## **ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
Charity number 1166357
# **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2025**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Legal and Administrative Information|1|
|Trustees Annual Report|2 - 3|
|Independent Examiner's Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the financial statements|7 - 10|
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Trustees**|A Bone (Chairman)|
|---|---|
||A Barneston (Treasurer)|
||S Fox|
||S Das|
||J Ransome|
||T Brown|
||J Cook Manders|
||J Cable|
|**Charity number**|1166357|
|**Registered office**|Moot Hall|
||Market Cross Place|
||Aldeburgh|
||Suffolk|
||IP15 5DS|
|**Independent examiner**|Community360|
||Winsley's House|
||High Street|
||Colchester|
||Essex|
||CO1 1UG|
|**Principal bankers**|Unity Trust Bank|
||Brindley Place|
||Birmingham|
||B1 2HB|
**1**
## **ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
The Museum was open at weekends plus extra days in school holidays in February, March, November, and December and every day from April to October. There was an overall reduction in income of 12.7% and a reduction of 12% in admissions/visitors to the museum in comparison to 2024. This reduction was contrary to our projections at the beginning of the year and is largely due to the overall reduction in visitors to the area, considered to be due to the overall economic situation.
Regardless, the museum is run and managed by an effective team of enthusiastic volunteers and staff, who should be applauded for their continued support and dedication to the museum. During the year the museum volunteers hosted a temporary exhibition, a programme of events and activities and a very successful exhibition in an art gallery in the town’s High Street titled ‘Aldeburgh in WWII’.
The income from shop sales was similar to 2024. Although book sales were down by 20%, the WWII book that complemented the exhibition was hugely popular, requiring a second print run. Shop items are regularly refreshed with new and varied items relatable to the museum collection and visitors. Particularly successful are our History Note booklets which give further information on the town of Aldeburgh and its history and people, greetings cards and postcards.
We received a few artefacts / historical documents to our collection, one of which was paid for by the museum. Once processed and conserved where necessary, these will be put on display for the public.
There were no unexpected expenses during the year. There were a couple of grants applied for. These were for a new Perspex display cover for the Bathing Machine Model from Association of Suffolk Museums and towards the WWII Exhibition for East Suffolk Council. The museum donated £250 to RNLI Aldeburgh Lifeboat as a result of book sales since the Bi-Centenary Lifeboat Exhibition held at the end of 2024.
Whilst there have been no changes to the Trustees during 2025, there have been staffing challenges. At the end of the year there were two Supervisors in post, with one to leave at the end of the year. Overall Volunteer numbers were down at the end of the year with recruitment of new volunteers challenging.
**2**
## **ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
In 2026 we will again be hosting a comprehensive activity programme to attract a wide range of visitors, school parties and groups. Events and activities are planned for school holidays, with the summer months hosting guided Walks, storyteller on Moot Green and a stall at the Aldeburgh Carnival. We will also put in order and promote our talks programme, delivered both at home and away.
We will have a new temporary exhibition in the museum of local finds by local detectorists. Some updating and refurbishing of museum display is also planned, including the Ship cabinet, new digital displays and a new flip book.
We also plan to hold another exhibition at Christmas time in an art gallery in the centre of the town on Aldeburgh’s past Railway.
Signed
Date
**3**
## **ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
I report on the accounts of Aldeburgh Museum Charitable Trust for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 5 to 10.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
- Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s Statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considerations of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
David Courtier FMAAT AATQB for and on behalf of: Community360
Winsley’s House, High Street, Colchester, Essex Date 22/06/2026
**4**
## **ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Note**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
**2**
Other trading activities
Charitable activities
Other income
Investment income
**Total income and endowments**
**Expenditure on:**
Fundraising and other trading activities
**4**
Charitable activities
**5**
**Total resources expended**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Fund balances at 1 January 2025**
**Fund balances at 31 December 2025**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
4,874
7,304
18,236
11,125
273
**41,811**
1,412
41,247
**42,658**
**(847)**
57,364
**56,517**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
1,000
-
-
**1,000**
-
84
**84**
**916**
-
**916**|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
4,874
7,304
19,236
11,125
273
**42,811**
1,412
41,331
**42,742**
**69**
57,364
**57,433**|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
5,313
7,197
21,021
14,490
1,074|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**49,094**
4,122
42,793|
|||||**46,915**|
|||||**2,179**
55,185|
|||||**57,364**|
Notes on page 7 - 10 form part of these accounts.
**5**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Current assets**
Stock
Debtors
**10**
Bank balances
**9**
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
**11**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**13**
Restricted funds
**13**|**2025**
**£**
2,242
4,226
54,524
60,992
3,559
57,433
**57,433**
56,517
916
**57,433**|**2024**
**£**
1,831
4,330
56,117|
|---|---|---|
|||62,278
4,914|
|||57,364|
|||**57,364**|
|||57,364
-|
|||**57,364**|
The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above on:
**Signed:**
**Date:**
**6**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the proceeding year.
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement on Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their
accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## **Incoming resources**
Grants receivable are recognised in the accounts when conditions for their receipt are satisfied. Grants with conditions attached to their use are included in restricted funds. Donations, legacies and other forms of voluntary income are recognised as incoming resources when receivable.
## **Resources expended**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay. Expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to a particular heading they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Costs classified as governance relate to the general running of the charity and include the operations of the Board of Trustees and addressing constitutional audit and other statutory matters.
Resources expended include attributable VAT, which cannot be recovered.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds may be either endowment or restricted income funds, depending on the nature of the restriction. Where the fund is not an endowment fund and is held on trust for spending on specific purposes, it is known as a restricted income fund.
The resources (the assets and liabilities) of each restricted fund are held and maintained separately from other funds. This is in recognition of the circumstances in which the resources were originally received, and/or the restrictions on that fund that determine the way those resources are subsequently to be treated.
**7**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **Going Concern**
The trustees of the charity deem that there are sufficient funds available to continue operating on a going concern basis for the foreseeable future
## **Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
There are no critical accounting estimates or judgements in the financial statements.
|**2.**
**Donations and legacies**
**Donations:**
General donations
Gift aid reclaimed
**3.**
**Income from charitable activities**
General admission
Grants
**4.**
**Fundraising and trading expenses**
Shop purchases|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
868
4,006|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
868
4,006|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
1,026
3,067|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||4,874|-|4,874|4,093|
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
18,236
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
1,000|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
18,236
1,000|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
20,190
-|
||18,236|1,000|1,000|20,190|
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
1,412|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
1,412|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
3,795|
||1,412|-|1,412|3,795|
**8**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**5.**
**Charitable activities**
**General costs**
Rent rates
Staff costs
Museum purchases
**Museum costs**
Main project expenditure
**Support Costs**
Printing, postage and stationery
Telephone
Marketing
IT and software costs
Insurance
Subscriptions
Independent examiners fee
Bank & service charges
Previous year adjustment
Miscellaneous costs|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
3,701
25,784
171
3,293
43
1,028
2,157
971
950
489
224
1,912
-
523|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
84
-
-
-
-|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
3,701
25,784
171
3,293
43
1,028
2,157
971
950
573
224
1,912
-
523|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
3,082
30,183
448
3,673
551
1,018
930
1,928
815
292
224
1,668
(2,359)
340|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**41,247**|**84**|**41,331**|**42,793**|
## **6. Governance costs**
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiner of £224 for examination fees
## **7. Trustees**
None of the trustees received any remuneration during the year. Out of pocket expenditure was paid 2025 £4,674 (2024: £2,964).
## **8.**
## **9.**
|**Staff costs**
Gross wages
Employer NI
Employer Pension
KEY MANAGEMENT
**Cash at bank and in hand**
Unity bank current
Sum up Account
Suffolk Building Society
Unity bank 1 year bond
Hampshire Savings
Cash in hand|**2025**
**£**
25,341
-
443|**2024**
**£**
29,740
-
443|
|---|---|---|
||**25,784**|**30,183**|
||**2025**
**£**
8,343
1,312
12,844
21,731
10,000
293|**2024**
**£**
17,174
-
17,939
20,706
-
298|
||**54,524**|**56,117**|
**9**
**ALDEBURGH MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**10.**
**Debtors: amounts falling due within one year**
Prepayments
Debtors
**11.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Income received in advance
Accruals|**2025**
**£**
-
4,226|**2024**
**£**
-
-|
|---|---|---|
||**4,226**|**-**|
||**2025**
**£**
2,445
890
224|**2024**
**£**
4,690
-
224|
||**3,559**|**4,914**|
## **12. Lease commitment**
The charity entered into a long term lease with Aldeburgh Town Council in repsect of the Museum premises at Moot Hall Aldeburgh. The lease term is 30 years commencing 1 April 2018. Commitments under the lease are:
|Due within 1 year
Due after 1 year within 5 years
Due after 5 years
**13.**
**Fund analysis**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
East Suffolk Council
Total funds|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**£**
57,364|**Income**
**£**
41,811|**2025**
**£**
3,000|**2024**
**£**
3,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||12,000|12,000|
||||57,750|57,750|
||||**Expenditure**
**£**
(42,658)|**Balance at**
**31 December**
**£**
56,517|
||**57,364**|**41,811**|**(42,658)**|**56,517**|
||-|1,000|(84)|916|
||**-**|**1,000**|**(84)**|**916**|
||||||
||**57,364**|**42,811**|**(42,742)**|**57,433**|
**10**