Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] January 2022 Period start date To 31[st] December 2022 Period end date
Charity name: The Harwich Society
Charity registration number: 1161931
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To promote public interest in the Harwich area, encourage high standards of planning and architecture and to secure the preservaton, protecton, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in Harwich and its hinterland |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Reviewing and commentng upon as necessary the planning applicatons placed before the Planning Authority. Encourage interest in and awareness of local history by maintaining The Harwich Redoubt, a fort built to defend Harwich Harbour during the Napoleonic War. The Society also operates museums chartng the maritme history of the town, manages the High Lighthouse and runs a Visitor Centre on Harwich Quay which acts as a focal point for tourist informaton. The Society encourages awareness of local history by organising guided walks and arranging lectures for local residents, visitors and fourists. Managing a small wildlife reserve in the town enables the Society to encourage local interest in natural history. The Society's sites are popular destnatons for people of all ages including local primary schools and young people. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees confrm they have complied with Sec.4 of the Charites Act 2006 in having due regard to the Charity Commissioners general guidance on public beneft. The Trustees actvely review the success of the Society’s actvites and the beneft accrued to local residents and visitors. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | The purpose of the charity is not primarily as a grant giving body. Any request received would be considered on its merits. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The Society does not undertake social investment as its focus is on environmental work. However by creatng volunteering, opportunites, encouraging public interest in the local environment and managing visitor atractons for the public good we enhance opportunites for community and social engagement. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The Society would be unable to exist without the support of volunteers, including our trustees. Many others volunteered to ensure the sites operated by the Harwich Society are managed, maintained and opened to visitors, provide guided walks, undertake research, maintain our archives and ensured the Highlight magazine is published and distributed. |
| Other | This organisaton was formed to update the consttuton of Harwich Society. On 1stJanuary 2016 the charitable actvites for public beneft were transferred from the original Harwich Society (Charity no 261798) to this new charity including assets and liabilites. The original Harwich Societywas formed in 1969. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The Society contnues to publish quarterly the ‘Highlight’ magazine and distribute it to all members whether local, in the UK or abroad. This magazine is seen as an important link in binding together residents and former residents of the town. The magazine includes artcles about the history of the area, conservaton and planning maters, promotes current events and volunteering and creates a platorm for people to share informaton and reminiscences. In normal years Society volunteers manage and staf the seasonal Visitor Centre in Harwich and the iconic historic buildings and museums under its ownership or control which are a signifcant tourist atracton in the Harwich area. This was operated as normal following the serious disrupton last year during the Covid pandemic restrictons. |
A new attraction Christopher Jones’ house was opened to the public being an iconic listed building linked to the Master of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers. The Bobbits Hole town wildlife area was managed, improved, and was open to the public including families with children during 2022 to promote safe accessible access to the natural environment. Ongoing conservation work was progressed at The Redoubt in liaison with Historic England. The Society website was updated with linked social media facilities to better promote public interest in the Harwich area. The Society provided guided walks for residents, visitors, including foreign tourists, school groups and parties wishing to explore the locality. The Society participated in the statutory planning policy and development control processes for the Harwich area. The Society participates in town enhancement and tourism initiatives in partnership with others. The Society continued to promote interest and knowledge about the Harwich area including conducting research into the history of the area and publishing information.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The Society was in a sound fnancial positon at the end of the accountng period. Income exceeded expenditure during 2022 and the value of its liquid assets increased over theyear. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Society has no formal policy on fnancial reserves other than to ensure funds are ring fenced towards the conservaton and preservaton of 5 Church Street Harwich ( ‘Foresters’) probably the oldest house in Harwich and The Redoubt Fort a key Harwich ancient monument for the beneft of future generatons. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | As recorded in the Annual Accounts we had £120,377 in the designated Foresters Fund and £43,974 in the designated Redoubt Fort Fund. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The Society is in sound heart having over 2000 members and a sound balance sheet. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Membership subscriptons, museum admission fees, donatons and fundraising from the annual Redoubt Rafe and pub quizzes, provide most of the income in regard to the designated and unrestricted funds. Restricted fund income is mainlybank interest, grants and sponsorship. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | We adopt low risk investments for funds for future use to promote the objectves of the charity. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The risks are low since the charity generates sufcient funds to maintain its annual programme of actvites and insures against risk. We seek grant support for any major preservaton projects with the historic buildings in our care, but we seek to minimise this risk by undertakingsurveys and tmelyrepairs. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document | Para 1.25 | Charity Commission Associaton Consttuton |
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisaton |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees appointed by members |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | The Harwich Society |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses | n/a |
| Registered charitynumber | 1161931 |
| Charity’s principal address | 5 Church Street Harwich Essex CO11 3DR |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Farnell | Chairman | |||
| David Whitle | Vice Chairman | To 30/03/2022 | ||
| Maria Fowler | Secretary | |||
| Diane Bitmead | Treasurer | |||
| Dan Beck | ||||
| Garry Calver | ||||
| Richard Colley | ||||
| Sue Daish | ||||
| Andy Schooler | Joint Vice Chairman |
from 16/05/2022 | ||
| Robert Barham | Joint Vice Chairman |
From 16/05/2022 | ||
| Richard Oxborrow | ||||
| Paul Smith | from 13/09/2022 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name n/a
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
none |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
n/a |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
n/a |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
We employ no paid staff- we are a volunteer based organisation managed by our Board of Trustees.
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
n/a
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Colin Farnell Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chairman Date 10/05/2023
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