STROUD DISTRicr
COWLE MUSEUM
IAL STATEMEKfs FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 31￿ MARCH 2025
Registered CbarAty Number: 1156849
SHINER MITCHELL FISHER & CO. LIMITED
Accountants and Registered Alldfitors
Smith House
Gcorge Street
Nai]swortb
Stroud
Glos
GL6 OAG

TROUD DISTrICT COWLE MUSEUM
FINANCIAL STATEMLYTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
H 2025
Ito4
Re￿rt of th¢ Trustees
Report of the tDdependent Examiner
Incotne attd Expendittwe A¢count
Stat¢mcnt of Financial Activities
Balance Sheet
9tolO
Notes to the Financial Statcmcnts

STROUD DISTRICT COWLE MLSEUM
TRUSTEES) ANhlTAL REPORT
Iby MAR
The trustees present their annual report with the unauditrd fmancAal statements of the clwity for the year ended 31AI
March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATtVE INFORMATION
The assets and resources of the Clwity are used excI￿51Ve1Y in the wformance and fi]rthcrdnCe of Stroud Distric¢
(Cowle) Museum ('fhaTityI. The Charity is controlled by its Tn￿l Boart namely the following persons were in
c(mtrol of the charity duTitig the year.
A Bluett
M Hearfield
C Hale
H Jcffrey
A Lowery
S Newton
A Penn
Th¢ day to day adn]l￿tratiOll of the Ch￿lty was undertaka) by Mrs M Heatfi¢l4 who also acts a5 treasurer.
The maiti agents for th¢ charity are:
Coventry Building Soctety
43 King Street
Stroud
CCLA
PO Box 12892
GL5 3DA
CM6 9DL
tndependent Examiner.
Sbiner Mitchell Fisher & Co.
Smith House
George Street
Nailsworth
GL6 OAG
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are required to prepare fmancial ststements for each fLnancial year thai give a true and fair view of the
state of affairs of the Chariry as at thc end of each fu￿claI year aad of the net incoming and outgoing resources of
the Charity for that period.
The Trustees confirni that suitable accounting policies have been used and applied consistently and reasonably and
prudent judgements and estimates bave been made in th¢ proaration of the fll)ancial statements for the yeaT ended
31 March 2025. The Trustees also Gonfum that applicable accouniing standards have been followed and th21 the
statements hav¢ be¢n prepared on tbc going concern basis.
The Tn￿te¢S are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any
time the fitwicial posicion of the Chariry. They are also responsthle for safeg￿dIllg the assets of the a]ariry and
henc¢ for taking reasonable steps for the prcv¢lllion and d¢*ction of fraud and other irrcgularities.

STROUD DISTIUCT
CONIE
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT
MUSEUM
coNrtNUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sf MARCH 2025
rRUCTURL GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governin
Document
The Clwkry. whicb is a Charitsble Incorw)rated Organisation with registered chariry number: 1156849, is governed
by its Constitution.
RcLruilmcnt and A
in(menl of Trnsi¢es
Th¢ charity trustees for the purposes of charkty law are knovm as members of the Management Committee. Under
these Tcquirenkents truste¢s are ¢l¢¢ted to serv¢ for a p¢riod of three years after which they must stand down and
may offer themselves for re-election for a firther tenn (up to three tern]s).
As a needs led charity. the Trustees are selected to offer a wide range of skills and experience that are of benefit to
the £batity.
Trnstees Induction and Trdinin
All trustees are madc familiar with the work of the Cbarity and the requircmcnts of th¢ Charities ACL
New trustc¢s take part in an indu¢tion pr(￿S ttwt intr(Mluc&s them to the PUTPOSC of the Charity and the workings
of the museum. It covers:
Th¢ obligations of trustees
The main documcnts which set out the operational framewo￿ for the charity
The operation and management of the Museum in thc Parl and th¢ facilities provided for the storage of
the Collection (provided by Stroud District Council)
R&sour¢ing and the current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts
Future plans and objectives
Risk Mana
ement
The Trustecs, in conjunction with the Mus¢um Developnient Manager, have conducted a Teview of major risks to
which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been &stablisbed and i5 upjatcd at ]￿t annually. As the museum
is owned and managed Stroud District Council they provide risk management for the vfflue and its visitors and for
the storage of the Collcction.
Where appropriate, systems or pr(ttdures have been established to rnitigate the risks the chariry faces. Internal
Control risks are MInll￿ by the in]plementation of procedure5 for authorisation of atl transactio￿ and proj￿¢&
sarional Structure
The Ill￿te¢s m¢¢t regularly and are respO￿ble for the strategic direction and policy of the charity together with th¢
review of the various projects currendy being undertakeo. The Musewn Manager provkdes detailed reports on the
M￿seUM.S previous quarter's activitie4 on ally additioos to. and disposals required from, the collection. and thc
M￿￿￿n'S own risk as5essmenc.
OBJECTtVES AND ACTivrriES FOR THE PUBLIC BEIYEFIT
The objective of thc clwity is to preserv¢, safeguard and showc&se the Cowle Couection of objects and specimens
of antiquity, natural history, atl archaGolo8y and scicncc (including pictures. b(x)ks aud documcttts of educatio
or scienttfic interest).
The charity bas fonned a partnership with Stroud District Council (SDQ in order to complete the objectiv¢ and
through this partnership SDC provide the facility known as the Museum-in-th¢-Part Stratford House. Stratford
Park, Stroud to showcase and exhibit the collection. The councTI provides the managernent and operational funding
for the musewn and th¢ Charity is the legal guardia_n_for the Coll¢Oion.
As part of the partnership and in conjunction wlth the Tr￿steeS. it also allows for the collection to be c4Jnserved and
maintained as required. t)ue to th¢ siz¢ of the collection any items not displayed are Safely stOTed and safeguarded
by SDC.

STROUD DISTRICT
COWLE
TRUSTEES? ANNUAL REPORT
MUSEUM
COI4TINUED
ISTM
H202
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Following the end of the Lottcry Funded Agreun¢nt thc TnLSt signed a new collaboratiou agreement with Stroud
District Council. The Council provid&s the management and operational funding for the Stroud District (Cowle)
Museum Service (known as the Museum in the Park). The TnLSt has the legal title and guardianship of collections
and rnanases donations and 8fdnts used for the museum's public progrdmmes and the upkeep of the collection. The
selection and purchase of a modern collections nwiaganellt system bas begun - to b¢ funded by the Trust- which
will substantially improve data managemen(. retrieval and acc￿ to the wlder collections. The Annual Report of the
past year's activitics can be fouad listed on the Home pagc of the Museum's website iiTrvw.rnuscuiiiintlie
ark.oro.uk
under the section caIled More About Us.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Tn￿t Is a not-for-profit charitable organisauon which relics for fi￿dIng for its general activities on income
from donations and investment iotcrest. The En￿lerS regularty review the f￿ancIal health of the tn￿ and do not
have any concerns in that respect.
Investment Polic
The Trust holds fijnds not imrnediatety required in a Coventy Building SoGtw accounL in a COTF Charities
Investment Fund and in an investment portfolio managed by RBC Brewin Dolphin. These inveslments are also
Tegularly reviewed by the Trustees. The Tntst aitDs to providc a long-terni totsl r¢wrn compromising growth in
capitsl 2nd long.temi prntection from Infiatio￿ in accordance with the UK Stewsrdship code.
Reserves Poli
Th¢ Tn￿te¢S have examined the I￿￿t'S requirements for re5cry￿ in the light of the main risks 10 the organisation.
The reserves are held as a rolling fimd to be uscd as casbflow for each project &s and when requested by the
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
The Museum Service Annual Report for 2024-2025 highlights a year of growth, innovation. and deeper community
¢ngagement. With neaTly 55,WO visits, the mu5cum has moved beyond post-covid recovery, launching a new
FoThvard Plan (2024-2029) that r¢sponds to global and local challenges such as clirnate cbangc, social inequality.
and fmancial p￿SsUre$. The plan seL8 the stage for a major re-d&sign of the Museum in the Park, aiming to make it
more inclusive and rq)resentative of Stroud District's diverse communities. Key developm¢nts included Tcvising
the Collections Development Policy to f￿llS on unique local narrdtive4 acquiring items undcr the 'Missing
Histories, ptogramme. and h￿QIng collaborative proiecAs 1￿C oral history worksbops anddisplays celebrating
WittdTush families.
The museum also continued its public engagement through exhibition4 wellbeing programmes, and accessil)ility
initiatives. Highlights included the acclaitned Shirley Baker photogrdphy thibition and creative pmjects with
mothers and young photographers. The museum won the Slow Trnv¢l Cotswolds Award and expanded its ¢af¢
menu In respons¢ to visitor requ¢sts. Volunfrers contributed over 4,500 hours, and partnerships supported inclusive
activities such &$ sensory trails and neurodivergent-friendly se&sions. The M￿seuM began participation in the
Museum Development Sws 'Growing Togeth& progran)me to embed Equality, Diversity and Inchtsion.
2025126 will see continued WOTk on thc 'Growing Togeth¢f pm8r8tnme. A significant change will be the
)Dtroduction of a modern collections managemcnt system (o replace the 1990s-cra collections Access Datsb8sc.
This wodt, funded by a generous bcquest lo the Cowle TTUSL will enable u5 to share morc of thc collcctions online.
improve practices and general acc￿5. There will be initial preparatory work on re-design re-display of the
There will b¢ firther developments under Local Government Reforni which will. in Eime, see all local authoriti￿ in
GRoucestersbire r¢pla¢¢d by a unitary authority. This will have a direct impact on the Museum.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Chatity law requires themanagement Commirtee fo pr￿ja￿ financial statements for each finaTJcial year that give a
tru¢ and fair view of the state of affairs of th¢ Charity &s at balance sbeet datr and of the its Incoming resources
and application of resource4 including iticotne and expenditure. for the fmancial y&qr. In preparation of those
financial slatements, the Management Committee should follow best prdcticc and:
Selcct suitablc accoullting policies and apply them consistently
Make judgements and estinMtes that are reasonable prudenl and
Prepare the finallcial Stat￿nents on the going c(￿cern b&sis llnl￿ it is inappropriate to assume that th
charity will Continue on that basis

STROUD DISTRicf COWLE hfUSEUM
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT CONTINUED
R THE YEAR ENDED
1ST MARCH 2025
The Management Committec is r¢sponsJl)le for maintatning proper accounting records which disclose with
reasonable accurncy at any titn¢ the fmancial position of the Charity and eJ]able them to ¢nsure that the financial
statements comply with the Financial Rqyorting Standar&s. The Management Committre is also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of th¢ Gharity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prcvffltion and detection of fraud
and Oth￿ irregularities.
Members ofthe Mana
ent Committee
Members of the management committee who are trust￿ foT th¢ purpose of charity law. who served during the year
and up to the date of this report are set out on page l. In accordance with charity law, as the charity'5 trustees, we
certify that".
So far &$ we are aware. thcre is no relevant information of which the charity's cxamincrs are unawarc. and
As the Tn￿lee8 of thc charity wc have t&ken all the steps that we oughtto havctskcti in order to make
ours
Ives aware of any relcvant iftfomiation and kn &stablish thai the charity's exarniners are aware of th
tion.
Signe
ofl
Management Committee
And
w Bluctt

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
STROUD DISTRICT (COWLE) MUSEUM
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
R¢sp¢ctvYe r￿ponSibl]itieS Df tTUStees And examiner
The charity's tsust¢es are r¢spoDsibl¢ for the pr¢parati(m of the accounts. The charity's tsvstees consider Ihat an
audit is nol required for this year under section 144(2) of the Clwitie5 Act 2011 (the 2011 Charities Act). and that
an independent exarninafion is ne￿¢d.
I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified rnmb¢r of the Chartered Association of C¢rtifi¢d
Accountants.
Having satisfied mY￿]f that the Charity is no( subject to audii under company law. or otherwise. and is eligible for
independent examination, it is my rcspoDsibility to:
• examine th¢ a¢￿Ullts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities ACL
• to follow the procedures laid down in the general DI￿tionS given by the Charity Commission under section
145(5)(b) of the 2011 Charities ACL and
• to state whether particular njattus have come to my attention.
Basis ol indepeDdeDt eIaminer'$ statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commi&5ion. AD
independent examination illcludcs a review of the accounting records kepi by the Charity and a comparison of the
accounts preseDled with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the
accounts, and seeking explanations from the tr￿¢$ ¢onc¢ming any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audiL and consequently no
opinion is given &8 to whether the accounts present a 'twe and fair, view and the report ts limited to those matter5
sct out in the next statemcnL
Independent ei2miDer's stalement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
. which gives me reasonable cause to believc that in any material respeci the requirements:
• To keep accoull(ing rccords in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and
• To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records. comply with the accountiDg
requirements of section 396 of the Cothpaoies Act 2(M16 and with the methods and principlcs of the
Statement of Reci)mmended Practice: Accoulltiog and Reporting by ChaTities
have not been met or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention thould be drawn An order to eDable a proper uDd¢rswidmg ot'the accounts
to be reached.
'Fthi .,
lo
11
2oL(
SHtNER MITCHELL FISHER & CO. LTD
Independent Examiner
Date
Smith Housc
George Strc¢t
Nailsworth
Stroud
Glos
GL6 OAG

STROUD DISTrICT COWLE MUSEUM
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOU
YEAR ENDED
1ST MARCH 2025
Note
2025
2024
INCOME
31,444
53,390
EXPEI¥4DJTURE
Admintstrative and operating expens&s
Bank Charges
29,2(A)
24,572
NET INCOMtNG RESOURC
2.184
28.818
Int¢rest r¢c¢ivable
SURPLUSIIDEFICIT) OF INCOME OVER
EXPENDITURE BEFORE TAXATIOF4
12,700
37,814
Taxation
RETAINED SURPLUSI(DEFICIT) FOR
THE YEAR AFTER TAXATION

STROUD DISTRICT COWLE
MUSEUM
STATEMENT OF FLYANCIAL ACTIVITIES
ST
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2
2025
Tot81
Funds
2824
Total
Funds
Note General
FuDds
Restricted
Funds
INCOME RESOURCES
Donations
Gift Aid Claim
Plant Sales
Funds from the Friends of the Museum
terest Receivable
8.070
1.879
2295
192(K)
27.270
1.879
2295
49.700
1,899
1.791
io
Totsl Income
62
EXPENDTTURE
MaDaganent and admiaistration
BatLk Charges
Tota] expendirure
io.oio
50
192(Kl
29,210
50
24,572
Net incoming resources before transfers
Gro&s traDsf¢rs b¢twe¢n fund8
Nct tncomc
12,71J)
12,700
37,814
12.7(M)
12.700
37.814
Other Recogniscd GainsllLo&ses)
Gainsl(Losses) on revaluation of Fixed Assets
(1.611)
(1,611)
40,879
Net Movement in Funds
11.089
11,089
78,693
Total funds brought forward
567 458
567 458
488 765
Total funds carried forward
57

STROUD DISTRICT
COWLE MUSE
BALANCE SHEET
T 31ST MARCH 202
Note
2025
FIXED A&SETS
Invesmients
385J32
386,943
CURRENT ASSETS
Dcbiors
Cash at bank and in hand
222 430
194 158
222.430
194,158
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due
within one year
29
15
NET A&SETS
578 547
567 457
RFSERVES
Restricted funds
Gencral fillids
567 457
TOTAL FUNDS
567 457
The charity is entitled to exemption from audit for the year eDding 31" Marth 2Q25.
The Charity's Constitution does not r¢quire the charity to obtain an audit of its fmancial statements for the year
ended 31 March 2025.
The Trustees acknowledge their rcsponsibiliries for.
(a) ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records wbich cornply with the Cbaritics Act 2011 and
(b) preparing fmancial stateftnents whicli give a true and fair View of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end
of each financial year and of its profit and loss for each financial year in accordance wi(h the requirements of
the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.
The fmat
statements on pages 5 to 10 were appn)ved by th¢ b02rd of TrTL8tees and sigtted on its beI￿lf by:
ew Bluett
Date
ION￿25
Marion Hcarfi¢ld

STROUD DISTRICT
COWLE
MUSEUM
NOTES TO THE FINAYCIAL STATEMENTS
ST
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting p)licies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied
onsistently throughout the ye4r.
Basls of accountlng
The financial statements have been prepared in a¢¢ordan¢c with FinaD¢ial Reporting Standard 102 'The
Financial Reporting Standard applicable ID the UK and Republic ofireland" including the provision of Section
IA "Srnall Entities" and the Statement of Recommcnded Pra¢tise: A￿Ounting and Reporting by Charities
issued in January 2019. Thc financial Sfatements hav¢ been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Fund aeLounting
Unrestricied filnds are available for use at the discretion of th¢ trustees in firtherance of the gene
objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earn)thed by the Management Conllnittee for particular
purposes.
Restricted funds are subjected to Testrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the
ternis of an app¢al.
Incoming resources
All incoming r¢sourc¢s ar¢ included in Ihe statement of f￿ancIal activities when th¢ chartty is entitled to th¢
incom¢ and th¢ amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The followtng specific policies arc app]i¢d
to partEcular categoric5 of incotne.
Voluntary income is received by vrdy of grants, donations aud gifts and is included in full in th¢ Stat¢m¢nt
of Financial Activities wben receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on tbe deliv¢ry of a
specifJc pcrfornlance by the charity, are recognised vthen the chariry bccomes unconditionally entitled to
the grant.
The value of donated services and facilities Provided by vohmteers has not bcen included in these
accounts.
InvestmeDt income is Includ￿ wh¢n receivable.
Incon]ing resources from tharitable trading activity ar¢ accounted for when earnoL
Incoming resources from gran￿ wbere related to perfonnance and specific dcliv¢rable4 are accountul for
as the tharity arns the ri8h( to conside￿tIon by its perfornw]cc.
Resources e￿anded
Expendlture is recognised on an accrnal basi5 as a liabillty is incurre(L
Costs of generating funds are those costs incutr£d in attracting volwitsry inc(mie, and those incurred in
trading activiti¢s tbat raise fimds.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in th¢ delivery of its activities and
sttvices for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that cau be allocated directly to such activities and
thos¢ costs of an indirect nature necwary to support them.
G0ven￿nCe costs include those costs a&socia*d with meeting th¢ constitutional and statutory
requirements nf the charity and include the andit fe&8 and c(xqLs linked kn the strategic management of th¢
charity.
All costs are allocated between the ¢xp¢nditure categories of the SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the
use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are a]locaLed direcily, othcrs are apportiODed on
an appropriate b&sis ¢g. Staff Gosts per time spent and other costs per their usagc.
Taxatlon
The Charity is a regis*red charity and is not liable for any income. capital gains or Corporation ￿eS on its
cuT￿nt *¢tivities.

10.
STROUD DISTRICT
COWLE
MUSEUM
NOTES TO THE FtNAYCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR EhT)ED 31ST MARCH 2025
2025
Total
2024
Total
General
Restricted
Plant Purchases
Museum Equiptnent
Donations Made
Sundry office expenses
3.601
3,601
4,875
25,016
4.008
5,816
192(K)
11,923
293
3(X
293
300
3,466
300
Independent Examiners Fees
No rcmunerdtion was rcceived by the Tn￿leeS during the year.
3. CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year:
2025
2024
Cmlitors
Accruals
28.615
13.344
4. ANALYSIS OF FUNDS
2024
Total
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
General
Funds
Restrlcted
Funds
(a) Movement In funds
At 181 April 2024
Net incomitigl(outgoing) r&sources
At 31" Mxrch 2025
567,458
567.458
488,765
57
(b) Representadon of fuDd b21ances
Fixed Asset Investments
Cash and bank balanc¢s
Current asscts
Current liabilities
385,332
203,230
385.332
222.430
386.942
194,158
19,200
At 31" March 2025
57
57
5. OTHER NOTES
The ¢lwity is the owner in perpetuity of two roollL8 at the School of Science and Art building at Lansdow
Stroud. The asset W&8 dona¢¢d to the charity over l 00 ycars ago and is held ai its historic cost of £nil.