1 April 2022		1,831,862	-	1,831,862	1,869,834
Fundbalancesat31March2023		1,800,422	-	1,800,422	1,831,862

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

			2023		2022
	Notes	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	9		591,084		608,306
Investments	10		1,100,100		1,100,100
			1,691,184		1,708,406
Current assets
Stock	11	2,920		1,990.00
Debtors	12	30,557		52,156
Cash at bankand in hand		82,690		84,861
		116,167		139,007
Creditors: amounts fallingdue within
oneyear	13	(6,929)		(15,551)
Netcurrent(liabilities) /assets			109,238		123,456
Net assets			1,800,422		1,831,862
Income funds
Restricted funds	15		-		-
Unrestricted funds	14		1,800,422		1,831,862
			1,800,422		1,831,862

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (CONTINUED)

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

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The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on AO Oc~ t Ror L4
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| Cameron (Chairman)

Trustee

Company Registration No. 6700294

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Company Information

Vale and Downland Museum (Wantage) is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The company is also a registered charity with the Charities Commission for England and Wales.

1.1 Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with FRS102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS102”), “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS102, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice as it applied (as amended for accounting periods commencing 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS102.

The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 400 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts. The accounts present information about the company as an individual entity and not about its group.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees’ continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies - continued

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.

1.4 Incoming resources

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

1.5 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment toa third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Charitable activities include expenditure associated with meeting the charitable objectives and include expenditure associated with the museum gallery displays and various community projects and educational programmes. It includes both the direct costs and support costs relating to these activities.

Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Support costs include central functions and when appropriate are allocated to activity cost categories ona basis consistent with the use of the resources.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies - continued

1.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

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|||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Tangible|fixed|assets|other than|freehold|land|are|stated|at|cost|less depreciation.|Depreciation|is| |Freehold|land|Not depreciated| |Leasehold|improvements|50 years| |Gallery|displays|5|years| |Fixtures,|fittings and|equipment|10 years|

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1.7 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets Classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition offinancial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies - continued

1.8 Investments

investments are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recorded at cost. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

1.9 Taxation

Vale and Downland Museum (Wantage) is a registered charity and as such is not liable to income tax on income derived from its charitable activities which fall within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

2 Donations and Legacies

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2,023	2,022
	£	€	£	£
Donationsandgrants	eee OAS,	2380	38,763	30,405
Unrestricted donations and legacies comprise:
Wantage Town Council	25,350
Donation boxes/credit card/online	7,909
Friends ofVale and Downland Museum	3,174
	36,433

Restricted donations and legacies comprise:
University of Reading	1,330
Royal Pavilion Museums Trust	1,000
	2,330

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

3	Investment income	2023	2022
		£	£
	Rental income	94,542	80,700
	Interest receivable	84	49
		94,626	80,749
4	Incoming resourcesfrom charitable activities	2023	2022
		£	£
	Artists’ gallery hire/commission receivable	340	175
	Sale ofgoods and services	17,784	776
	Other	- 18,124	ee 951
5	Total resourcesexpended
		2023	2022
	Charitable activities	£	£
	Direct charitable expenditure
	Activities undertaken directly	89,805	69,560
	Support costs	89,600	96,803
	Total	179,405	166,363
	Governance Costs	3,548	3,714
		182,953	170,077
	Governance costs include payments to the independent examiner of£ 2,058 (2022: £2,010).
6	Support costs	2023	2022
		£	£
	Administrative and central costs	49,641	58,417
	Lains Barn maintenance	-	>
	Staffcosts	21,415	19,295
	Depreciation	18,544	19,091
		89,600	96,803

7 Trustees

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or expenses during the year. No donations were made to the charity by any of the Trustees during the year.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

8 Employees

Number of employees

Number of employeesemployees
The average weeklynumber ofemployees duringthe yearwas:	2023	2022
	Number	Number
Museum staff	4	4
Administration staff	1	4
	5	5
Employment costs	2023	2022
	£	£
Wages and salaries	95,730	79,538
Social security costs	-	239
Other pension costs	1,143	911
	96,373	80,688

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.

9	Tangible fixed assets
		Leasehold	Fixtures	Total
			Fittings
			& Eqpt.
		£	£	£
	Cost
	At 1 April 2022	768,287	58,462	826,749
	Additions	-	1,322	1,322
	Disposals	-	-	-
	At 31 March 2023	768,287	59 784	828,071
	Depreciation
	At 1 April 2022	176,572	41,871	218,443
	Depreciation charged in year	15,366	3,179	18,545
	Depreciation eliminated on disposal	-	-	-
	At31 March 2023	191,938	45,050	236,988
	Net book value
	At 31 March 2023	576,349	14,735	591,084
	At31March2022	591,715	16,592	608,307

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10	Fixed asset investments	Investment	Investment in	Total
		Property	subsidiary
			undertaking
		£	£	£
	Market value at 1 April 2023	1,100,000	100	1,100,100
	Revaluation	-	-	-
	Marketvalue at 31 March 2022	1,100,000	100	1,100,100
	Historical cost:
	At31March2023and31March2022	10,544	100

Investment property

During the year ending 31 March 2020 Lains Barn was reanalysed from tangible fixed assets to fixed assets investments. The property was revalued as at 31 March 2020 by the trustees based on its rental yield. A formal valuation undertaken in 2010 valued the property at £750,000. £1.1m reflects its current market value.

Investment in subsidiary undertaking Holdings of more than 20%

The company holds more than 20% of the share capital of the following companies:

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Company Country of registration or
incorporation — 9%
Subsidiary undertakings
Vale and Downland Museum United Kingdom Ordinary 100
(Retail) Limited
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The aggregate amount of capital and reserves and the results of these

undertakings for the last relevant financial year were as follows:

Capital and _Profit/(loss) reserves for the year Principal Activities £ £ Vale and Downland Museum Running the cafe in the museum (Retail) Limited 2,381 8,223

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

11	Stocks		2023	2022
	Finished goods and goods for resale		—f_«s-« 2,920	__£_ 1,990
12	Debtors		2023	2022
			£	£
	Amountsowed bygroup undertakings		23,981	28,945
	Other debtors		5,021	22,690
	Othertaxation and social	security	1,555	521
			30,557	52,156
13	Creditors: amountsfallingduewithin one year		2023	2022
			£	£
	Trade creditors		3,257	11,252
	Other creditors		-	986
	Accruals		3,672	3,313
	Other taxation and social	security	-	-
			6,929	15,551
14	Unrestricted funds
			£
	Balance brought forward		1,831,862
	Incoming resources		149,183
	Outgoing resources		(180,623)
	Net gains on investments		=
	Balance carried forward		1,800,422
15	Restricted funds
		;	£
	Balance brought forward		-
	Incoming resources		2,330
	Outgoing resources		(2,330)
	Balancecarriedforward		53

16 Related parties

At 31 March 2023 a balance of £23,981 (2022 £28,945) was due from the subsidiary undertaking, Vale and Downland Museum (Retail) Limited, in respect of income received on the parent company's behalf and rent charged for the use of space in the Museum.

17 Persons with Significant Control

The company has reasonable cause to believe that there is no registrable person or entity in relation to the company.

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VALE AND DOWNLAND MUSEUM (WANTAGE)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

18	Analysis ofnet assets betweenfunds
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		£	£	£
	Fund balances at31 March 2022 are represented by:
	Tangible fixed assets	591,084	-	591,084
	Investments	1,100,100	-	1,100,100
	Current assets	116,167	-	116,167
	Creditors: amounts fallingduewithin oneyear	(6,929)	-	(6,929)
	Creditors: amounts fallingdue aftermorethanoneyear	-	-	-
		1,800,422	-	1,800,422

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