2023-09-30-accounts

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD

FROM 1[st] OCTOBER 2022 TO

30[th] SEPTEMBER 2023

FOR

FRIENDS OF OSBORNE

Osborne House Estates East Cowes PO32 6JX

Contents:

Friends of Osborne Trustees

Chairman’s Report

Membership Report

Grants and Donations

Statement of Financial Activities – Treasurer’s Report

The Friends received its charitable status from the Charity Commission on the 18[th] August 2015. The charity is administered in accordance with its written constitution, adopted by the

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity Number

1163175

Registered Address

Friends of Osborne

Osborne House Estate East Cowes. PO32 6JX

Trustees:

Allison Rogers -Chairman Adrian Johnson - Deputy Chairman Philip E. Palmer - Treasurer Helen McComb - Secretary Maureen Moorman - Membership Secretary Carolyn McCormack - Trustee

The constitution requires that these trustees will resign after 3 periods of 3 years. It is a requirement that there be a minimum of five trustees but there is no upper limit to their number.

All matters of strategic importance and all application of funds are subject to approval by the trustees alone.

Chairman’s Report

Since our last AGM in February, we have really been able to see life getting back to normal after the restrictions and difficulties of the last few years. It has been lovely to see school groups visiting Osborne again as part of their residential trips to the Island and to see coach parties returning.

We have now moved our AGM from February to November. This is because September is the end of the financial year for us and having our meeting in November will bring everything into line with the end of the financial year.

As a Charity our object has always been ‘to support and assist Osborne and English Heritage in the promotion, preservation and use of Osborne.’

As our treasurer will tell you, we have a very healthy bank balance which we are eager to give to Osborne House for a variety of projects. This, however, takes time; as quotes need to come in and decisions need to be made between trustees, committee and Osborne staff as to where our funds can be best used. As I have mentioned in my newsletter, we are looking at the possibility of funding the restoration of the Summer House near the Walled Garden and the portico to the Walled Garden. The portico is the only remaining part of the original Osborne House which Albert and Victoria bought in 1845.

We have already agreed to pay for thirty-two chairs to be placed around the House which will enhance the visitor experience and we have agreed to fund a school award and trophy.

The money we are able to give to Osborne comes from your membership fees and money raised from our events. Friends of Osborne have been able to put on a full program of events this year for our ever-increasing number of members to enjoy.

We have tried to introduce some new events this year, some more successful than others. Our regular favourites are always well supported, especially those which take members to parts of the estate that are not open to the general public, such as the 360-degree Tour of the rooftop. Members have enjoyed The Beach Party, The Quiz, visits to Whippingham Church and The Roman Villa at Brading. We have organised a flower arranging workshop, walks with Toby and talks with a variety of speakers, which have been very popular. Several members have fed comments back to us about how much they have enjoyed the events they have attended and how warmly they have been welcomed. We must be doing something right! None of this would be possible without the very hard work of the trustees, committee and EH staff.

The Friends of Osborne library books have now been amalgamated with the books held at Osborne. This library is for the use of members, EH staff and volunteers, students and

researchers. Members can borrow two books by contacting Therron Welstead and a catalogue of books can be accessed on the ‘Members Section’ of our website.

The trustees have also been making amendments to our Constitution. The work on the changes to the Constitution has taken place over a period of time and regular updates have been shared and discussed with the committee at our monthly meetings. They are small changes that make certain clauses clearer and which you as members will have the chance to vote on at the AGM.. We have also set out some rules which will guarantee the charity is run effectively and with the best interests of all members being taken into account.

Membership Report

The new systems introduced last year are bedded in and working well. All members now have plastic membership cards which are re-validated annually upon renewal of membership. This represents a considerable saving in administration time and costs.

During the year, at the request of English Heritage, we now ‘meet and greet’ members and their guests attending our events at the green gate outside of POQ thus removing the need for them to queue up with EH visitors for access. For events during normal opening hours, members are given FoO lanyards which are handed back at the end of the event. This is proving to work well and eases the pressures on the EH reception staff.

Membership numbers continue to grow. As at 30 September 2023 we have 962 paid up members. This compares with 765 at the same time last year which represents an increase of 26%. The breakdown of membership types is 222 Individual, 665 Joint, 52 Child, 3 Student and 20 Honorary/Concessionary members. There is a healthy turnover in the membership with 323 new members and 126 lapsed.

There are no plans to increase the membership fees this year, our fees remaining very attractive to all members however they choose to use their FoO membership and its benefits.

Grants and Donations

Household Costumes £4,195

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – TREASURER’S REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] October 2022 TO 30[th] SEPTEMBER 2023

ACCOUNTANT’S REPORT

These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.

This is in accordance with acceptable accounting practice for charities of this size as set out in guidance issued by the Charity Commission.

Stephen N J Wade BA (Hons) Econ. Asperiti Group Ltd 153, Old Road East Cowes Isle of Wight PO32 6AX

FRIENDS OF OSBORNE

Registered Charity 1163175

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2023	2023	2022	2021
Current assets
Bank and cash in hand	62,944	45,706	43,529
	==========	==========	==========
Members' funds
Receipts and Payments Account Balance brought forward	45,706	43529	50,451
Surplus of Payments / Receipts for the year	17,238	2,177	-6,922
	------------------	------------------	------------------
	62,944	45,706	43,529
	==========	==========	==========

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
	2023	2022	2021
RECEIPTS
Subscriptions	16,118	12,877	3,300
Contribution from Gift Aid	2,771	2,138	0
Donations and bequests	0	5	0
Library income	0	0	0
Fundraising activities	4863	2,561	0
Dinner	0	0	0
Trafalgar Day lunch	0	0	0
Sales	67	48	0
Bank interest	567	17	5
	**------------------ **	------------------------------------
	24,386	17,646	3,305
	**------------------ **	------------------------------------
PAYMENTS
Donations & Gifts	4,195	12,097	9,200
Costs of Fundraising activities	839	164	31
Dinner	0	0	0
Redundant Goods	0	261	0
Repairs and renewals	0	0	144
Committee expenses	51	29	108
Membership expenses	19	0	313
Printing	9	0	0
Postage and carriage	166	302	0
Office stationery	0	0	60
Computer and software	1044	736	0
Accountancy fees	55	50	50
Legal fees	60	56	55
Bank charges	168	138	0
Card Machine Costs	246	1,340	0
Insurance	296	296	266
	**------------------ **	------------------------------------
	7,148	15,469	10,227
	**------------------ **	------------------------------------
	17,238	2,177	-6,922

PROFIT / LOSS FOR THE YEAR

========== ========== ==========