## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1[st] January 2023 Period start date To 31[st] December 2023 Period end date** ## **Charity name: The Harwich Society Charity registration number: 1161931** ## **Objectives and Activities** |**Objectives and Activities**|| |---|---| |Summary of the purposes of the
charity as set out in its governing
document|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.|Reviewing and commentng upon as necessary the
planning applicatons placed before the Planning
Authority.
Encourage interest in and awareness of local history
by managing and conserving 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 maintaining an archive, publishing informaton,
organising guided walks and arranging lectures for
local residents, visitors and tourists. Managing a
small wildlife reserve in the town enables the
Society to encourage local interest in the natural
environment.
The Society's sites are popular destnatons for
people of all ages for leisure and educaton
purposes including supervised groups from local
primary schools.
| |Statement confirming whether the
trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit|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: |Policy on grant making|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|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|The Society would be unable to exist without the
support and commitment of volunteers, including
our trustees. Volunteers ensure the sites operated
by the Harwich Society are managed, maintained
and opened to visitors, provide guided walks,
undertake research, maintain our archives and
ensure 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 Society
was formed in 1969.| ## **Achievements and Performance** |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.|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 with
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.
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. These have operated as normal
following the serious disrupton during the Covid| |---|---| pandemic restrictions. Our volunteers staffed and opened to the public the new attraction Christopher Jones’ house 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 2023 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 linked to social media 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 was consulted and participated in the statutory planning 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. ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**|| |---|---| |Review of the charity’s financial
position at the end of the period|The Society was in a sound fnancial positon at the
end of the accountng period. At the year end our
liquid assets amounted to £332,544.
| |Statement explaining the policy for
holding reserves stating why they are
held|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|As recorded in the Annual Accounts we had
£121,242 in the designated Foresters Fund and
£43,805 in the designated Redoubt Fort Fund.| |Reasons for holdingzero reserves|N/a| |Details of fund materiallyin deficit|N/a| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern 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:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:| |---|---| |The charity’s principal sources of
funds (including any fundraising)|Membership subscriptons, museum admission fees,
sales, donatons and fundraising including monthly
pub quizzes, provide most of the income in regard
to the designated and unrestricted funds. Restricted
fund income is mainly bank interest, grants and
sponsorship.| |Investment policy and objectives
including any social investment
policy adopted|We adopt low risk investments for funds held for
future use to promote the objectves of the charity.| |A description of the principal risks
facing the charity|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 undertaking surveys and tmely
repairs.| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s trusts:|| |---|---| |Type of governing document|Charity Commission Associaton Consttuton| |How is the charity constituted?|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|Trustees appointed by members| ## **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|**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||| ||Andy Schooler|Joint Vice Chairman||| ||Robert Barham|Joint Vice Chairman||| ||Maria Fowler|Secretary||| ||Diane Bitmead|Treasurer||| ||Dan Beck|||| ||Garry Calver|||| ||Richard Colley|||| ||Sue Daish|||| ||Richard Oxborrow|||| ||Paul Smith|||| |Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved|Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved|Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved| |---|---|---| |**Director name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (if any)**| |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)**
**Position (e.g Secretary, Chair)**
**Date**|||| |---|---|---|---| |||Colin Farnell|| |||Chairman|| ||10/06/2024||| THE HARWICH SOCIETY REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1161931 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Period 1st January- 31 Dec 2023 UMRESTRICTE DESIGNATED OESIGNATED DesiGNATE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED GENERAL FUND REDOUBT FUND BOBBITS FUND MUSEUMS FUND SOCIAL FUND FORESTERS FUND TOTAL 2,023 TOTAL 2022 RECEIPTS ADMISSIONS DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS GIFT AID GHOST HUNT INCOME PRIVATE HIRE FEES GR4NTS GUIDE PANEL INCOME INVESTMENT INCOME LECTURE AND TALK INCOME MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS MISC INCOME MISC SALES QUIZ NIGHT INCOME FORESTERS 200 CLUB WATERFRONT DINNER MONTHLY MEETINGS INCOME TOTAL RECEIPTS 13443 2672 2552 730 15.995 6,295 2,091 5,144 1,500 8.679 790 2,013 14,914 9.661 2061 2091 832 5144 1500 8679 5,710 1,225 790 355 1,267 1.992 225 10,192 1.150 11,866 2,129 2,075 343 so 1,26S 11326 315 6152 2704 11,326 455 12.215 2,704 1,625 2,022 365 73.219 33 5260 107 35 768 1,62S 2022 365 2.387 235 62,641 25,794 37,074 4,100 2,997 THE HARWICH SOCIETY REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1161931 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Period 1st January - 310ec 2023 UMRESTRICTE DESIONATED DE8IGP4AfED DESIOPIATE DESIONATED RESTRICTED GENERAL FUHD REDOUBT BOBBITS MUSEUMS FUND SOCIAL FVND FORESTERS FUND TOTAL 2.023 TOTAL 2022 FUND FUND PAYMENTS ITEMS FOR RESALE REDOUBT- HOUSEKEEP & CAFÉ COSTS INSURANCE LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL FEES MAINTENANCE POSTAGE PRINTING RENT PAID STATIONERY SUBSCRIPTIONS I DONATIONS MISC COSTS MONT4LY MEETING EXPENSES INTERNETIWEB EXPENSES UTILITIES FORESTERS 200 CLUB WATERFRONT DINNER FIXED ASSET PURCHASE 3,326 400 764 657 11400 2494 357 4,083 764 4,388 13,328 25,919 1,805 3,885 1,910 677 200 4,885 735 110 8,672 1,000 2.401 6,519 4,196 682 3.682 2,767 13,208 1,590 3,875 253 925 102 3,689 200 719 1211 1928 18411 1,339 362 1,805 3,712 200 677 200 3,649 246 4,406 173 1710 570 286 380 735 110 2,186 4371 182 1953 10,703 600 300 7,782 1,000 2401 758 3921 320 1520 TOTAL PAYMENTS 17,684 24,760 1.210 27,376 3,136 7,125 81.281 48,638 EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS 8.110 12.324 343 23,276 749 8,062 14.003 FUNDS AT 1st January 2023 92,834 105,555 12.250 14,979 600 114,388 340.606 FUNDS AT 31 Dec 2023 100.944 117.879 11,907 {8,297) 11491 110,260 332,544 14.003 THE HARWICH SOCIETY THE HARWICH SOCIETY REGISTERED CHARITY Mo. 1161931 ASSET STATEMENT A8 at 31st Do¢•mb•r 2023 VNRE8TRICTEO GENERAL FUND DEalOMATED DEaiaNATED DESIIINATED DESIOMATED soeiAL RE8TRI¢TED FOAEISTER FUNO CASH FUNDS REDOUBT OBBITS MUSEUMS HIB TOTAL TOTAL FIIND FUND FUND FUND FUND 2023 2022 GASH IN HANO CURRENT. COQPEFiAT1VE BANK DEPOSIT- CO-OPERATIVE BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT- NATIONWIOE UNITED TRUST 8ANK CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK 815 20.989 25.000 72.223 15.000 25.370 815 20989 -570(M) 84223 500 45,394 57,000 89,223 81,517 86,972 2,WO 21,500 12,tM)O 87.332 32.410 24,305 5,100 8718.% TOTAL CA811 FUND8 IS•,3•7 43OOJ 1.000 s.ioo 2.1)00 121,242 332.S44 340,•O6 FIXED AS8Ers PROPERTY & LAND 13.81)0 87.500 320.000 421,100 421.100 PROPERTY CONTENTS & EQUIPMENT 1,814 8,534 3,516 5,279 42 4.394 23,381 24.959 MUSEUM EXHIBIT8 8.870 48.904 10,762 06.338 63,217 IT EQUIPMENT 425 489 190 1.084 981 OTHER ITEMS 24 507 234 TOTAL Fixeo ASSET8 9,099 71.000 91,010 16.085 42 324,004 512,408 810.A91 8TOCK STOCK- PUBLICATIONS Et¢. STOCK- HS SHIRTS. e.300 320 2.139 8.629 320 4.327 128 TOTAL 8TOCK 6.620 2.139 8,949 4,48S TOTAL AsseTS 174118 117,514 92,01B 21,166 Z,042 44S,826 883.901 855,552 APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES AND SIGMED ON THEIR BEHALF.. on C Fam811 CHAIRMAN r*anè Bitrnèad TREASURER THE HARWICH SOCIETY ReGISTERED CHARifY No. 1161931 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Y•argnd•d 31¥t DECEMBER 2023 1 FORESTERS FREEHOLD PROPERTY STATEDAT REBUILD COST 2 FORESTERS Cc￿rENts STATED AT REPLACEMENf COST 3 BOBBITS HOLE FREEHCiD LANO VALUEDAT ESTIMATED mARI￿T VALUE 4 P￿JNTINGS AND pIAauESVhLUED AT COST 5 MUSEUM EXHIBITS I OFTEN WNATEDI AT COST PLUS 1% PER ANNUM 6 T￿Ls VNLUED AT COST LESS 20% W•K%TAGE PER ANNUM 7 SMALL ASSETS. OFFICE EQUIPMENTWRirrEN DOWN AT PER hNNUM INDEPENDENT EXAIIINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE mAR￿CH SO¢IErY I report on 8C(x)unis ofTIE Harwch Sooetyfor the erKled 31st tknrrthr2023. ￿ are set ¢xrt ￿ pages 1 to 3. RESPECTIVE RESONSIBILMES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAJIINER The charftys trustees 8re reskXWt)le preparat￿ olts The tharW5 Inthe's 0)nsk1erthat * audit required for this year under seckn 144(21 ofthÈ Chari*5Ad 2011 (ts 2011 *1￿ ￿ Ihatan examlnaucfi ts ￿. It 18 my responsSbiltyto'. examire the 8ccount8 ￿jar 8ethon 145 ￿the Clk•itEs 2011 2011 A4 lo stale wtt¢lher partk#Jlarrnatters have CL*ne kn my atyenbcfft. BA31S OF INOEPENDENT EWINERE REPORT My examinaliw wa¥ carried out in accordarKe I￿geT￿rnI C*reth￿S gi￿ tythe Ch*tycomrni4svJn. An examknati indude5 a rewew of the acwunknThJ records kept by Ihe thanty 8ThJ a thnparts¢)n of the a(xx)unts presented th08e reo)rds. 11 also includes consK1erabon of any unusual itern5 ￿di￿)￿jreS in Ihe accwnts. aTrJ seeknrKJ exrAanatK)ns from you as tr￿Stee5 Con￿mIng suth matters. prIx*dU￿ urKl&taken do not kwovwje all e¥iderK£ Ihal *YJuk1 ￿ reQ￿re￿ in 8n audit and consequenlty no opnion ts giveii as to we5errt a the re￿ * Imit#J io dM)se tnattw5 Sel out in Ihe st8tement be￿4. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEIIEF In (1)nt￿l￿ ￿1th myexarnlnal￿. ￿ mattw ha5 cTh lo myaltenlknn.. 111 gives me Feasonatle caw to Ihat in motenal reg￿lIhe reqLwemerts.' to keep attothting re￿a$ ui aix>Jrdantswth 5e(*on 130 of IhE 2011 Art arKI requirements ofthe 2011 Acl. ha¥e Ml been meL or 121 to %thth.In my opinK)n. attenbw s￿1 be crterto a tKDFer oflhe accounts to be reacthd. S￿NED KilA￿ET suifcHER QUAL)FICAMON ADDRESS.. DATE".