LEOMINSTER MUSEUM Leominster Museum CIO: Registered Incorporated Charity Number 1162600 Trustees, Annual Report and Accounts for the year from 1st December 2023 to 30th November 2024
LEOMINSTER MUSEUM 16 Etnam Street, Leominster. Herefordshire, HR6 8AQ Tel 01568 615186 Leominster Museum CIO: Registered Incorporated Charity Number 1162600 www.leominstermuseum.org.uk 0&1. leominstermuseum '. @leomuseum Trustees, Annual Report for the period from 1st December 2023 to 30th November 2024 Section A: Objectives and activities Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document The objects of Leominster Museum CIO are set out in clause 3 of its Constitution as being: 3.1 The advancement of education. with particular reference to the understanding and appreciation of the history and heritage of Leominster and its surrounding area, by the provision and maintenance within that area of a museum and associated collection and other resources, and the provision of associated educational activities, for the benefit of the inhabitsnts of that area and any others who use the museum, its facilities or resources; and 3.2 All other charitable purp05e5 normally or usefully associated with a museum. Summory of the main activitie5 undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these object5 These formal objects establish education as central to the Charity's mission, as intended by the Museum's founders 50 years ago. The Charity sets out to achieve this object by collecting and preserving local material relating to Leominster and district in the form of objects, archives and ephemera. and interpreting and displaying this material for the education and enjoyment of the public. The Museum, staffed and managed entirely by an enthusiastic team of volunteers under the careful guidance of the Hon. Curator Malcolm Mason, is open to the public without charge six days a week. The volunteer team now includes several new faces, alongside a good number who have been with us from before the pandemic (some for a good many years before that). In planning and conducting the activities of the Charity. the charity trustees have as Ljsual had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. CoLintry ° ACCREDITED MUSEUM Page 1
Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024 Page2of6 Section B: Achievements and performance Summary of main achievements of the charity during the year Visitor numbers to the museum totalled 2,874 for 2024 {averaging 80 per week of the season}- both figures representing a reversal ofthe trend of the last few years. In addition, the number of visitors attending the Ella Mary Leather events taking outside the museum was approximately 750. For much ofthe penod access to Market Street and Corn Square was restricted by refurbishment work and this undoubtedly had an effect on footfall in the town, with many shops reporting a decrease in trade. The refvrbishment work affected the visitors turnout despite additional publicity generated by the Ella Mary Leather events, the 'people' banners in Broad Street and the unique displays in the museum. Donations by visitors to the museum averaged at just over 82p per adult- the largest figure for ten years. Comments in the Visitors, Book, and on TripAdvisor, continue to be very complimentary of both the Museum's displays and especially the volunteer stsff. Working with Leominster Council the Museum carried out a project to celebrate 'Leominster People,. Nominations were invited from the community for people who had made a significant contribution to local or national life. Eight people were featured on the new museum-branded banners placed in Broad Street.: a diverse group including a carer, football coach, medical researcher, local volunteer and town councillor. In addition, the museum produced an Education Pack for local schools and engaged a web designer to add photographs and profiles of 49 people featured in the exhibition to the website. The seasonal displays lebrated the work of Ella Mary Leather in recording Herefordshire's Folklore in her 150th birthday. As well as Ms Leather's original notebook, kindly lent by the Cecil Sharp Library, the display featured costumes from local Morris sides, a replica of the Marden Bell, kindly lent by Herefordshire Museums Service, and puppets from the Fetch Theatre Company- including a huge model of the Lugg Maiden which we were able to suspend from the llIng. Other events took pla outside the museum. These included a talk by Nicholas Williams, Publishing Director of Stainer & Bell Ltd on An Exceptional Legacy.. Ella Mary Leather, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ihe songs of old Heref0rdshI '. In collaboration with Priory Arts the museum staged a cOnrt at Leominster Priory celebrating the work of Ella Mary Leather and Ralph Vaughan Williams, featuring the intemats'onally acclaimed violinist Julia Bishop and others, and an event entilled Herefordshire Folk NOW, featunng Leominster Morris, Fetch Theatre, About Face Theatre & the Mummer's Boys. These events could only take pla with the generous sponsorship and support of Leominster Town Council, The Elmley Foundation. the Vaughan Wlliams Foundation. and the UK Govemment through the UKSPF fvnd. Our application to the Association of Independent Museums and the Pilgrim Trust for funds to conserve the self-portrait by John Scadett Davis was successful, and the intention is to complete this work in ts'me for the summer season. Page 2
Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024 Page3of6 We continue to receive a number of donations of interesting artefacts and archives, including an extensive collection from the archive ofthe late Peter Holliday, for many years head librarian in the town and a noted local historian. This will be added to other donated collections to what is becoming a significant collects'on of material on the towns, history. Section C: Financial review The accounts show a deficit for the year of payments over receipts. amounting to £2.240 Icompared to a surplus £1,884 for 2022-231 The deficit, however, is due to an unusual year of expenditure. This included an amount for roof repair for £2.450 which a benefactor has agreed to fund fully in the new year. In addition, we expended a one-off payment for a new CCTV system of £1,710 and website design cost of £1,700. We received continuing support from the Croft Trust and series of donations (referred to in note 3 to the accounts) which is greatly appreciated. Year-end summary The net monetary assets of the Charity in Unrestricted Funds at 30th November 2024, and the fund/reserves to which they are allocated. were as follows (see also note 7 to the Accounts). As will be seen, some specific reserves have been set aside for anticipated expenditure. The Designated Fund earmarked towards the proposed building upgrade has been increased by £S,CQO to £45,CQO. 30.11.2024 30.11.2023 Designated Fund (future building upgrade) £45,000 £ 40,000 Reserve for upgrade of CCTV system £1,425 Reserve for main building roof overhaul Reserve for short-term building repairs and electrical testing £4,800 General reserve £11,496 £ 11,811 Total net monetary assets (after allowing for debtors & creditors) £56.496 £ 58,036 Brief statement on the charity's policy on reseryes As a prudent measure the CIO aims to hold a general reserve of between one and two times normal annual expenditure - a margin that reflects the less than wholly predictable flow of income, and the fluctuating levels of expenditure of a 'normal' nature. The charity trustees Page 3
Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024 Page4of6 have reviewed the level of general resee5 required in the light of a general increase in costs. and now consider a prudent reserve on this basis in a typical year to be around £9,000- £17,000 in all. At £11.496 as noted above. the present level of general reseNes is within this range. Ongoing viability In the circumstances described above, the charity trustees have no doubts as to the or)going financial viability of the Charity. Section D: Structure, governance and management Description of the charity's trusts The charity's governing document is its Constitution, initially adopted on 9th June 2015. The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation and came into being on being entered in the register of charities on 91h July 2015. Amendments to the Constitution were made at the Annual General Meeting held on 13th June 2018 and took effect on registration by the Charity Commission on 18¢h June 2018. Following those amendments, charity trustees, up to a maximum of 15, are elected by the members of the CIO or appointed Ico-optedl by the charity trustees, and no outside body has power to appoint any charity trustee. (None of the current charity trustees holds office by virtue of an appointment made before the constitutional amendments mentioned in the previous para8raph.I Charity trustee5 are subject to retirement by rotation and are eligible for re-election, Those who retired by rotation at the Annual General Meeting on Illh July 2024 were Sue Mckenzie and Ted Rogers both of whom were re-elected. The board are delighted to welcome David Llewellin a5 an additional charity trustees during 2024. A f ull list of those in office during the financial year is given in section E below. Risk management policy The Museum holds a Risk Register, which is presented to each meeting of the charity trustees for review. The categories are al Governance bl Operations cl Financial dl External and el Compliance with law and regulation. The Register shows the various risks and their mitigating factors, and it is based on the Charity Commission framework CC26. Ratings are given to both the probability of an event, and the severity of its impact if it were to occur, and these are multiplied together to produce an overall risk score. Page 4
Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024 Page5of6 Section E: Reference and administration details Leominster Museum CIO'S principal address and registration number are shown at the top of this Report. The charity is not known by any other name. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity: Trustee name Office lif any) Dates acted as charity trustee {if not for the whole period) l. Mr Geoff rey Crofts Chair 2. Mr Malcolm Mason Hon. Curator 3. Mr Christopher Jarman Hon. Treasurer Retired 9 July 2024 4. Mrs Deborah Jarman Hon. Education & Outreach Officer 5. Ms Sue McKenzie 6. Mr Ted Roger5 7. Ms Lean Kee Hon Treasurer 8. Mr Stuart Currie 9. Dr Ashley Kirk-Spri88S Retired 18 January 2024 10. Mr David Llewellin From 14 May 2024 11. Mr John O'connell Retired 24 April 2024 The Hon. Secretary. who is not a charity trustee. is Mr Andrew Par50ns. There are no custodian trustees or other trustees holding property on behalf of the charity. Page 5
Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024 Page6of6 Section F: Dedaration The charity trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, Report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: Full namelsl Geoffrey Crofts David Uewellin Position Chairman of Charity Trustees Charity Trustee Date signed 25" March 2025 25th March 2025 Page 6
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl member8 of On aGGoun16 for the year éndèd CharFty no (if any) 30 Z02It 1162600 sgt out on page8 7 Eo 11 L-prft I report lo Ihe Iruslees on iyiy ¥xaiTlIWldt1l vl the aGGounts ol the above charity IYh8 Trusfi for the year 8nd8d 3011 1 / 202Lt As the charivs trustees, you are responsible for the preparation ol the accounts in accordance with Ihe requirements ol the Charities Act 2011 {he Acf). R8#ponslbllltle8 and ba818 ol report I r8POrt in respect ol my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 ot the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinalinn, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent •xamlner's statement APP&A. Delete [ l il not applicable. I have completéd my examination. I confirm that no material mat18rs liave come lo my attp.nlion in CA)nnAr.tinn with IhA AXAminAlinn (nlhgr than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accountina records were not kept In accordance with section 130 of the Chartties Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply bvilh the applicable requiiements conc8ming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charilies (AGGounts and Reports) R¥yuldliuri> 2008 other than any Tequlremenl that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have wme across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in nrdAr to onabl@ a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Pleas8 delete the words in the brackets rf they do not appty. Slgned: Date: Iq 3-2ozS Name: SARAkl Relevant professlonal qualilicalion(s) or l)ody S So¢ OF CktA£rÉ££b caf* Pf6ts IER O¢t 2018
(if any): Address: qq 4oAts Section B Disclosure Only compleie Il the examiner neeas to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. IndependÈnl ox2mination of charty accounts: dirèctions and guidance for examiners). Give here brlef dall$ 01 any items that the examin•r wi8h•8 10 dS8closo. IER Ocl 2018
(fj •oo
Ililili
gggÉ&
oo r4 f4