## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1[st] January 2025 Period start date To 31[st] December 2025 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 which is distributed to
members locally, elsewhere in the UK and abroad.
This magazine is seen as an important link with
residents and former residents of the town. The
magazine includes artcles about the actvites of
the Society, 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.
During 2025 Society volunteers managed and stafed
the seasonal Visitor Centre in Harwich and the iconic
historic buildings and museums under its ownership
or control which are a signifcant tourist atractons
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, and was open to the public including families with children during 2025 to promote safe accessible access to the natural environment. Significant conservation project work was progressed at The Redoubt in liaison with Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. 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 £386,417.
| |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
£128.952 in the designated Foresters Fund and
£468,669 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 for
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** **Trustee name Office (if any)** **Name of person (or Dates acted if not body) entitled to appoint for whole year trustee (if any)** |1
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12|Andy Schooler|Chairman||| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Robert Barham|Vice Chairman||| ||Maria Fowler|Secretary||| ||Diane Bitmead|Treasurer||| ||Dan Beck|||| ||Garry Calver|||| ||Richard Colley|||| ||Sue Daish|||| ||Colin Farnell|||| ||Richard Oxborrow|||| ||Paul Smith|||| ||Nigel Mowle|||| |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** Andy Schooler Chairman 16/06/2026 **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** **Position (e.g Secretary, Chair)** **Date** REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1161931 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Accoumr AND ASSET STATEMENT YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2025 LU u) OUI i ¢05 8gpiÈ¥%g{- glll Illlll Jor (o W rc 2 2 Lu UQouuZZ_ 10 Z aj z < rL ￿ LU IU O (LQtt(rJo)ssZ *7J D) THE HARWICH SOCIETY REGJSTEReo CHARfY Pkn. 1161931 NOTE8 TO ThE ACCOUNT8 Yurqrwlgd 31ItDECEMBEA1025 1 FORESTERS FREEFIOLD PROPERTY STATED AT REWILD COST 2 FORESTERS CONTENTS STATEDAT REPLACEllEP￿ COST 3 aoB8iTS FK)LE FREEPhXD LAND VALUK)AT ESnK47ED KWKET VfvLUE 4 PA￿INGS￿AD PLM)UES VfvLUEDAT COST S klUSÈW EXHIBITS I OFTEN C4)NATEDI AT COST PLUS 1% PER AWU 6 TOOLS VNLUED AT COST LESS 20% WASTAGE PER NNNUM 7 sM￿L Assgfs. ￿FIcE EQUIPMÈNTWRirrEN AT20% PERANNUM INDEPENDEMf EXAMINEifs REPORTTOThE TRUSTEES OF ThE IlAR￿cH SOCIETY I rep(xt on accom ofThe Stsjety 31* DefAntr*r 2025. are set ¢yA ￿ p•Jes 110 3. requw¢d fcf INS ye•r ur*1er *ctknn 144PI ofthB 2011 W ar*1 ts an 11 15 ry r4)I￿1b11tyt0.. Ihe 2011 Act. and also knrthjdes ¢on5kltrat"on of any urKtsual Aerfo or dWsure¥ in acg£vrts. aTrJ seeknffj eyyan8bDm frcffl as thJs*es such matters. Tf* TXDcedU￿ LTrTrderta*en do not Iheevid8n￿ that be reqUI￿j in an 8￿rt and eonwuanlly M cpirM¢M a6 to I1￿ rBwl tolPtht m8ltWS 1NDEPENDep4TEx￿II1j￿R* STATEI ta keep rttord¥ In 8cEwJ￿c¥Wdti aeraTrJn 1X) Of￿ 2017 arn1 rts ofth? 2011 ho¥e not meL or aGcount8 k* L* reathea . QUALI￿￿4￿011 ADDRES8." DATE". THE HARWICH SOCIETY REGISTERED CHARITY No. 118193f Y••r •nd8d )1•t DecEMBER 2025 1 FORESTERS FAEEHOLD PROPÉRTY STATÉD AT REBUILD COST 4 p￿￿1￿•S$ AND PLAaUESv￿vE0 ATCOST 5 MUSEUM ￿l￿Ts I OFTEN OONATEDI AT COST PLUS 14 PERMNUII 6 TOOLS VALUEDAT COST LESS ￿ wA￿AGE PER ANTr￿1 7 SMALL PtsSEfs,OFFICE EQUIPMENTWRrrrEN LWI AT 20% PERANNUM INDEPENDENT EWINERt REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF THE HAR¥VICH SOCIETY I teport ¢)n the a￿unt¥ ofThe Souetyfor 31st t*eember 2025. are sel L*Jt on pw 110 3. r•quw8d le*thl$ urthr I•¢￿ 144PI oftr*Ch¥lW A*XJ11 (ts 2011 4ryJlW WJ ex8mw•tton kn r*ed8d. 11 * my ragpcfiththty to: to the gkn Ch*1ty Commwjn 144SXbl ( the2011 &aNJ BASIS OF *4DEPENDENTEX*MNm REPORT In(lud?8 8 re¥1￿ ofts accountrq records kept by￿ charity orrtl é oftre 8co)urds prestrnied %silh those recrrts. It al¥0 Incautte5 ¢onspYuation of arry uryjsuai or dodogJr¢s 8ccoxts. 8r¥a s￿￿rV4 explana￿L¥￿ from a5 tru5te¢i suth matters. Tr prc**dures uThJertaken do not prDv4le au ÈvidaK* Ihatww￿a t¢ rÈoutr&1 in a uwweni8 ofthe 2011 hBV8 met.. or SIGNED QUALFUTK>P4 ADDRE88.. DATE..