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2025-12-31-accounts

Portland Museum Trust

Charity Commission Report for the year ending December 2025

AnnualReport2025

  1. Chairman’s Report

  2. About the Trust

  3. Links to other Organisations

  4. Events, Projects and Awards

  5. Grants and Donations

  6. Admissions

  7. Income

  8. Friends of Portland Museum (FoPM)

9. Acknowledgements

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1. Chairman’s Report

2025 marked the completion of my first full year in office. I have been able to learn much about the running of a small museum and have enjoyed the experience. This, in part, is due to the enthusiasm and professional capabilities I have witnessed amongst the other trustees and volunteers. We have continued to enjoy strong support from the ‘Friends of Portland Museum’ under the watchful eye of Angela Scott.

Staffing Arrangements

We have been very pleased with the performance of our paid member of staff, Chloe Taylor, and have therefore renewed her contract until 31[st] December 2027. We have also increased her wages by 4%. Although this adds to our expenditure, her contribution to the day-to-day running of the museum remains essential.

Financial pressures

Two of our most significant financial pressures are electricity costs (more than £2,000) and insurance (£5,108). Both are unavoidable. During the colder months, we must maintain stable temperature and humidity levels to protect delicate artefacts, despite the challenges presented by buildings that were not designed for modern museum conservation.

Banking arrangements

Lease renewal

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Roof repairs

As previously reported, part of the Museum is housed in two 17[th] century cottages with thatched roofs. One of the most important tasks in 2025 was a major repair to the ridge thatch on the roof of the Marie Stopes Cottage. We obtained three quotations for the work, ranging from £9,000 to

£13,000, and were satisfied that the lower quote would still deliver a competent standard of workmanship. The work was therefore commissioned at the end of the season and was successfully completed in November, just before the onset of the worst winter weather.

Visitors and financial outlook

Visitor numbers in 2025 were broadly in line with 2024, with a modest increase of 2.9%. While attendance remained steady, the Trustees continued to focus closely on the museum’s overall financial position.

Revenue support grant

In 2021, the museum was awarded £5,000 per year for three years (2021–2023) through Dorset Council’s Organisational Revenue Support Fund. For the next funding round, covering 2024–2026, the museum submitted a more ambitious application and was delighted to secure £15,000 per year.

As 2026 will be the final year of this grant, a key priority will be to begin discussions with Dorset Council about future support. This revenue funding remains essential to the museum’s financial stability. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the Trust will continue working to strengthen the museum’s financial resilience and safeguard its long-term future.

Tony Flux MSc 19[th] June 2026

2. About the Trust

Portland Museum Trust is a 'Not for Profit Company Limited by Guarantee', registered in June 2007, operating as an independent charitable trust. The Trust took over the ownership of the museum collection and the management and operational responsibility for Portland Museum from Weymouth & Portland Borough Council in March 2008, under the terms of a 25-year full repairing and insuring lease. A s s t a t e d , this lease had only 6 years remaining and needed to be renewed.

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The Council remained the owner of the Museum until April 2019 when a Dorset-wide reorganization of local councils saw the abolition of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, and the creation of the new Dorset Council. Portland Museum became an asset of Dorset Council, initially for an interim year but was then confirmed as a final arrangement

The Trust is a Registered Charity (No.1132576), and its operation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Its objects are –

"The objects for which the Trust is formed are (but only in so far as the same are charitable): the advancement of the education of the public by providing and maintaining a museum of artefacts and specimens relating to the natural sciences, natural history, archaeology, literature, music, the fine and decorative arts, antiquities and local history relating in particular to the Island of Portland"

The Board of Trustees , as of 31[st] December 2025 we had 9 Trustees

Members are ably assisted by our independent Chartered Accountant, Adele Russell of AR Accounting. We are sad to report the death of one of our most loyal and long-standing Trustees, Michael Osmond, who passed away in March 2026.

We hope to recruit one more person for the Board during 2026.

3. Links to other Organisations

The Trust works with many other organisations and is pleased to be associated with:

Arts Council England Nautical Archaeology Society Association of Independent Museums Nothe Fort b-side Portland Bill Lighthouse Budmouth Academy, Weymouth Portland Town Council [PTC] Dorset Council Receiver of Wreck Dorset Museum Royal Museums Greenwich Dorset Museums Association Shire Hall, Dorchester Historic England St George’s Church Modes St Georges Heritage Study Centre, Portland MSDS Marine St Georges School, Portland SW Museum Association Weymouth LUNAR Society National Lottery Heritage Fund Weymouth & Portland Heritage Group

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4. Events and displays held in 2025, projects and awards

A. Key Events

(Core Annual Events)

Our established annual programme continued to perform strongly, with Dino Day , Pirate Day , and the Festival of Archaeology remaining some of our most popular family events.

What’s All This Bunny Business? – Talk by Sophie Fretwell — 27th March

A creative exploration of Portland folklore blended with Japanese mythology, led by local artist Sophie Fretwell.

Danes in Dorset – Illustrated Talk — 1st May

A historical overview delivered by Jack Durie, exploring 300 years of Viking activity in Britain with a focus on Dorset.

Community Quarry & Stone Sessions (Free Events)

Exploring Portland’s quarrying heritage through shared memories, stories, and poetry.

Museum Open Day & Portland Poetry Reading — 7th June

Our first Open Day welcomed new visitors, strengthened community links, and encouraged relaxed exploration of the museum and grounds.

Highlights:

Dorset Songs of Stone – Poetry Festival — 26[th] July

The Dorset Songs of Stone Poetry Festival formed the culmination of our summer poetry programme. The event brought together museum volunteers, local residents, and guest community readers to share new poetry and nature-writing created in response to our earlier open-day readings of the Portland Poets. Throughout June and July, visitors were invited to take part in a creative challenge inspired by Skylark Durston, Bob Woollage, George Davey, and Boy Male, supported by a leaflet of prompts developed for the museum.

The festival showcased these new community responses alongside original work by the Portland Poets (shared with kind permission from their families). The afternoon created a reflective, intergenerational space for celebrating Portland’s landscape, memory, and creative heritage, further strengthening the museum’s role as a hub for local arts and storytelling.

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This project was also recognised externally: the Weymouth Civic Society selected Dorset Songs of Stone for their 2026 Heritage Award, acknowledging the museum’s contribution to cultural life in Weymouth and Portland and the impact of this community-centered creative programme. (See also Section 4c)

Portland’s Quirky Railways – Illustrated Talk by John New — 23rd October

Held at C2000 Hall as part of the national Rail 200 celebrations. Explored 200 years of Portland’s railway history, including the Merchants Railway anniversary and 60 years since the last passenger train.

Highlights:

Frank’s Christmas Film Fundraiser — 11th December

A festive community event featuring h1ome-film footage from the Frank Marshall archive, with commentary from former quarrymen Trev McColm and Rab Stone.

B. Key Displays &

Exhibitions Treasures from

the Loft

Following a successful AiM/Pilgrim Trust grant, the museum upgraded its storage materials and undertook a major winter repacking project.

Key Outcomes:

Portland Poets – Poetry Competition Display

Unveiled during the Poetry Festival and displayed in the temporary exhibition space until winter closure.

Features:

Information provided by Chloe Taylor

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C. Projects and Awards

The Big Portland History Project

During summer 2025, Portland Museum worked in partnership with St George’s Primary School to design and deliver The Big Portland History Project . The project aimed to give every pupil the opportunity to explore the history of the island and develop a stronger connection with Portland’s heritage. Funding from the Chesil Local Alliance Group (LAG) enabled the school to release a member of staff for one day a week to manage the project. Over two full terms, each year group focused on a different aspect of local history, supported by practical workshops delivered by the museum.

Topics covered included:

At the Weymouth and Portland Civic Society Awards ceremony on 18[th] June 2026, Portland Museum was awarded the prestigious ‘Heritage’ award for our work in providing community events ( Songs of Stone’ ) that celebrated the poetry of Portland and encouraged local people to contribute to that rich and colourful heritage.

5. Grants & Donations

(Grants etc received in 2025.)

Grants total was £23,999 (of which £20,952 were Government grants)

Donations total: £4,858

Overall total: £28,857 (See also the final page of the accounts)

6. Admissions

We keep detailed records of visitor demographics and admissions to both the museum and its special events. The headline figures for April to December are set out below.

7. Income

The annual income for Portland Museum comes from a combination of small grants (see item 5), donations, entrance fees and retail.

Income in 2025 totalled £56,915 (up from £54,319 last year) (+4.8%)

N.B. Our total expenditure was £62,227. Overall, we ended the year with a deficit of £6,257

8. Friends of Portland Museum [FoPM]

Membership and overall position

2025 was another successful year for the Friends of Portland Museum, although membership was slightly lower than in 2024, when there were 54 members.

Member visits and activities

The out-of-hours visit to the museum was offered again in July. A small group of Friends took up the opportunity and enjoyed a relaxed tour of the museum, followed by time to talk together in the museum garden.

In September, 25 Friends, Trustees and Volunteers visited the Nothe Fort in Weymouth, where they received an excellent guided tour from the Fort’s volunteers. The monthly talks at C2000 are now well established, and a further eight well-attended talks were held during the year. Two were particularly popular: one on the Battle of Britain and one on Portland railways.

Membership fees and support

Membership fees were kept at the same level as in 2024: £10 for a single membership and £15 for a couple. These contributions continue to support the museum’s general fund.

Information provided by Angela Scott

9. Acknowledgements

Reflections on the year

As I completed my second year as Chair of the Trustees, I am increasingly aware of the responsibilities involved in running a small museum. The financial pressures are significant, particularly with a full repairing lease and a group of historic buildings to maintain.

Community support

Those buildings, however, are central to what makes Portland Museum distinctive. The dedication of our volunteers and the continued support of the local community make the effort worthwhile. Portland has a long tradition of looking after its own, and that spirit is reflected in the support the Museum receives. It is deeply encouraging to see how much the Museum is valued by the people of Portland, and I remain confident in its future.

Thanks

Finally, I would like to thank the staff and Trustees for their unwavering support, both to me personally and to the Museum throughout the year.

Tony Flux MSc

Chair of the Trustees 24[th] June 2026

Registered number 06292060 PORTLAND MUSEUM TRUST DIRECTORS. REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 AR Accouiitiii(J Chartered Accountant ¥( Tax Adviser

Portland Museum Contents Trust Page Company Iiiformation Directors, Report Accountant's Report Income and Expenditure Account Salance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statefflents The following pages do not form part of the 5tatutDry accountS'. Detailed Income and Expenditure Account

Portland Museum Trust Company Information For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 Dlrectors Ms Amanda Ivallwork Mr David Carter 15 Nancy Grace Mr Antliony Flux 1r Robert Hughe5 M5 Slella New Mr James Barker Mr James A5hvianden Mrs Andrea Franklin-Hughes Secretary Mrs Andrea Franklin-Hughes Company Number 06292060 Registered Office 217 Wakeham Easton Portland Dorset DT5 IHS Accountants AR Accounting Chartered Accountant & Tax Adviser 16 Fisherbridge Road Preston Weymouth DT3 6BT Page I

Portland Museum Trust Company No. 06292060 Directors. Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. Dlrectors The director5 wlio lield office during the year were as follows.. Ms Amanda IV&llwork Mr Micliael Osinoiid Resigr)ed 2010212025 Mr David Carter M5 Nancy Grace MrDavid Wilkins Resigned 1610512025 Mr Antliony Flux Mr Robert Hughes M5 Stella New Mr Thomas Ellis-jones Mr James Barker Re51gned 2410112025 Appointed 1810512025 Appointed 2110712025 Mr5 Andrea Franklin-Hughes Appointed 1410312025 Mr james Ashwanden Statement of Directors, Responsibilities The directors are respon51ble for preparing the Directors, Report and the financial statements In accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law require5 the directors to prepare financial 5tatenient5 for each financial year. Under that law the director5 have elected to prepare the financi31 5tatement5 ID accordBnce with United KIDgdom Generally Accepted AccoLinting Practice (United Kingdom Accolinting Standards and applirable lawl. Under company 13w the director5 mL15t not approve the financi31 5t6ternents unle55 they ore satisfied that they give a true ond fair view of the Stare OF 6ff6ir5 of the company 6nd OF the surplus or defficit of the company for that poriod. In preparii)g the ffinanc131 statements the directors ère roquirod to-. select suitable accouiiiing policie5 and then apply tlieni consistently., Imake iudgnient5 aiid accounting e5timate5 that are reasonable and prudent,. prepare the financial statements on the going concern ba515 unles5 It Is Inappropriate to presume that the companv The directors are re5PDllSible for keepiiig adequate accounting record5 that are sufficient to Shovi and explain the company'5 transactions and d15c105e with reasonable accurac¥ at any time the financial p051tion of the company and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply Ivith the Companie5 Act 2006. They are a150 responsible for 5BfeguBrding the sse.t£ of the company and hence ffor taking reasonable step5 for the prevention and detection of fraud and other Tlie direcior5 are responsible for the niainteiiance and Integrity of the corporaie and financial Inforniation Incliided on the company'5 webslte. Legislation In the United Kingdom governing the preparation and di55emination of financial statement5 may diFfer from lÈgislation In othÈr Jurisdictions. Small Company Rules Th15 report has been prepared In accordance with the special provision5 relating to companie5 subiect to the sfflall companie5 regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. On behalf of the board Mr Anthony Flux Director 1110312026 Page 2

Portland Museum Trust Accountant'5 Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 Chartered Accountant's report to the directors on the preparation of the unaudited statutory accounts of Portland Museum Trust For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 In order to a5515t you to fulfil your duties under the Companie5 Act 2006, 1 have prepared for your approval the accounts of Portland Mu5eLim Trust For The Year Ended 3 1 December 2025 ivhich comprise the Income and Expenditure Account, the B￿li￿n￿.e Sheet and the related notes frorn the company'5 6CCOUnting rer.ord5 ond from Informotion ond expliination5 you have given to us. As a pr3ctlsing member OF the Institute of Chartered Accountant5 In England and Wale5 IICAEWI, Ive are Subject to Its ethical and other profe5510nal requirement5 which are detailed at http'/lwivw.Icaew.rom/enlmernber5hip/regulation5-5tandard5-and- guidance. This report 15 made 501ely to the director5 of Portland Mu5eLlm Trust as a body, In accordance with the terms of our engagement. Our work has been undert3ken 501ely to prepai"e for your approval the 3ccount5 of Portland Museum Trust and State those rnatter5 that Ive have agreed to State to the director5 of Portland Museum Trust 5 a body, In th15 report In ¢cor(lanie with ICAEbV Technical Release 07116 AAF. To the Fullest extent perinitted by lfjw, Ive do not occept or o55ume responsibility to anyone other than Portland Museum Trust and Its directors, as 8 bodyi for our work or for tl)Is report. It Is your duty to ensure that Portlaiid ML15eLim Tri15t has kept adequate accounting records 3nd to prepare 5tatiitory account5 thaf give a trlie and ffair vieiv off the a55et5, Iiabilitie5, ffinancial p051tion and profit or 1055 of Portl3nd Museum TrLJSt You consider tlidt PDrtldnd Museum Trust 15 exefTlPt frurn the statutory audit rÈquirement for the ye3r. We have not been Instructed to carry OLIt an audit of the aCCOLints of Portland M115eum Trust For th15 reason. we have not verified the accurècy or completene55 of the aCCOLinting rerord5 or Information and explanation5 you have given to Us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on tl)e financial statements. Signed 1210312026 AR Accouiiting Chartered AccoLintant & Tax Adv15er 16 Fisherbridge Road Pre510n Iveyrnouth DT3 6BT Page 3

Portland Museum Trust Income and Expenditure Account For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 2025 2024 Notes TURNOVER Cost of sales 56,915 18,039 1 54,319 18,210 1 GROSS SURPLUS 48,876 46,109 Administrative expenses 154,188 1 141,192 1 OPERATING {DEFICIT)/SURPLUS Other Interest receivable and similar Income Interest payable and similar charges 15,312 1 30 11,002 1 4,917 53 1966 1 (DEFICIT)ISURPLUS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 16,284 1 4,004 The note5 on page5 6 to 7 form part of these financial 51atements. Page 4

Portland Museum Trust Balance Sheet As At 31 December 2025 2025 2024 Notes Tangible Assets 8,497 8,497 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks Debtors Cash at bank and In hand 308 5,342 25,987 22,096 Creditors.. Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 19,934 1848 T￿ele0?￿RREw￿sStsP.8IIr￿￿UfEtyTEs{Ordan(e with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small s@,ryognies regime. TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 30,200 36,484 30,200 36,484 Income and Expenditure Account 30,200 36,484 FUNDS 30,200 36,484 For the year ending 31 December 2025 the comp3nv Companie5 Aot 2006 relating to small companie5. entitled to Page

Portland Museum Trust Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 General Information Portland Museum Trust Is a private company, limited by guarantee, iiicorporated In England & Wales, registered number 06292060 The registered office Is 217 Wakeham, Easion, Portland, Dorset, DT5 IHS. Accounting Policies 2. 1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements The fin3ncial statemeiit5 have been prepared under the h15torical Cost convention and In accordaiice with Financial Reporting Standard L02 sect10n IA Small Entitie5 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Irelèiid" and the Companies Act 2006. 2.2. Turnover Turnover Is nieasured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxe5. Tlirnover Include5 revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover 15 reduced for estimated customer retijrns, rebotes and other 51milar allow6nce5. Sale of goods Turnover from the Sale of goods is recogn15ed when the 51gnific3nt ri5k5 and rewards of ownership of the good5 ha5 tran5fÈrrÈd to the buyer. This Is usually at thÈ point that thÈ tustomer ha5 signed for thÈ delivery of thÈ goods. Rendering of service5 Turnover froin tlie rendering of seroices Is recognised by reference 10 tlie stage off coirpletion of Ihe contract. The stage of completion of a contract 15 me35Lired by coniparing the costs Incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract C05t5. Tlirnover 15 only recogn15ed to the extent of recoverable expen5e5 iyhen the outcome of a contract c3rinot be estiniated rÈliably. 2.3. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation Tangible fixed a55et5 are measured at C05t le55 accumulated depreciation and any accumulated Impairment 1055e5. Depreciafion Is provided at rates calcLilated to write off the cost of the fixed a55et5, le55 their e5tlm3ted re51dval value, ovèr tliÈir ÈxpÈctÈd useful lives on thÈ followirig bases-. Fixture5 & Fittings 250/0 on a reducing balance basis 2.4. Stocks and Work in Progress Stocks and work In progre55 are valued at the lower of cost and net rea1153ble valiie after making due allowance for ob501ete and 51ow-moving 5tock5. Cost Includes 311 ojirect C05t5 and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overhe6d5. Work-In-progre55 15 refler.ted In rhe acr.oiJntS on a contract by contract basis by recording tlirnover Dnd rèlatod costs as coiitract activity progressos. Average Number of Employee5 Average number of einployees, Including directors, during the year was.. 1 12024.. 11 Tangible Assets Fixtures & Fittings Cost As at I lanuary 2025 Additions 44,434 1,568 As at 31 December 2025 46,002 Depreciation As at I lanuary 2025 Provided during the period 34,673 2,832 As at 31 December 2025 37,505 .CONTINUED Page 6

Portland Museum Trust Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 Net Book Value As at 31 Deceimber 2025 8,497 As at I lanuary 2025 9,761 Stocks 2025 2024 Finished goods 308 361 Debtors 2025 2024 Due within one year Prepayments aiid accrued Income 5,342 5,114 Creditors.. Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 2025 2024 Trade creditors Other taxe5 and social security Accrua15 and deferred Income 4,881 575 4,478 357 430 9,934 848 Company limited by guarantee The company 15 limited by guarantee aiid has no share capital. Every member of the company undert3ke5 to contribute to the a55ets of the company, in the event of a winding up, such an amount as may be requirÈd not exceeding £ l. Page 7

Portland Museum Trust Detailed Income and Expenditure Account For The Year Ended 31 December 2025 2025 2024 FOPM 385 13,468 13,248 957 28,857 420 Shop sales Event Income Including talks Grants and donations received 26,624 COST OF SALES Shop Purchases and events 8,039 18,039 GROSS SURPLUS 48,876 Administrative Expense5 Wages and salaries Projoct conLractors 20,800 10,400 Page