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The Friends of
Milton Regis Court Hall
Registered Charity No. 1156115
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR 2023
Name and identification of the Charity:-
The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall CIO, registered under Charity No. 1156115. The registered address is 11 Farm Crescent, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4QD.
Trustees of the Charity as at the date of this report are:-
Dr Michael K Baldwin (Chairman), Mr Michael Nicholls (Treasurer), Mr Keith Robinson and Mrs Janet Halligan.
Other Trustees during 2023.
There were no other Trustees during 2023.
Organisation and Structure of the CIO.
The Trustees are the supreme authority within the CIO. Mike Nicholls and Janet Halligan stood down at the AGM, which was held on Friday 14[th] April, but they were re-elected unanimously.
.The remaining Trustees were not due for re-election. In accordance with the Governing Document of the CIO, future Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees, for approval or rejection at the next AGM..
The Trustees are assisted by a Committee, which usually meets approximately six times per year. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, physical meetings were supplemented with virtual meetings by email contribution. The schedule of meetings was maintained, using email and telephone communication. The Trustees are members of that Committee and the Chairman or his deputy chair meetings of the Committee. Committee decisions are usually made on a unanimous basis, though majority decisions are allowed. Future new Trustees will normally have proved their commitment to the CIO by service as Committee Members.
The governance of the Committee is according to procedural documents produced by the Trustees and agreed by the Committee. These procedures are in accordance with the Governing Document of the CIO. The Governing Document is in accordance with the “Association” model constitution issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial Reserves:-
The normal routine outgoings of the CIO are modest, about £1,000 per year. As at 1[st] January 2023 our reserves were £21,931.75. At the end of the year reserves were
The Milton Regis Court Hall High Street Milton Regis Sittingbourne Kent www.friendsofmiltonregiscourthall.co.uk
11 Farm Crescent Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4QD The Friends are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
£xxxxxxx .The Charity is thus on a sound financial footing. The major items of expenditure for 2023 were insurance and electricity. Income for 2023 was £xxxxxxx.
We hold no funds in trust for other organisations.
Activities carried out to meet the Public Benefit requirement of the CIO:-
The Objects of the Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall are:-
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To preserve and maintain, for the benefit of the public, the 15th Century Court Hall at Milton Regis, Kent.
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To advance education by operating a museum of local history for the benefit of the public in the 15th Century Court Hall at Milton Regis, Kent.
Following the major renovation work carried out in 2016, the Court Hall is in good repair and we are confident that the first of the aims is being achieved. The need for minor repairs to the roof, walls etc, which are the responsibility of Swale Borough Council has been drawn to their attention.
The Court Hall was open to the public on all Saturdays from April until the end of September and on Wednesdays during August, fulfilling our obligations to meet the second objective. A total of 889 visitors attended, all without charge except for groups of psychic investigators who wanted access at night. Our web site also contains a lot of information about the Court Hall. The public has free access to the outside of the building at all times. It is a centrepoint for Milton Regis., with pleasant landscaping and seating.
The Friends participated in the “Wheels of Time” scheme in 2023. Inaugurated by Ashford Museum, the scheme encourages children (and their parents) to visit museums in Kent.
We have tried to get school groups to visit the Court Hall but none came to fruition. We will try again in the new year.
Due to its history, the Court Hall has become something of a celebrity place to visit by psychic groups. We are happy to arrange night-time visits.
The Milton Regis Court Hall High Street Milton Regis Sittingbourne Kent www.friendsofmiltonregiscourthall.co.uk
11 Farm Crescent Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4QD The Friends are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Financial Report 2023
| Financial Report 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME | 2023 | 2022 | EXPENDITURE | 2023 | 2022 |
| Subscriptions / Membership | £337.50 | £32.50 | Repairs / Maintenance | £154.56 | £346.27 |
| Fund raising special events | £0.00 | £565.00 | incl. storage facility, display plinths & replacement vacuum cleaner | ||
| Donations | £660.97 | £887.28 | Equipment | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Grants and company donations | £0.00 | £0.00 | Conservation / Displays | £0.00 | £6.91 |
| Sales, shop and other | £178.20 | £132.61 | Printing & Postage | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Interest | £193.83 | £28.60 | Utilities | £153.71 | £148.35 |
| Gift Aid | £0.00 | £0.00 | Insurance | £338.95 | £392.60 |
| Stock Purchases | £26.00 | £0.00 | |||
| Other | £50.00 | £50.00 | |||
| incl. Website and "Wheels of Time" | |||||
| TOTAL | £1,370.50 | £1,645.99 | TOTAL | £723.22 | £944.13 |
| BALANCE SHEET | |||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| (31/12/23) | (31/12/22) | ||||
| Accumulated Funds at 1st Jan. | £21,931.75 | £21,229.89 | Deposit Account | £16,229.20 | £16,035.37 |
| Excess Income over Expenditure | £647.28 | £701.86 | Current Account | £6,349.83 | £5,896.38 |
| Uncleared cheques & pay-ins | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||
| Cash | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||
| Accumulated Funds at 31st Dec. | £22,579.03 | £21,931.75 | £22,579.03 | £21,931.75 | |
| MUSEUM SHOP ACCOUNT | |||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Opening Stock | £351.59 | £338.77 | Closing Stock | ? | £351.59 |
| Purchases | £26.00 | £0.00 | Sales | £178.20 | £132.61 |
| Donation (cost) for Books etc. | £0.00 | £23.84 | ? | £484.20 | |
| £377.59 | £362.61 | Profit/(Loss) | ? | £121.59 |
File: Financial Report 2023 v01 /mjn