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
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Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024
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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 cOn￿rt 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.
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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
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Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024
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have reviewed the level of general rese￿e5 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.
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Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024
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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.
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Leominster Museum CIO.. Annual Report- Year to 30.11.2024
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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 ¥xaiTlIWldt￿1l 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 d￿all$ 01
any items that the
examin•r wi8h•8 10
dS8closo.
IER
Ocl 2018

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