## **DISCOVER DOWNHAM** **Downham Market & District Heritage Society (DMDHS) CIO: Registered Charity No. 1154267** The Old Fire Station, 30 Priory Rd, Downham Market PE38 9JS: 01366 384428 www.discoverdownham.org.uk info@discoverdownham.org.uk Issued 20.10.2022 ## **TRUSTEE REPORT NOVEMBER 2022** This has been our first full year out of lockdown so as the Treasurer’s report states, we have not quite balanced the books with our income…but we have had a pretty good stab at it. We brightened up Priory Road again with our Christmas Tree which was donated by one of the volunteers and held a small opening ceremony with a mince pie and glass of mulled wine to ward off the cold. The tree miraculously turned into an Easter Egg Tree later in the year, albeit without its leaves, when we held a very successful free Easter Egg decorating event for children. Our Community Outreach programme has been very popular with eight Childrens workshops held so far this year. These educational, fun events have proved to be very popular, particularly with the local Guide and Scout groups and there is increasing demand. Whilst not money making, they do introduce children, sometimes for the first time, to a small museum environment and we hope to see them return. Also this year, as part of an Art Fund grant which was awarded to one of the volunteers, a Paper Clay Sculpting workshop for Adults was held one Saturday morning. This was very well attended and attracted many people who had never been to the Centre before. It is hoped that similar events can be held in the future. Our regular big Fundraisers, as in other years, have been the monthly Quiz nights and Coffee mornings. Both of these have a firm base of ‘regulars’ that attend but we are always pleased to see new faces. These Fundraisers are boosted by a raffle which is, as with everything else, organised by volunteers and produces another very useful source of income. Hires have increased this year, which is perhaps not surprising, given the time we were unable to socialise. Hire Income is up with all manner of groups using the premises, such as Songwriters & Poets, Dice & Decks, Photography for Fun, Climate Conversation Group, Cancer Hub, Lecture Society, Family History, Coffee mornings held by other charities…and there are many more. The Centre is again very grateful to the volunteers who are Key holders and open and close for all these groups. Once again research enquiries (for which we charge a small minimum £10 fee) are up, with many people wanting to find out about the history of their house or ancestors and also more complicated searches. This takes a lot of time but is an important facility for us to be able to offer. We have a new Organiser for the Society’s Monthly meetings and we have already had some very interesting talks with an exciting programme organised through until June 2023, plus hopefully a summer visit to a local venue. The same person edits the three monthly Newsletter which is colourful and informative and sent to all members free of charge. We have permanent displays at the Centre but also Temporary Displays and this year the volunteers have produced ‘The Best Days of Your Life? Downham Market Schools’ which runs until March. This has generated very good publicity with lots of people coming to look at the many photographs and items on display. More names have now been put to pupils faces and interesting memories recorded, thanks to the visitors. If you haven’t seen the Exhibition it is certainly worth visiting. This exhibition has helped to boost visitor numbers which were already higher since covid with visitors from as far afield as South Africa and Australia as well as from many parts of the UK. To open to the public we require Stewards. There are an experienced group of stewards who volunteer regularly but they do have other commitments too and unfortunately, though we hate doing it, we have had to close for a morning or afternoon on three occasions this year. We are always looking for new stewards so if this is something you think you would like to get involved with please do get in touch. The Centre has to pay for rent/utilities and with a full repairing lease, expenses are high which is why it is important to make the books balance. There is no guaranteed outside funding and although we are extremely lucky that all the roles within the Centre are currently filled by Volunteers, and no salaried staff, we are always very grateful to receive grants to help towards the upkeep. We were fortunate enough to obtain a £1000 grant this year from King’s Lynn Borough Council and this went towards some outside tables and chairs for the courtyard and helped towards the set up costs of the Temporary Schools Exhibition. Hopefully you have all heard by now that Discover Downham is one of three groups that have been chosen to take part in Tesco’s latest round of Community Grants in Downham Market. So please make sure that every time you go in to Tesco you pick up a blue token and put it in the Discover Downham box. We will be awarded either £1500/£1000 or £500 depending on which group gets the most tokens, so your support is very valuable. Another way to support us is by buying our 2023 Downham Market Fund Raising Calendar which has been put together by the Calendar Team who have enjoyed choosing the photographs from the large collection that is held in the archives at the Centre. The Calendars are good quality and are available from the Centre at £6 or visit the website www.discoverdownham.org.uk. They make great Christmas presents and can be posted for an extra £1.50. As well as room hire and all the fund raising events that are held, the core of Discover Downham is the museum. People have been especially generous this year donating artefacts with 200 recorded in the last year. Donations included suppliers receipts from The Blue Bell public house in Stoke Ferry, School photos and Registers from a number of people which were used in the Schools Exhibition, letters relating to the Evacuation of families to Downham Market, Accounts for the Sand Pit used for building the Crow Hall estate, Documents relating to the intention to construct a sewer on Crow Hall estate and documents regarding the Reed family. We have also accessed two items of 1960s Wicksteed playground equipment which used to be on the Howdale. One is a rocking elephant and the other a horse and once repainted they will be put in the courtyard and hopefully bring back some happy memories. There are now 96 members which is higher than some previous years but we would like to build on that number so very much appreciate your continued support. We are proud that we have such an innovative set up at Discover Downham. Not only a Museum, which preserves and records the history of Downham Market and attracts visitors to the town, but also, thanks to our many volunteers and members, we are able to fully support the Centre by all the events that we hold. Well …..almost fully support…maybe next year! RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT OOWNHAM MARKET AND oisTricr HERITAGE SOCIETY YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Oownh3m Market & District Heritz tome and Ex nditure Account for the Èar end￿ 31st Marth 2023 Incomin Resources Restrkted Unrestrkted 2023 Total Total enernl Donations ubscriptions ales oorn hire nquires oan Boxe5 eetings 923 1.225 1,133 3.506 50 20 1.672 8.529 923 1,225 1.133 653 970 651 2,502 50 20 1.672 8,529 921 5.696 nvèstment Incom• ank Interest 446 446 446 446 504 undralsln8 eneral fundrèlslng oflee mornings, food sales vents 4.336 2.776 474 7.586 4.336 2.776 474 7,586 2.191 577 4.812 rants r•c•lv¢d FC esco CKLWN 4,250 4,250 6,250 6.250 Qtal Incoming R•scourc•s 6.2SO 16,560 22.810 12,012 Downham Market & Distrirt Hefrla8e Society Income and Exp•ndTrture Attountfor theyear ended 31st March 2023 Restrlcted Unrestricted Total 2023 2023 2023 Resourcès Ex nded 2022 General Wages and salaries Insurance Stationery, posta8e and photocopyinB Speaker5 Water Telephone and internet Subscriptions and licences Repairs and equiprnent Heating and electricity Computer General expenses Merchandise for sale Cleaning Advertislng Professlonal fees Rent Removal of artifacts ProtitlLoss on sale Accountancv Total ￿soUrCeS expended 543 588 442 192 575 204 3.915 2.848 573 2,S03 402 IA07 543 530 661 442 192 575 204 3.915 209 535 429 4,503 2.319 5,087 1.749 398 1,634 573 3.503 402 IW17 267 267 254 26 690 19.024 14,859 JSA59 Surplus Incom• over Expendltur• 5.250 1,701 6,951 {7,0121 Funds al 01 Aprll 2022 350,505 351JOS 351.305 Transfers between funds Fund$ at 31 March 2023 6,250 352,006 358.256 344.293 Downham Market & District Herfta e Socie Staternent of Assets and knabilrttes forthe ear rKled 31rt March 2023 2023 2022 Flxed A55ets Tangible assets 293.475 293,475 Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand 64.781 57.830 Net Assets 358256 351,305 Th• fund5 ofthe ¢harlty Unrestri¢ted Funds 352,006 350.305 Restricted Funds 6.250 Total Charlty Funds 358,256 351305 Approved and 8lgn•d on b•half olth• Charlty Mr D Flower- Chairman Downham Mat*et & Dlstrtet Herrtage So¢lety Independent Examiners. Report to the Trusteès of Downham Market and Dlstrkt Herlta9e Society I report on the accounts ofthe Charity for the year ended 31 March 2W23. whth are set out on pages 1 to 3. R¢¥ponsibIll￿è$ and basls ol rgport As the ch8nty trustees ol th• Trust you arts responsib￿ forthe Pf¢paralth ofthe ￿nts in accordance the wuirem•nt$ ofthe Charibes Act 2011 Ilhe Actl. I roport In respect of my oxaminab'on of the Trusfs accounts carried outunder s. 145 of the 2011 A¢t bnd in carryiThJ out my examination I have follo￿d 2Jl the appficabk dIre¢lior￿ given by the Chanty Comrri5$ion ￿der s. 145(5llbl ofthe Act. Indep•nd•nt examln•r'¥ Staternont I have cornpleted my examinaknon. I confinn Ihat no m81erial matters h•v¢ ¢ome to rny attenb'on in eonn¥¢ts"M wth the axaminats'on giving me cause to believe that In any rnaterial respect 111 bAccounting records were not kèpt in respect ol the Tryst 88 requi￿ by ￿￿on 130 of the A¢t, ¢r Ibl IThe accounts do fKII accord Ihw re￿rIs. Paul F•rrow FCA FCCA MAAT For Ind on b•half of Mapu$4mlth & Lemmon LLP Chartered Accountants 23 London Road Downham Mark¢t Norfolk PE38 98J Date..