REPORT TO MEMBERS AT AGM 18.7.2022
Due to Covid restric.ons the last AGM took place in February 2020. As a result this report to members will be in two parts the first being the period from the last AGM to the 31st of December 2020 and the second part will be for the period 1st January 2021 to the 31st December 2021.
Before we start the formali.es of the mee.ng we must men.on the sad loss of Bert Draper and Ted Green both stalwarts of our charity and Museum in providing their .me and experience and regular aIendance. They will be sadly missed.
As most of you will be well aware, shortly aKer the last AGM the government announced a general lockdown which took effect on the 27th of March 2020 we were unable to reopen un.l July 2020 and then only for four months before a further lockdown took place for the whole of November and although we were able to open during December it was a very quiet month for obvious reasons and we were then not permiIed to reopen un.l May 2021. During that .me the charity benefited from government grants and the staff furlough scheme. More informa.on and details will follow later in this report.
At the end of 2019, final arrangements were made for the Islander aircraK to be brought to the Museum and it was delivered in pieces in December 2019. Obviously Covid once again restricted the necessary work, but BNAPS pulled together so that at least the exhibit was in place and presentable to the public. Work con.nued trough the year resul.ng in an open day in September which was very well aIended.
Prior to lockdown, we were approached by Bembridge Heritage Centre regarding the PLUTO pump that had been in their centre for a number of years. They were moving and had no space in their new loca.on for it and wished to donate it to us. We were obviously very pleased to take this on but were not really aware of the difficul.es that removing it from their site would entail. Nevertheless Jon Fisher and Barry Price set about the task of totally dismantling the pump and with the help of others managed what at first appeared to be an almost impossible task. It is now fully reassembled in an area awai.ng further development to provide a comprehensive PLUTO experience together with the other Pluto artefacts in our possession.
During the early part of lockdown, Jon Hinchliffe the landlord, started to carry out developments around the site with a view of assis.ng us in honouring the aspect of our lease commiZng us to maintain the whole of Northwood camp, by u.lising the space available for more rental units. These have now come on stream and the rents are paid direct to the landlord together with certain other rents that had been previously paid to the charity to offset obliga.on for the money spent in carrying out maintenance to the site. An update on the situa.on will appear in the laIer part of this report rela.ng to 2021
Financially 2020 was obviously a bit of a challenge par.cularly as lockdown occurred just prior to Easter when our income normally rises from the winter months. At the .me of the lockdown we had very liIle in the way of reserves, totalling less than £2000, and we had a winter electricity bill to find almost immediately. This would not have been a problem had we con.nued trading, however it was expedient at the .me to cancel the direct debit which was due to be taken from our account to avoid bank charges and penal.es. There were a number of poten.al grants available and on inves.ga.on the CEO made applica.on for assistance. The electricity bill as a result was paid in full within seven days of it falling due.
In addi.on the furlough system for staff was tapped into enabling all staff to receive 80% of their normal salary. In total during 2020 the charity received £46008.93 in grants and furlough payments. In 2019 the last full year of opening, a total of 8379 visitors went through the museum. In contrast, during 2020, there were only 4976 visitors, a drop of 40% . A copy of the profit and loss account for the year 1.1.2020 to 31.12.2020 is aIached to this report.
PART 2 2021.
Once again the start of the year was overshadowed by Covid and in the event we were not permiIed to reopen un.l 17th May. A lot of effort had to go into preparing the site for visitors to sa.sfy the health and safety requirements to the sa.sfac.on of the local council. As expected, the early weeks aKer reopening were very quiet and without the government grants received it would have been impossible to survive. However, with foreign travel difficult we were able during the summer months to benefit from an increase in visitors to the Island. By the end of the year, there had been a total of 6678 visitors, an increase of 25% on 2020 but s.ll 20% less than 2019. By contrast in the first 6 months of 2022 we have already had 3000 visitors and the main season is s.ll to come.
Armoured Personnel rides have not been possible for a couple of years partly due to Covid and partly due to maintenance required to the vehicle. During the Covid periods, Ginge West decided to sell his vehicle and fortunately it has been purchased by one of our staff Will Compton. By the end of 2020 work was s.ll progressing on the vehicle with a view to recommencing rides in 2022.
There were no major addi.ons to the Museum during 2021 although constant improvements and minor altera.ons were made as the year progressed in an aIempt to keep the Museum interes.ng for repeat visitors. We did however have a major dona.on of items from a family in WooIon, including a Morrison shelter. This is presently awai.ng reassembly in its new home.
At the beginning of December, Andy Fisher handed back his workshop to the Charity and took the major step of moving to a remote ScoZsh island. We wish him and Maria well in their new life. The workshop is temporarily sub let but it is intended that during 2022 it will become a fully opera.onal workshop for the Charity.
Once again, the Charity was well supported by the government and a total of £51925.78 was received in grants and furlough payments. Whilst the final accounts are yet to be inspected by the Charity Commission appointed inspector, a draK version is aIached to this report.
We promised an update regarding the lease posi.on and we are pleased to report that following the sad death of Owen Hinchliffe, Jon Hinchliffe the surviving landowner was able to find .me to aIend a Trustees’ mee.ng at which he has agreed that the Charity should have a new lease for 490 Newport Road Cowes. Subject to .me constraints, it was agreed that if possible a new lease will be in place by 1st January 2023. Nego.a.ons will commence shortly and the members will be kept informed of any major developments.
WMAHM STATEMENT OF INCOME Date 31/12/21 Time 19:39 Page 1
Account Periods: 1/2021 to 12/2021 (01/01/21 to 31/12/21) 'YearToDate' is to 31/12/21
Department: CAFE
A/c. Description Periods YearToDate
SALES
4000 Income - Museum Entry 103.60 103.60
4030 Income - Cafe Sales 17,811.70 17,811.70
4031 Income - Hire of Cafe 329.50 329.50
4040 Income - Mess Bar Sales 71.28 71.28
4041 Income - Hire of Mess Bar 1.52 1.52
4060 Income - Shooting Range 27.00 27.00
4080 Miscellaneous Income 8,000.00 8,000.00
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26,344.60 26,344.60
COST OF SALES
5030 Cost of Goods Sold - Cafe 7,091.38 7,091.38
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7,091.38 7,091.38
EXPENSES
6100 Museum Cleaning Materials etc 157.94 157.94
6110 Cafe Cleaning Materials etc 290.25 290.25
7100 Salaries 11,146.29 11,146.29
7410 Staff and Volunteer Amenities 46.90 46.90
7420 Volunteer Transport Payments 76.47 76.47
7450 Equioment Leasing 284.96 284.96
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12,002.81 12,002.81
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Profit/Loss: 7,250.41 7,250.41
*** end of Statement of Income by Department report ***
Tim Woodcock Bookkeeping & Accounts Service T. W.Woodcock The Old Cottage, Upper Green Road, St Helens, Ryde. Isle of Wight, P033 1 UQ WIGHT MILITARY AND HERITAGE CHARJTABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATIOPI. 01983 872519 Registered Number 1159529 07737 315116 Independent Examiner's R¢port tim.woodcock@uwclub.net I report to the tnteeS on my ¢xamination of the accounts of the above Charity for the year ended 31, December 2020. Res onsibi]ities and Basis of Re ort As th¢ charity trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance ith the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act ). I report in Te5pect of my examination of the Society's accounts caTried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Comn]ission under sectioTh 145(5)(b) of the ACL Inde endent Examiner's St2t¢Luent I have cornpleted my examination. I confirn] that no nterial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect,: The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act" or The accounts did not accord 7th the accounting records; or The accounts did not comply the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than anj requirement that the accounts give a'xrue and fair" view which is not a matter considered as part of an ind¢pendent exaJnination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with th¢ examination to which attention should be dram in this rep)rt in order to enable a proper underst8J]ding of the accounts to be reached. Signed by: Dated. 14 Novernb 2021 Qualifications.. Bookkeeper & CIlty Treasurer" Company Director