TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT st For the Period I" April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Section A: Reference and administration details Kent Firefighting Museum Registered Charity No: 1157631 Principal Address Kent Firefighting Museum Woodlands Garden Centre, Ash Lane. Ash, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent TN17 7EG Names of Trustees J W Beech, Chairman of Trustees AC Wells, Vice Chairman H Myers, Treasurer K Clay J Luque K Sivell (from November 2023} Section B: Structure Governance and Management Kent Firefighting Museum is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation the only voting members of which are its charity Trustees. The charity has the "Foundation" model constitution, and new Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. During 2023 two of our valued Trustees resigned, one on grounds of ill health and the other due to pressure of other commitments. In addition to this, the rotation of Trustees meant that two more Trustees left the Board in November 2023: Messrs J Meakins and R Miller. However, the Museum was fortunate to secure the services of Mr Kevin Sivell as a Trustee. Also due to rotation of Trustees. Chairman Mr J Beech and Vice Chairman Mr A Wells together with Mr H Myers, will be stepping down as Trustees in November 2024, having completing their three terms of office. Following Mr Myers, notice of intention of standing down as Treasurer, during the year the Board of Trustees were fortunate enough to obtain the services of Mrs Debbie Payne as Temporary Treasurer. Whilst in its infancy the Management Committee, formed following the 2022 AGM and under the Chairmanship of Mr J Luque. is functioning as was perceived, thereby allowing Trustees to focus on governance, probity, and oversight of the Museum.
The Museum continues to operate using volunteers and has no paid employees. Mrs Debbie Payne was elected as Treasurer and Mrs Trish Hopkins was re-elected to Secretary to the Board of Trustees and the Museum. During 2023124 the Museum was open from 8 March until 10 December 2023: it re-opened on 6 March 2024. Section C: Objertives and activitie5 The objects of the charity, set out in its governing document, are to advance education for the public benefit in the subject of firefighting in Kent, its history and heritage by the establishment and maintenance of a museum and learning resources. All Trustees have made the statutory declaration to have regard to the guidance of the Charity commission on public benefit. In this ninth year of operation, it is pleasing to report that the Museum, through the help of its very resourceful and valued group of volunteers, was able to remain open on 5 days a week (Wednesday - Sunday) for the entire period as well as on other days such as Bank Holidays and pre-arranged visit5. Section D: Achievements and performance During the 2023124 period the Museum received 6,196 visitors: it was also promoted at outside events such as Fire Station open days and continues to give presentations to various societies. The Website is now fully functional and receives many requests for historical information through this medium, most of which are satisfied due to the immense knowledge of the Museum's Curator. The Website is continually monitored and updated as necessary with consideration currently being given to allow donations to be collected through this medium. Preparations are in their infancy for an Open Day to celebrate the ioth Anniversary of Kent Firefighting Museum being at Woodlands Garden Centre. This event will be in June 2024. Section E: Financial review The Lease for the premises which Kent Firefighting Museum occupy was due for renewal in September 2023. Renewal was successfully completed and the site secured for a further 7 years. The Charity did not adopt a policy on reserves in this period of operation. During the period under report, income from donations and interest was £4,369 Expenditure was £2,127 providing a surplus of £2,242 for the year.
The closing balance at the bank as at 31 March 2024 was £59,550. The Charity's bankers are the Charities Aid Foundation, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, Kent ME19 4TA. The Charity has no funds materially in deficit. Section F: Other optional information The Museum does not charge for admission. Section G: Declaration The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees report above. Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees Jeremy Wilson Beech CBE, QFSM Chairman of Trustees 202312024 Date:
CHARITY COMM15510N FOR ENGIAND AND WALES T FIEÉ fi6wTIAJ& ffivsÉ Recei 11{7b31 ments accounts ts and CC16a For the period from ISL- IcJA3 3 h4ylrtC M 7e Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted funds funds to th? nwrest £ lo th? £ Endowment funds Total funds Last yèar to the noarnst £ to th& noarest £ to th• noamt £ A1 Recel ts zso ross income or AR) 2gi sse an see table . nves ent sa to l¥gi A3Pa ments 7ArfrvbJ c)e 'r5 r¢As ES Sub total Ll A4 Asset and Inveslmont Sub total IIA Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 12*L JD b1791 CCXX R1 accounts {SS) 2811112024
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Categorles Details 81 Cash funds Total cash funds q15-0- rtl•l Unrestrfcted funds to nearnst £ Restricted funds to noar•st t Endowment funds to nearest £ Details Fund to whlch •et bglon Coit loptlonal) Current value tlonol DÈtall8 Fund to whl¢h assot ton Current valuo tional Details ¢t loptlonall 84 Assets retainod for the charlty's own use UWREST Ku LIDS Fund to whl¢h rolatos Amount du• tional When due tional Details B5 Llabilities Signed by one or trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 accounts {SSI 2811112024