2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] January 2024 Period start date To 31[st] December 2024 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 including Christopher Jones’ house being the home of the Master of the Mayfower and linked to the historyof the Pilgrim Fathers.

The Bobbits Hole town wildlife area was managed, improved, and was open to the public including families with children during 2024 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 and 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 funds amounted to £362,707.
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 £108,681 in the designated Foresters Fund and £156,253 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:

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 grant income was obtained towards the cost of the conservaton actvites at The Redoubt Fort.
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 insures against risk and generates sufcient funds to maintain its annual programme of actvites. We seek grant support for any major conservaton projects with the historic buildings in our care. 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

	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
1 2	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	To 17.12.2024
	Andy Schooler	Chairman	From 17.12.2024

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Robert Barham	Vice Chairman
	Maria Fowler	Secretary
	Diane Bitmead	Treasurer
	Dan Beck
	Garry Calver
	Richard Colley
	Sue Daish
	Richard Oxborrow
	Paul Smith
	Nigel Mowle		From 12.11.2024

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)

Andy Schooler

Chairman

Date

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