University Centre Shrewsbury Guildhall Frankwell Quay Shrewsbury SY3 8HQ Charity Reg. No. 1161594 Annual Report Year ended 31[st] March 2023
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Our Mission 2. Status of the Charity 3. Governance and Management 4. Objectives 5. Achievements and Performance 6. Staff and Volunteers 7. Financial Review 8. Future Plans
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1. Our Mission
Mythstories works with the spoken word; on-line and in outreach projects.
We encourage our users to be storytellers themselves, passing on oral heritage and keeping it alive.
2. Status of the Charity
Mythstories is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a standard ‘Foundation’ constitution.
Mythstories began as a website in June 1998, before opening as a museum in February 1999. The original Charity was created by a Deed of Trust in 2001 and merged with the CIO in 2015. During 2022/3 most of the museum artefacts were dispersed and Mythstories reverted to its website format.
3. Governance and Management
Contact c/o Mr. S. Poole, Fullersmoor Cottage, Smithy Lane, Brown Knowl, Broxon, Cheshire, CH3 9JY info@mythstories.com
The maximum number of Trustees that can serve is 7.
During the year six Trustees held office:
Jacob Edward Owen Williams (second term – ends 15[th] May 2024) Zara Bannu (first term – ends 31[st] August 2023) Philip Leslie Jefferies (first term – ends 31[st] August 2023) Simon Poole (first term – ends 31[st] August 2023) Jennifer Watson (first term – ends 9[th] February 2024) Joseph White (first term – ends 9[th] February 2024)
Trustees may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.
The Trustees cover the following skill areas: cultural and community education, diversity, health psychology and resilience, legal expertise, verbal arts practice. Some were former young storytellers, some have current experience of academic life as teachers, lecturers and researchers.
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No in-person formal meetings took place during the year. Trustees held formal meetings on-line and maintained contact via a WhatsApp group. Key policy documents and governance information, all contracts and current project information together with daily ledger and management accounts are maintained on cloud storage to which all Trustees have access.
Three Trustees and a key volunteer have access to the on-line bank account, with payments being reviewed and authorised monthly.
Ongoing and routine work continues to be delegated to two key volunteers.
4. Objectives
The primary focus of Mythstories is educational; preserving and disseminating traditional tales. It does this by:
A Maintaining an extensive website, free at the point of use. This disseminates traditional tales, a gallery of the objects previously held in the museum and is a resource of tried and tested ideas for using stories and storytelling artefacts in formal and informal educational settings.
B. Initiating outreach projects in the Shropshire/Mid-Wales borders area, which focus on the region’s oral heritage.
C. Working with other organisations to promote storytelling in the United Kingdom.
D. Exploring the educational uses of storytelling, as a gateway to literacy and to develop ‘soft’ life-skills.
The Trustees and management keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when designing and delivering activities that flow from this objective.
5. Achievements and Performance
Following the request from University Centre Shrewsbury for the Charity to vacate its premises, and a subsequent decision to revert to a digital museum with outreach projects, the majority of the artefacts were dispersed during the year. This transition back to a virtual museum was the main focus of the Charity’s activity.
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Loaned items were returned to their owners.
In April 2022, the Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic in Todmorden took possession of Mythstories’ library, the Society for Storytelling library and the audio archive of the London Centre for International Storytelling. This enabled all 3,000+ books to be kept together and be accessible to the public, to storytellers and researchers.
We were unable to find a UK home for the two processional giants, Bertilak de Haut Desert and Morgan Le Fey . In September they were 3D scanned courtesy of the University of Chester .
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They were then taken down and travelled to La Maison Des Geants, Ath , Belgium where they are now displayed alongside other European giants.
In January the screen and cartoons originally commissioned as stage and set dressings by The Flying Donkeys storyclub were transferred to A Word In Edgeways . This organisation promotes a spoken word festival and events in South Shropshire, so the artefacts will now be reused for their original purpose.
The Edric & Godda Storyscape, commissioned with funding from Arts Council England, has been transferred to the Titterstone Clee Trust , an organisation that encourages public engagement with the culture and landscape of that part of Edric’s historic kingdom.
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Ownership of the Gilgamesh tablets and paintings has been transferred to The University of Chester so they may remain on display in the courtyard and library at University Centre, Shrewsbury.
Many of the other artefacts were dispersed to two primary schools as part of Telling Our Stories, a University of Chester research project exploring the use of storytelling objects in the Primary curriculum. Grosvenor Park Academy, Chester received the Ramayana, North American and South American constellations in July, while Mount Pleasant Primary, Shrewsbury , took possession of the Shropshire and Folk Customs constellations in September. Storyteller, Dawn Powell , has been in the schools to demonstrate sample workshops and help staff explore ways of using the artefacts.
The project, which is still on-going, has already highlighted two major difficulties schools face in integrating new forms of creativity into their curriculum: the already heavy staff workload and the lack of flexibility in a tightly forward-planned school year. We look forward to seeing the different perspectives of the final report, which will also look at the digital resources teachers feel they need. A documentary film is being made of the process by film-maker, Phil Hirst .
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The beginning of the year saw the final two workshops for home-educating families looking at the history and stories of the now redundant Newport – Shrewsbury canal took place. These were run in partnership with The Hive , an arts and well-being venue in Shrewsbury. The pottery plaques created by the group will be installed along the line of the canal bed later in 2023.
Also during the year Mythstories’ Arts Award Adviser worked with one young home-educated person to successfully complete his Bronze Arts Award.
During the year Mythstories was active on social media promoting the collection and the work of the Charity. ArtUK , whose website displays the paintings in the Mythstories collection, also ran two features on Mythstories artist-in-residence. They also added cushions, mugs and art materials featuring Mythstories’ paintings to the range of prints available from their on-line print-on-demand shop.
6. Staff and Volunteers
Mythstories had no employees during the year. Routine work was undertaken by two key volunteers, who also led on the dispersal of the museum collection. 2 self-employed artists were contracted to work on the research project with the University of Chester. In addition to the Trustees, a further 21 volunteers were involved during the year.
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7. Financial Review
Income
Mythstories has no guaranteed regular funding and during the year benefitted from a great deal of in-kind support as well as volunteer time.
A small amount of donations came via the SmileAmazon website .
Sales revenue through the ArtUK shop increased, and a decision was made to continue the partnership for a further 12 months.
All other income was from the University of Chester, the majority related to the on-going Telling Our Stories project with the balance (£1,750) covering the paid costs of dispersal of other artefacts.
Expenditure
Mythstories has minimum overheads. The major costs in the year were accountancy , on-line service fees and insurance.
Reserves
Unrestricted reserves at year end will be sufficient to cover foreseeable running costs in 2023/24, and this will provide a useful buffer as Mythstories transitions to its new operating method.
8. Future Plans
The focus of Mythstories’ work in 2023/24 will be based on the results of the research project, using the learning to develop digital resources.
Volunteers will also complete the ‘Museum’ section of the website, ensuring there is a complete record of the physical artefacts that have now been dispersed.
Trustees will oversee the implementation Mythstories’ digital engagement strategy with a view to raising the profile of Mythstories and its work.
The Charity is also actively seeking funds for a small project with Shropshire Supports Refugees which will introduce these new families to the countryside and oral history of the County.
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Approved by the Board
Signed: …………….…………….. Signed: …………………………..
08.09.23 Date: ……………….……………..
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Irthpendent examinerfs report to the tntstees of Myttstories Charlty Number 1161594 I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 Respectlve responslbllltles of tn&stees and examiner The trustee5 are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audlt is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Art 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. Havln8 satisfied myself that the charity is not subjett to audit and is eligible for independent examination, it 15 my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission under settion 145(51(b) of the 2011 A¢ and to stste whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examlnerfs report My examination was carried out in accordan with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual Items or disclosures in the accounts, and seekin8 explanations from you as trustees Conrning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair and the report is limited to those matters set out in the ststement below. INlependent examlnerfs statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attenti1. {1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requlrements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Att 2011. have not been met. or {2) to which, in my opinion, attenti{ should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsndin8 of the accounts to be reached. John Hlgson Bank Accounts Oak Ridge, Horderlev Craven Arms Shropshire SY7 8HW Date: 08/0912023
MYTHSTORIES - CHARITY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2023
| Arts Council England Heritage Lottery Fund Sales Donations Interest Earned Arnold Clark University of Chester Total EXPENDITURE Employee Costs General Administration - insurance, maintenance etc. Travel Artists/Project Costs Advertising Accounts Other Total NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FULL COST RECOVERY/TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS FUNDS B/FWD FUNDS C/FWD |
Unrestricted Restricted Total 135 135 31 31 26 26 7510 7510 192 7510 7702 275 275 13 585 597 234 4648 4882 250 250 72 72 844 5233 6076 (652) (2277) 1626 720 (720) 662 252 915 731 1810 2540 2023 |
2022 Total 1490 1290 97 12 1 750 |
|---|---|---|
| 3640 650 963 5 18630 120 500 149 |
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| 21017 | ||
| (17377) 18292 |
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| 915 |
MYTHSTORIES - CHARITY
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31st MARCH 2023
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2023 2022
Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Stock
Bank and cash 2790 1165
Debtors
2790 1165
Liabilities
Creditors
Accruals 250 250 250 250
250 250
Net Current Assets 2540 915
Net Assets 2540 915
Funds
Unrestricted 731 662
Restricted 1810 252
Total Funds 2540 915
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08.09.23
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