CIO Registration Number 1164831 ## **Museum for Watton** ## **Trustees:** Christopher Hutchings – Chairman Abigail Dear Andrew Hutchings David Leathart Madeleine Jewell Kate Hughes Norman Phillips Philip Kibler The governing document requires the Board of Trustees to be made up of a minimum of three members and a maximum of ten. All trustees are unpaid volunteers who have demonstrated skills important to the efficient operation of the museum. All trustees are required to read the Governing Document and to operate in accordance with this publication. The museum also has a team of volunteers who assist both with administration and escorting visitors around the exhibits. ## **2020 / 2021 Activities** Along with all museums, we were severely affected by the covid pandemic with long periods of closure. As we are a volunteer run, free-to-enter museum with very low overheads this did not have an adverse financial impact on us, but it prevented us building on past success with the local community. In the periods we have been allowed to re-open we have switched from Wednesday through to Saturday opening to just Wednesdays and Saturdays. Primarily this is because our somewhat older volunteer base has been affected and we are striving to recruit new volunteers to enable us to achieve more frequent opening. CIO Registration Number 1164831 ## **Museum for Watton** The museum aims to cater for a wide range of ages and interests with the modern social and military history of Watton represented as well as exhibits from prehistory such as flint tools and mammoth bones. We also have coins and artifacts from the Iceni, Romans, Vikings and Saxons all of whom have occupied areas around Watton. Watton itself has Saxon origins originally being named Wadan (“Town by the Ford”) and by time of the Norman invasion Wadetuna (“Homestead of Wade”). In 2022 Watton Town Council, who grant us free use of the building have authorized us to expand our exhibits into the Council chamber. Our Chairman has made a substantial personal gift to purchase new cabinets and the Council have provided funding to carry out works to the building, necessary both for this expansion of the museum and to improve the repair of the building. ## **2020 / 2021 Financial Results** Our net income for 20/21 Financial year was £2063.50 and expenditure was £3902.14 with £6728.57 cash at the bank at financial year end. Relatively low overheads and a steady stream of voluntary donations mean that the museum is in a stable financial position for the foreseeable future. ## **2021 /22** We hope that covid restrictions will remain lifted and that we can move forward with our expanded displays to, once again, bring in substantial numbers of visitors and recruit more volunteers. Part of our program has included digitally recording memories and reminiscences of older residents of the town and we have already accumulated many hours of fascinating life stories. We are also planning a greater online presence over the coming months to benefit those not able to visit in person.