## **Company Number: 07465640 Charity Number: 1141462**
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST (A company limited by guarantee)**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
HPH Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham York YO30 7XZ
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives**
The objective of the Charitable Company as stated in our constitution of 5 March 2012 is:
_The provision and maintenance of museums in or near Ripon for the exhibition to the public of articles of literary, artistic, scientific, cultural or historic interest._
In 2020 the Board launched its Strategic Plan (2020 - 2026). A new Vision, Mission and Strategic Aims are in place to guide the Trust in its next 6-year strategic planning.
## **Our vision** :
We will use our heritage assets to inspire people to seek a fairer society.
## **Our mission:**
- We will use the unique trio of the Workhouse, Prison & Police and Courthouse Museums, collections and the stories they tell to help people explore big issues such as fairness, equality, justice and welfare. Through excellent engagement, programming and outreach together we will inspire people to become compassionate and active citizens, shaping society for the better. We will work for greater participation in our heritage which will enrich lives and improve wellbeing. Volunteering is integral to our organization; at our core we work as one team. We will make a positive impact on Ripon and the region’s cultural and economic capital.
## **Our Strategic Aims:**
To deliver our new mission we have distilled our priorities into seven Strategic Aims:
- Conserve, manage and develop knowledge of our heritage assets, reducing their impact on the environment and using them to improve people’s health, wellbeing and enjoyment.
- Deliver excellent programmes of learning and interpretation which cause people to reflect on big issues about social justice.
- Provide excellent visitor services and develop new audiences.
- Develop our skills and networks to strengthen volunteering and build strong community and participatory resources and ways of working.
- Maximise RMT’s contribution to the cultural and economic capital of the region.
- Increase inclusivity and equality of opportunity in all that we do.
- Generate sustainable financial resources and develop a resilient organisation and skilled people.
These strategic aims each have a set of actions under them which form the basis of our annual development plan, which guides the work of the Charitable Company. Progress against these aims is monitored and reported at the trustee meetings throughout the year.
2
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **Covid-19**
Whilst our objectives remain strong, our activities in 2020 have been severely curtailed by the Covid-19 global pandemic. Following Government advice we closed our museums in late March 2020 and re-opened with strict Covid-19 safety measures in place in late June. There was a further closure for the month of November and then on 30[th] December we were required to close again. All in all we were open just over 7 months and much of that opening was with Government restricted numbers and social distancing measures. Visitor sentiment about how safe they felt visiting museums varied throughout the year and school groups/tour groups attendance was very much lower as a result of Government advice and protocols. Our response to Covid is described further throughout the rest of this Report. Overall 2020 has been a year unlike any other in the history of the Trust and the whole of society has been impacted. Our experience has been survival turning into adaptation and then into recovery mode through 2020 and we feel that our accounts show resilience to face the future.
## **Public Benefit Activities**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission and the Trustees have paid due regard to this guidance on deciding what activities the Charity should undertake. The Trustees consider that all the activities set out in this report have been undertaken to further the charitable purposes for the public benefit. Full description of the key elements of our public benefit are detailed on the following pages.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
For this rather exceptional year we report by looking at the areas overseen by the five standing committees.
RMT’s response to Covid-19 saw much more frequent meetings of the Board, Chairs of Committees and Finance and Marketing Committee in order to take decisions quickly and expediently in response to rapidly changing Government advice and survival grants. Meetings moved online using MS Teams. Most Committees continued their normal frequency and used some of their time to continue to plan so that programming and activities in exhibitions, learning, volunteering would be ready to resume once we could re-open.
## **Business & Operations**
2020 saw a significant curtailment of our operations due to Covid-19 pandemic. The Arts Council stepped in to maintain our National Portfolio funding as ‘survival’ funding, provide significant Cultural Recovery funding and the organisation cut costs. We were also helped by a business rates holiday and a Small Business Grant via Harrogate Borough Council. We also furloughed all but 2 of our staff.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lack of staff and volunteers and repeated closures footfall data was not captured in 2020. We have extrapolated from income below – marked ‘e’ for estimate.
3
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
Footfall data for Day Visitors
|**Site**|**2020**|**2019**|**2018**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Workhouse|Not recorded
e 6,431|12,610|13,350|
|Prison and Police|Not recorded
e 4,586|8,994|9,687|
|Courthouse|Not recorded
e 2,692|5,279|5,642|
|**Total**|**Not recorded**
**e 13,710**|**26,883**|**28,679**|
## **Finance & Marketing**
## **Finance**
2020 saw a substantial reduction in our earned income due to the pandemic and our closure. However, we benefitted from ACE Cultural Recovery Fund grant to support our resilience and planning for our recovery year in 2021. Our NPO grant continued and there was a small inflationary rise.
The Committee started to meet every month to project and monitor performance when we were able to open. The year was beset with great uncertainties for all businesses and we continually reviewed potential expenditure against much lower levels of earnt income.
Museum admissions income was £61,170 which has down on budget by 42% and down on 2019 actual by 49%. This outturn was in fact remarkable given we were closed 5 months during a pandemic which also impacted visitor confidence when open. Our historic small City in a rural location and positioning as a domestic tourism destination (Yorkshire Dales) and our excellent and responsive marketing strategy accounts for this relative success.
In this unprecedented year our final position a surplus of nearly £55,000 reflects our success in securing survival and recovery grants – some of which is carried forward into 2021. However overall, in the opinion of the Board and Director, RMT has proved remarkably resilient given the circumstances and has provided RMT with an optimistic outlook _**.**_
## _**Reserves policy**_
The total funds held by the Charitable Company are £523,355 of which £360,368 are restricted. Therefore, free reserves are £162,987.
The Trust’s reserves policy is to have a minimum of six months’ reserves on hand to cover the changes in cash flow during the year and to cover any unforeseen issues. The reserves in our unrestricted account at the end of 2020 represent about seven months' worth of trading.
In summary, the Board considers the overall financial performance of the Trust to be satisfactory. We are grateful to the whole staff and volunteer team who contributed to the performance and for all their effort and passion through unprecedented times. The furloughing of staff for up to 4 months in some cases was not easy but a huge contribution to the survival of the organisation.
4
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **Marketing**
Despite a hiatus in marketing activity in part due to furloughed staff and a vacancy for Marketing Manager (which was finally filled in November 2020) our presence on social media has been strengthened and we made improvements in the use of blogs and our mailing list. Our admission tickets sales had been online prior to the pandemic but only accounted for a small percentage of sales. The requirement to limit numbers of visitors at sites saw us introduce a much more sophisticated system for online bookings which is now used by a high percentage of visitors. In summer 2020 we achieved Visit Britain’s “Good to Go” kitemark – recognising all the work we had done on Covid-19 safety measures (social distancing, cleaning regimes, signage and protection of staff and volunteers at desks). Evidence from TripAdvisor, Google and Facebook shows that we were still held in high regard for the museums and what they offered and people felt safe visiting us.
## **Learning & Curation**
## _**Curation**_
In the first three months of 2020 we were exhibiting the ‘Prisoners on Prisoners’ art commission – a piece of work funded by ACE which used our Victorian prisoner mugshot archives with female prisoners from Askham Grange. However in late March we closed and due to Covid-19 all our other exhibition programming was cancelled. However RMT was involved in two ‘lockdown’ projects online; “More than Oliver Twist” was a joint exhibition organised by The Workhouse Network and involved the research work of our volunteers. We also were part of the “Blue Sky Museums Project” with Arts and Heritage which encouraged artists to respond to our museums and themes remotely and the resultant ‘blue sky art proposals’ were shared online. The Workhouse Museum was fortunate to exhibit 5 very stimulating proposals.
Throughout lockdown closures and when our Curator was furloughed volunteers continued to carry out environmental condition checks on our collections and our buildings.
Initially in 2020 the Master’s Garden and Victorian Kitchen Garden were open as usual with our Lead Gardener and volunteers working to maintain the spaces and ensure they were productive. After a short period of closure in Spring 2020 it soon became obvious that we would need to set up Covid-19 safe systems of work for the gardening team to resume work otherwise we wouldn’t have a ‘garden offer’ in the Spring or Summer when we hoped to reopen.
Early Summer 2020, before we were allowed to open the inside of our museums, saw us promote an ‘Indoor Outdoor Trail’ at the Workhouse Museum which used internal historical interpretation and turned to face outwards so visitors could learn about our buildings whilst being outside. The Summer provided a fantastic show of flowers and vegetables in the gardens. It is true to say that these initiatives gave staff and volunteers hope and inspiration at a difficult time and we were able to offer something to the visiting public.
A partnership project looking at green space in the Skell Valley with the National Trust at Fountains Abbey continued to be explored and developed.
5
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
When we re-opened in summer 2020 the Prisoners on Prisoners exhibition was extended. Other events and activities involving groups were cancelled or postponed to 2021.Our Curator left RMT in September 2020 to take up a promotion at Wakefield Museums and the post was left vacant due to funding uncertainties caused by the pandemic.
## _**Learning**_
School bookings were at normal levels in the first 2 months of 2020 and then as we approached February Half Term the implications of Covid-19 started to impact booking. Once we closed of course all our school visits were cancelled and we furloughed our learning team. Some schools, particularly smaller, primary classes from local rural schools did return for carefully risk assessed visits in Autumn 2020. But numbers were very much reduced. With another lockdown closure in November bookings stopped for 2020, so the data is very scant.
Through late summer and Autumn 2020 using Cultural Recovery funding the learning team have been able to transfer some of the learning offer onto digital. Equipment and skills have been acquired to produce ‘Talking Heads’ – properly researched and costumed characters from the past involved in the history of our sites can talk to schools and groups remotely, live or pre-recorded. This can assist with an in-person visit or be an alternative and is becoming a part of our ‘blended’ offer; to schools. Skills acquired delivering in-character Q & A zoom sessions during autumn have been built into interactive outreach sessions for adults with learning difficulties in the community who are shielding due to complex health conditions.
Footfall data for Learning Visits
|**Type**|**2020**|**2019**|**2018**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Formal Learning|1,407|7,233|3,359|
|Informal Learning|90|1,362|1,371|
|**Total**|**1,497**|**8,595**|**4,730**|
Community events such as our outdoor theatre performance, the ghost walks, St Wilfrid’s Parade and ‘Sights and Sounds’ were all cancelled.
## **PEOPLE**
## _**Volunteers**_
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a variety of impacts on our volunteering in 2020. Whilst we were closed no volunteering except for essential activities to protect the fabric of the buildings, the collections and our gardens could continue. Volunteering followed strict Covid safety measures and we produced very detailed risk assessments for all activities, contacts and entry to sites. Some volunteers were shielding due to underlying health issues and, understandably pre-vaccine rollout, many felt very nervous returning to their previous duties. The pandemic seriously impacted people’s mental health and wellbeing and it was essential we kept strong communication links with our community of volunteers during the darkest days of the pandemic.
6
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
Our Volunteer Development Officer (funded through an external grant and therefore not furloughed) plus the Director kept an expanded weekly newsletter circulating to over 140 volunteers, Zoom and MS Teams based coffee mornings, evening quizzes and other virtual contacts were developed. A ‘telephone tree’ of contacts for our more vulnerable/lonely volunteers was put into place to ensure we kept everyone informed of what RMT was doing to keep our organisation afloat. Everyone was on a steep learning curve with the technology but participation was good.
In Summer 2020 return to volunteering was understandably slow starting around 60%. Volunteers were understandably nervous (as we all were) and didn’t know what to expect. Through careful risk assessments, inductions, ‘trial runs’ and all the physical measures we put in place (Perspex screens at desk, face coverings etc) our volunteers started to return to their previous duties and shifts. This area of work has proved an enormous challenge as uncertainties around whether there would be further lockdowns impacted our ability to provide front line services to visitors. Without Arts Council England Cultural Recovery funding we would not have been able to open - delivering safety measures, cleaning and front line resources. Through early Autumn 2020 more volunteers did return but this was again curtailed due to the November lockdown.
## _**Staff**_
In April 2020 virtually all the staff were put on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) to make essential cost savings for RMT through the closure period. The Director and an externally funded Volunteer Development Officer were kept in work to manage governance, our Covid response and to maintain good communications with the volunteer teams. Those who remained in work worked from home and juggled home schooling and virtual meetings, In July/August staff began to be unfurloughed as the museums were able to open in accordance with Government guidelines.
A few staff left in Autumn/Winter either for promotion opportunities or a change in career direction and vacancies were kept open due to the uncertainties and expenditure impacts that further closure might have. But in the November lockdown closure the Board took the decision not to furlough staff so that everyone could prepare programming for 2021 season. At the very end of 2020 the museums had to close again on Government advice. Several staff who left in 2020 were not immediately replaced due to the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic ie. Curator, Learning Officer and Volunteer Development Officer. The Charity appointed a new Operations Officer.
## _**Ripon Museums: Inspiration for a Fairer Future Project**_
Despite the difficulties of 2020, not least the closure by National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) of their major grant schemes for a time, RMT was still able to progress plans for this major project. A consultant was retained who continued to develop ideas, plans and costings for the project in conjunction with the Director, Board members and our Honorary Architect. The Project aims to make much stronger links across all three sites to tell the stories of social justice, fairness, welfare, crime and punishment. Our emerging experiences of the pandemic – isolation, segregation, inequalities in society, food poverty all resonated with our themes and strengthened our ambitions for this project and added to its relevance.
7
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
Through robust financial management, the receipt of several grants to support us through periods of closure and the continuation of the NPO funding we are fortunate to be in a very positive position to pursue our objectives in 2021. The Trust will continue to deliver and build on its existing offer of three museums, gardens, a strong and well received learning programme, a well-respected volunteer offer, and a burgeoning exhibitions programme. Lessons learnt through 2020 about Covid-19’s impacts on society and our communities prompt the Trust to use digital options more and to strengthen our activities in respect of mental health and wellbeing. Our ‘Inspiration for a Fairer Future’ project will be pursued as soon as the NLHF re-open its major grants scheme.
## _**Strategy development**_
Covid-19 has provided challenging circumstances for the Trust in pursuance of our Strategy through repeated closures. However, the Strategy remains a strong ‘touchstone’ for resuming operations in 2021 when advised by Government that it is safe to do so.
## **Risk Management Policy**
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Risk is regularly reviewed as part of ongoing operations and for projects. The Trust conforms to all standards required including safeguarding, health and safety, data protection etc. All relevant policies and procedures are in place and are reviewed regularly by the People Committee. A Health and Safety Consultant is retained by the Trust. A risk register was developed as part of business planning.
## **STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Memorandum and Articles of Association**
Ripon Museum Trust is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 5 March 2012. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the Company and there are currently eight members, each of whom agrees to contribute up to £10 in the event of the Charity winding up.
## **Trustees**
The registered office and officers and advisors are detailed on page 10.
The Board of Trustees of the Charity meets quarterly as well as for two away days a year to consider strategic issues. Following a review of governance, the Board has established five standing committees which meet four times a year and report to it. They are for Business & Operations, Finance & Marketing, Learning & Curation, People and Capital Assets Committee. In addition the Remuneration Committee meets as required.
## **Operational management**
This is delegated to the Museum Director supported by a staff team and over 140 volunteers, detailed on page 10.
8
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **Appointment of new Trustees**
## _**Recruitment, appointment and induction of Trustees**_
Appointment of Trustees is governed by the Constitution. The Board is authorised to appoint new Trustees to fill vacancies arising through resignation or death of an existing Trustee.
One third of the Trustees must retire at the Annual General Meeting. However, if eligible, they may offer themselves for re-election.
At the year ending 31 December 2020 there were nine Trustees. At the AGM held October 2020 (online) three Trustees stood down and offered themselves for re-election, Richard Taylor, Mandy Whitehead and Chris Hughes and they were duly re-elected.
The Trust has a trustee induction pack containing all relevant policies, procedures and documentation. New Trustees meet with the Chair and the Museum Director for initial induction sessions as well as meeting key members of staff. Trustees are encouraged to attend relevant training, especially sessions on governance provided by the Association of Independent Museums.
## **Relationship to Unincorporated Charity number 512913**
This was the original charity for the Trust prior to Incorporation in 2012. All assets and liabilities have been transferred from this charity to the new incorporated charity. The only exception to this is the lease of the Prison and Police Museum. We are currently working with Harrogate Borough Council to transfer the Lease to the new charity, at which point we will close the old charity entirely. Three of the Trustees of the new charity remain as Trustees of the old charity:
Mr R I C Taylor Mr A D Thelwall Miss M Whitehead
9
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
**Trustees** V Arrowsmith C. R. Hughes M-A Irbins R. I. C. Taylor (Chair) A. D. Thelwall E. A. Tyler A. M. Vernon Prof M. P. Webber M. Whitehead
**Staff team** Helen Thornton Museum Director Vicki Lever Volunteers & Operations Manager Xantha Mepham/ Sonja Nowicki Operations Officer Gemma Connell (to December 2020) Volunteer Development Officer Carrie Phillip Learning & Outreach Manager Katy O'Malley (to December 2020) Learning Officer Anna Cross Outreach Officer Leah Mellors (to September 2020) Curator Catherine Baxter Garden Leader Paul Grayson Technical Assistant Linda Furniss/ Amy Lord Marketing Manager **Company Number** 07465640 (England & Wales) **Charity Number** 1141462 (England & Wales)
**Registered Office** The Workhouse Museum 75 Allhallowgate Ripon North Yorkshire HG4 1LE **Independent Examiner** A. C. Rodaway, FCA, DChA HPH Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham York YO30 7XZ
10
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
**Committee membership as at 31 December 2020:**
|**Business & Operations**|Christopher Hughes (Chair)|
|---|---|
||David Thelwall|
||Lizzy Tyler|
||Ann-Marie Jackson (Volunteer)|
||Helen Thornton (Director)|
||Vicki Lever (Volunteer & Operations Manager)|
|**Finance & Marketing**|David Thelwall (Chair)|
||Richard Taylor|
||Mary-Ann Irbins|
||Alexa Vernon|
||James Cunnington (Volunteer)|
||Christine Orsler (Volunteer)|
||Helen Thornton (Director)|
||Moira Smith (Volunteer)|
||Linda Furniss/Amy Lord (Marketing Manager)|
|**Learning & Curation**|Martin Webber (Chair)|
||Richard Taylor (Trustee)|
||Joyce Walmsley (Volunteer)|
||Linda Moore (Volunteer)|
||Virginia Arrowsmith (Trustee)|
||Beth Harris (Volunteer)|
||Leah Mellors (Curator)|
||Carrie Philip (Learning & Outreach Manager)|
|**People**|Mandy Whitehead (Chair)|
||Chris Hughes|
||Lizzy Tyler|
||Amy Stow (Volunteer)|
||Lindy Webb (Volunteer)|
||Helen Thornton (Director)|
||Vicki Lever (Volunteer & Operations Manager)|
|**Capital Assets Committee**|Richard Taylor (Chair)|
||Mandy Whitehead|
||David Thelwall|
||Susan Amaku|
||Peter Higginbotham (Volunteer)|
||Moira Smith (Volunteer)|
||Helen Thornton (Director)|
||Leah Mellors (Curator)|
In 2020 our **Museum Mentor** retired. Our **Architectural Advisor** is Susan Amaku.
11
**RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **TRUSTEES’ FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES**
Company law requires the Trustees of the Charitable Company to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charitable Company at the end of the financial year and of its surplus or deficit for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- a) Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- b) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- c) State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- d) 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 proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charitable Company and which enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charitable Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In accordance with company law, as the company’s directors, we certify that:
- so far as we are aware, there is no relevant information of which the company’s independent examiners are unaware; and
- as the directors of the company we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Charitable Company’s independent examiners are aware of that information.
This report is prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities and in accordance with special provisions of the Small Companies Regime.
## **Small company provisions**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The Trustees' annual report was approved on 23 September 2021 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by:
A. D. Thelwall
12
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
(A company limited by guarantee)
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES**
I report to the Charitable Company’s Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charitable Company for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 14 to 23.
This report is made solely to the Charitable Company’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charitable Company’s Trustees as a body in accordance with section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examiner’s work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charitable Company’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charitable Company, the Charitable Company’s Members as a body and the Charitable Company’s Trustees as a body for my independent examiner’s work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the Charity’s Trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you 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 accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I 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. 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.
I 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.
HPH, Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham York YO30 7XZ
A. C. Rodaway, FCA, DChA 23 September 2021
13
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee)
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
|**Note**
**INCOME**
**Donations and legacies**
**_3_**
**Other trading activities**
**_4_**
**Investments**
**_5_**
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Costs of raising funds**
**Charitable activities**
**_6_**
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**Transfers between funds**
**_13_**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**_13_**
**Total funds carried forward**
**_13_**
**Net income / (expenditure) before**
**transfers**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
277,313
77,332
7,123
361,768
-
263,349
263,349
98,419
-
98,419
64,568
£ 162,987|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
20,000
-
-
20,000
-
63,493
63,493
(43,493)
-
(43,493)
403,861
£ 360,368|**Total**
**Total**
**2020**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
297,313
224,717
77,332
169,119
7,123
7,430
381,768
401,266
-
2,474
326,842
348,569
326,842
351,043
54,926
50,223
-
-
54,926
50,223
468,429
418,206
£ 523,355
£ 468,429|
|---|---|---|---|
All activities derive from continuing operations. The notes on pages 16 to 23 form part of the accounts.
14
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee) **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020**
**Company registration number: 07465640**
||**Note**||**2020**|||**2019**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**||**£**|**£**||**£**|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||||||
|Tangible Assets|**_9_**|||351,225|||351,400|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||||||
|Stock||3,871|||5,175|||
|Debtors|**_10_**|3,923|||37,789|||
|Cash at Bank and in hand||300,631|||102,648|||
|||308,425|||145,612|||
|**LIABILITIES: amounts falling due**||||||||
|**within one year**|**_11_**|(136,295)|||(28,583)|||
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||||172,130|||117,029|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**||||523,355|||468,429|
|**NET ASSETS**||||£ 523,355|||£ 468,429|
|**THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**||||||||
|Restricted Funds|**_13_**|||360,368|||403,861|
|Unrestricted Funds||||||||
|- Undesignated Funds|**_13_**|||162,987|||64,568|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||||£ 523,355|||£ 468,429|
For the financial year ended 31 December 2020, the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The Members have not required the Charitable Company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The notes on pages 16 to 23 form part of the accounts.
These financial statements were approved by the trustees on 23 September 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
A. D. Thelwall
15
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST** (A company limited by guarantee) **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **1 GENERAL INFORMATION**
The Charitable Company is a private company limited by guarantee, which is incorporated and registered in England and Wales (no.07465640). It was registered as a charity on 14 April 2011. The Charity number is 1141462.
The address of its registered office is The Workhouse Museum, 75 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LE.
## **2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of accounts**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Ripon Museum Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
## **2.2 Going Concern policy**
As described in Note 14, special consideration has been given to the post balance sheet event of COVID-19. The Trustees have prepared financial projections, taking into consideration the current economic climate and its potential impact on the sources of income and planned expenditure. They have a reasonable expectation that adequate financial resources are available to enable the charity to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and have adequate contingency plans in the event that income streams are reduced. Consequently the financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the charity is a going concern.
## **2.3 Fund accounting**
The trustees have a defined policy for identification of different types of income:
- a) Designated funds are unrestricted funds but are specifically earmarked by the Trustees for a particular purpose.
- b) Restricted funds are only to be used for the specific purpose laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets this criteria is charged to the fund.
- c) Unrestricted funds are the residue of incoming resources receivable or generated from the objects of the charity without further specified purposes and are available as general funds.
## **2.4 Income**
All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities when the conditions for receipt have been met and there is reasonable assurance of receipt. Except for the following:
## _Grants receivable_
Grants for immediate expenditure are accounted for when they become receivable. Grants received for specific purposes are treated as restricted funds. Grants which are received for a future accounting period are deferred and recognised in those periods.
Capital Grants for specific fixed assets are included in restricted income when received. Once the asset is purchased these monies are transferred to unrestricted funds unless there is a restriction on the disposal of the asset. If so, the net book value of the asset is shown as a restricted fund.
16
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee) **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)**
## **2.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on a cash basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
- Costs of raising funds costs associated with attracting voluntary income. Charitable activities - costs incurred by the Charitable Company in delivering its services to clients. Support costs - allocated to charitable activities on an equal basis.
## **2.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Fixed assets (including Heritage assets) for the Charitable Company to use are capitalised at cost, for items above £1,000. Donated assets are valued at market value on donation. They are stated in the accounts at cost/original value less depreciation.
Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
Plant and machinery 10% straight line basis
Heritage assets are not depreciated but maintained in good working order.
## **2.7 Stock**
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **2.8 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
## **2.9 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **2.10 Creditors**
Creditors are recognised where the Charitable Company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **2.11 Financial Instruments**
The Charitable Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
## **2.12 Pension costs**
The Charitable Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.
## **2.13 Limited by guarantee**
Each member's liability is limited to £10 in the case of winding up of the Charitable Company.
17
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
|**3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
Donations
Other Grants
Government Grants|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2020**
**£**
8,180
60,100
209,033
£ 277,313|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2020**
**£**
20,000
-
-
£ 20,000|**Total**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2020**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
28,180
18,654
60,100
50,109
209,033
155,954
£ 297,313
£ 224,717|
|---|---|---|---|
The Charitable Company also benefits from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers. In accordance with Charities SORP, the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
|**4 INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
Fundraising events
603
Shop income
5,546
Admissions
69,496
Memberships
592
Sundry income
1,095
£ 77,332
**5 INCOME FROM INVESTMENT INCOME**
Bank interest receivable
-
Rent receivable
7,123
£ 7,123|-
-
-
-
-
£ -
-
-
£ -|603
5,546
69,496
592
1,095
£ 77,332
-
7,123
£ 7,123|4,869
11,938
150,557
534
1,221|
|---|---|---|---|
||||£ 169,119|
||||19
7,411|
||||£ 7,430|
18
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
|**6**
**ANALYSIS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**Funds**
**2020**
**6.1 Charitable activities**
**£**
Staff costs
155,280
Premises costs
56,852
Administrative costs
8,793
Volunteer costs
2,104
Primary purpose trading
18,032
Stock expense
6,991
Sundry expenese
1,330
Support costs (Note 6.2)
13,967
£ 263,349
**6.2 Support costs**
Independent Examiner's fee
925
1,072
Other professional fees
4,935
Advertising
6,204
Depreciation
175
Bank charges
656
£ 13,967
**7**
**TOTAL STAFF COSTS**
Wages and Salaries
Social Security Costs
Employer Pension Contributions
**Unrestricted**
Accountancy fees paid to
Independent Examiner|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2020**
**£**
50,159
-
8,702
-
-
-
4,632
-
£ 63,493
-
-
-
-
-
-
£ -|**Total**
**Funds**
**2020**
**£**
205,439
56,852
17,495
2,104
18,032
6,991
5,962
13,967
£ 326,842
925
1,072
4,935
6,204
175
656
£ 13,967
**2020**
**£**
189,644
8,489
7,306
£ 205,439|**Total**
**Funds**
**2019**
**£**
200,014
59,057
16,826
10,272
34,251
9,435
1,526
17,188|
|---|---|---|---|
||||£ 348,569|
||||900
492
1,336
13,150
175
1,135|
||||£ 17,188|
||||**2019**
**£**
180,165
12,506
7,343|
||||£ 200,014|
No employee earned £60,000 per annum or more in the year (2019 - none).
## **Number of employees**
The head count of employees on the payroll as at December 2020 was 14 (December 2019 - 10).
The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year was 9 (2019 - 9).
The key management personnel of the Charitable Charity comprise the trustees and the senior management team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel, with only senior management team members being paid, was £123,115 (2019 - £127,630).
19
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee) **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **8 RELATED PARTIES**
No Trustees received remuneration or expenses during the year (2019 - £nil).
There were no related party transactions in the reporting year which require disclosure (2019 - nil).
## **9 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2020
At 31 December 2020
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2020
Charge for year
Disposal in year
At 31 December 2020
**Net Book Amounts**
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
1,750
1,750
350
175
-
525
£ 1,225
£ 1,400|**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
350,000
350,000
-
-
-
-
£ 350,000
£ 350,000|**Total**
**£**
351,750|
|---|---|---|---|
||||351,750|
||||350
175
-|
||||525|
||||£ 351,225|
||||£ 351,400|
## **Heritage assets**
Included within land and buildings is £350,000 for the Workhouse Museum, which is a grade II listed property, for which the Charity has a restricted title. The property was funded by a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and is charged to them in perpetuity.
The Prison & Police Museum and the Courthouse Museum are both grade II listed properties, leased to the Charity from Harrogate Borough Council and The Church of England respectively. Neither are included in the accounts.
|**10**
**DEBTORS**
Trade Debtors
Accrued grant income|**2020**
**2019**
**£**
**£**
2,923
2,789
1,000
35,000
£ 3,923
£ 37,789|
|---|---|
20
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
|**11 LIABILITIES: Amounts falling due within one year**
Trade Creditors
Social Security and Other Taxes
Accruals
Other Loan
Pension contributions
Deferred income
**Deferred income**
Balance brought forward
Amount deferred in the year
Released in the year
Balance carried forward|**2020**
**£**
946
5,920
2,802
11,500
1,227
113,900
£ 136,295
969
113,900
(969)
£ 113,900|**2019**
**£**
8,417
-
1,392
16,500
1,305
969|
|---|---|---|
|||£ 28,583|
|||-
969
-|
|||£ 969|
At the balance sheet date the Charitable Company was holding funds received in advance of providing services, which is fully released in the following financial year.
## **12 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
|**Current year**
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
At 31 December 2020
**Comparative year**
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
At 31 December 2019|**Unrestricted**
**Undesignated**
**Funds**
**£**
1,225
298,057
(136,295)
£ 162,987
**Unrestricted**
**Undesignated**
**Funds**
**£**
1,400
91,751
(28,583)
£ 64,568|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
350,000
10,368
-
£ 360,368
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
350,000
53,861
-
£ 403,861|**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
351,225
308,425
(136,295)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||£ 523,355|
||||**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
351,400
145,612
(28,583)|
||||£ 468,429|
21
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee) **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **13 FUNDS**
|**Restricted Funds**
Land and buildings
COINS Foundation
National Lottery Heritage
Arts Council
Inspiration for a fairer future
**Unrestricted Funds**
**_Undesignated_**
Free reserves
Total Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds
**Restricted Funds**
Land and buildings
Other restricted funds
**Unrestricted Funds**
**_Undesignated_**
Free reserves
Total Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2020**
**£**
350,000
7,950
37,209
8,702
-
403,861
64,568
64,568
£ 468,429
**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2019**
**£**
350,000
-
350,000
68,206
68,206
£ 418,206|**Income**
**£**
-
10,000
-
-
10,000
20,000
361,768
361,768
£ 381,768
**Income**
**£**
-
62,114
62,114
339,152
339,152
£ 401,266|**Expenditure**
**£**
-
(12,950)
(37,209)
(8,702)
(4,632)
(63,493)
(263,349)
(263,349)
£ (326,842)
**Expenditure**
**£**
-
(8,253)
(8,253)
(342,790)
(342,790)
£ (351,043)|**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
£ -
**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
£ -|**Balance at**
**2020**
**£**
350,000
5,000
-
-
5,368
**31 December**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||360,368|
||||||162,987|
||||||162,987|
||||||£ 523,355|
||||||**Balance at**
**2019**
**£**
350,000
53,861
**31 December**|
||||||403,861|
||||||64,568|
||||||64,568|
||||||£ 468,429|
## **Restricted Funds**
**Land and buildings:** The properties are held in Restricted Funds.
**COINS Foundation:** This is money received for funding Volunteer Development Officer role. **National Lottery Heritage:** This was money received for the purchase of the main block.
**Arts Council:** This money was received for the creation of a fundraising strategy and advice.
**Inspiration for a fairer future:** This is money received for the project to help create stronger links across all three sites and to tell the stories.
22
## **RIPON MUSEUM TRUST**
## (A company limited by guarantee) **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
## **14 POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS**
The outbreak of COVID-19 is having a significant impact in the UK and has caused a high degree of uncertainty in the economy.
The Charitable Company considers the COVID-19 outbreak to be a non-adjusting post balance sheet event. The Charitable Company continues to monitor the impact of the pandemic and given the inherent uncertainties, it is not practicable to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the Charitable Company’s future financial performance. However, at the date of signing the 31 December 2020 year end accounts, the Balance Sheet was strong and the Board of Trustees are meeting regularly alongside increased Finance and Marketing Committees to monitor the situation and plan for 2022. Further information can be found within the 'Plans for future periods' section of the Trustees' Report.
## **15 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)**
|**INCOME**
**Donations and legacies**
**Charitable activities**
**Other trading activities**
**Investments**
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Costs of raising funds**
**Charitable activities**
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
**Net income / (expenditure) before**
**transfers**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
162,620
-
169,119
7,413
339,152
432
342,358
342,790
(3,638)
-
(3,638)
68,206
£ 64,568|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
62,097
-
-
17
62,114
2,042
6,211
8,253
53,861
-
53,861
350,000
£ 403,861|**Total**
**Total**
**2019**
**2018**
**£**
**£**
224,717
124,714
-
41,776
169,119
175,658
7,430
10,598
401,266
352,746
2,474
1,600
348,569
402,675
351,043
404,275
50,223
(51,529)
-
-
50,223
(51,529)
418,206
469,735
£ 468,429
£ 418,206|
|---|---|---|---|
23