THE GURKHA MUSEUM The Gurkha Museum Trust Annual Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ending 31 December 2024 Charity Number 1169920 Contents Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examinerfs Report Consolidated Ststement of Financial Activities Consolldated Balance Sheel Charity Balance Sheet Consolidated Cash Flow Slatement Notes to the Cash Flow Statement Notes to the Financial Statements Detsiled Ststement of Financial Actlvities 18 19 20 21 23 24 35 THE GURKHA MUSEUM TRUST- CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT 2024 We have been lifted by the extraordinary levels of support and generoslty In 2024, our Fillleth Anniversary year and when our Reaccreditation by the Arts Council England was fully successful, valid for a further five years. This has allowed us not only to get the delivery phase of Project 'Kaida', the name w8 have given to our major Redevelopment Project. ready to go bul has resulted in the achievement of raising the majority of our Capital Appeal need of £5.2 million though payments and firm commitments, leaving a final £1 million to secure In 2025 and 2026.1 am pleased to report further progress has been made since the end of the financial year. Thls positive outcome results from the Impact of plannlng and recruitlng a specialist fundraislng and support team to achieve this. The bedrock funding of our Appeal has been secure(l from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) who confimied our full request for Stage Two funding in late 2024 and frorn the particular generosity of the Serving Brigade of Gurkhas through their Service Day's Pay Giving (SDPG) as highlighted last year. In fact, the Brigade confirrned further SDPG support for the Trust In 2024. It has encouraged generoslty elsewhera that every soldier from Rifleman to General has continued to contribute lo Project Kaida. It is this enduring support from the Brigade of Gurkhas, whether servlng or veteran. that makes the Gurkha Museum so special. Also. I would like to hlghlight the generous grants and pledges of grants from the Foyle Foundalion, the Swire Charitable Trust and others VA￿ for now wish to remaln anonymous, with the prospect of several more in 2025. The Regimentsl Associalions of the 8ntecedent reglments and Ihe Gurkha Brigade Assoclation along with Corporatss and some particularly generous individuals, as well as a number of charity fund ralsing efforts by indivldual soldlers and Gurkha Community Associations have generously swelled the totsl, support that continues into 2025. Our challenge for 2025 is to close in on the remaining gap. while both malntaining the strong fonvard momentum of the Museum itself, and starting the Museum Display rebuild, to be completed, following temporary closure of the museum galleries, by the summer of 2026. As described elsewhere in the Annual Report it has not all been plaln salllng, where we have seen an unanticipated reduction in retail sales and issues of irrecoverable VAT charges. With prudent provlslon this led to a greater than planned trading deficit In the year £179.000 (2023 - £104,000). W8 have laken decisive actions and external advice to resolve these issues in 2025 and return to manageable operating deficits, as part of the medium-temi financial plan, using the financlal model that was developed for us In the previous year. This modelling extends our ability to plan the Museum's finances pwdenlly beyond the Ilfe of the Redevelopment project. Overall, with Project Kaida inflow exceedlng oufflows in the year, we posted an overall surplus of £370,000. (2023455,000) helped by an investmenl gain as well. Investment market turbulence Is a challenge we have already had to face after the year end, and despite some recovery it will b6 difficult to anticipate what the current year will bring in an uncertain world. We were pleased to welcome Major Sanjip Rai as a Trustee in the year, replacing Major Ram Rai, ex-officio as OffiG8r Commanding Slttang Company, Royal Milltsry Academy SandhursL Three new members of slaff Joined us in the year as well, Iwo of them new appointments associated with Project Kaida capacity building, Lauren Grierson and Joseph Harris, and one replacement appolntment, Anusha Adhikarl. I would like to thank again my fellow Trustees and our staff led by Dr Daren Bowyer, our Director, whose energy and appIl￿tion with his tearn including Emma Boryer, as Head of Fundraising and Marketing, is now in the process of delivering the ambitious vision the Trustees have set. Special mention should also be made of our Assistant Curator Doug Henderson for his excellent work in project managing and securing our Arts Council England Reaccredltation in the year, As in previous years, none of the day-ttrday operalions of the Gurkha Museum, especially now with slaff and trustees so Committed to delivering Project Kaida. would be possible without our dediGated team of Volunteers, supported by our growing body of Friends. I would like to thank them all as we move into the exciting delivery phase of our ambitions in 2025. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATNE DETAILS Charity Name The Gurkha Museum Trust Reglstered Charity Number 1169920 Reglstered Office The Gurkha Museum Peninsula Barracks Romsey Road Winchester Hampshire S023 8TS Vlce Patrons Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell KCB CBE MC Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw OBE to September Major General Gerald Strickland DSO MBE from September Colonel Denis Wood MBE Chalrnian of the Trustees Mr Martln Brooks MA FRAS Electsd Trustees Colonel Charle8 Bamett MBE Major Michael Bamey Lieutenant General Sir David Bill KCB Mr John Bulbeck MSCI Major John Harrop MrSlev8 Maslin FCA Mrs Sudha Rai Colonel William Shuttlewood OBE Ex.Offlcio Trusteos Colonel David Robinson (Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas) Major Ramkumar Rai RGR (Offi¢er Commanding Gurkha Company RMAS>to August Major Sanjip Rai RGR (Officer Commanding Gurkha Company RMAS) from August Museum Dlrector & Company Secretsry Dr Daren Bowyer MA MPhll PhD Accountants WSnchester Bourne Ltd Sullivan Court Colden Common Winchester S0211WP Independent Examlner Sarah Alexander FCCA FCA Lewis Brownlee (Chichester) Limited Appledram Barns Birdham Road Chichester West Sussex P020 7EQ Investment Managers BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Ltd 12 Throgmorton Avenue London EC2N 2DL CCLA Senator House 85 Queen Vlctoria St London EC4V 4ET STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCEAND MANAGEMENT Governing Documents The Board of Trustees operales under a constitution dated 14 October 2016, as amended by a Resolution dated 26 October 2016, both registered at the Charity Comrnission under Registered Number1169920. Organisational Structure The Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation run by the Board of Trustees and managed day-to-day by the Museum Director with the support of the Assistsnt Curator, Head of Fundralsing and Marketing, and Operations Manager. The Senior Management Team is aided by the work of a Digital Comrnunications Officer, Fundraising Coordinator and four Museum Assistants (bNO full time and two part- time), three of whom are ex-Gurkhas. Additionally. two further posts were created in 2024, as part of the redevelopment project, Project Kaida. They are a part-time (0.5 FrE) Community Engagement & Partnerships Officer, and a full time Archives and Digitisation Officer. The Board's work is enhanced by three Committees dedlcated to Govemance, Investments, and Risk & Audit. These Committees are made up of selected trustees and advisors working to Terms of Reference which are regularly reviewed arKI enable the Board to give due attention to matters that require consideratlon. In addition, there is also an infomal Collections Advisory Group, which includes speclalist adviser5 as appropriate, to provide expertise relating to the Museum's collections. Govemance of Projecl Kaida, the Museum's redevelopment project, is overseen by a Museum Development Board, aided by a Capital Appeal Committee. Both of these are made up of a mix of both trustees and ad hoc external members. The Board of Trustees meets at least three times a year to consider proposals presented to them by the committees and to provide strategic d irection to the executive. Appolntments offi￿ holders, elected Trustees. and ex-officio Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Constitution. The ex-officio trustees represent all ranks of the serving Brigade of Gurkhas. In August. Major Sanjip Rai became a Trustee. replacing Major Ram Rai, ex-officio as Officer Commanding Sittang Company. Royal Militsry Academy Sandhurst. There were no other changes to the composition of the Board of Trustees during the reporting period. The dedication, commitment and contribution of all trustees is acknowledged with gratitude. It is especially irnportant to The Gurf(ha Museum Trust that it remains closely connected to the serving Brigade of Gurf(has and that the views of the serving Brigade are well represented. In this respect, the eX￿ffIci0 trustees have a partlcularly significant role to play. Trustee Induction and Tralnlng Newly elected Trustees are brtefed by the Chairman and Director on all matters relating to the Trust. They receive copies of the Constitution, the latest sets of Minutes, Annual Report and Financlal Statements, Charity Commission guidance on trustee responsibilities, and other documents as deemed appropriate. Extemal training is also offered and undertaken by Trustees from time to tlme. Staff Changes In January we were joined by Lauren Grierson, in the first of our Project Kaida roles, that of Community Engagement and Partnerships Offlcer. The main purpose ofthe role is to extend the Museum's reach into the community, Including schools and with a special emphasis on reaching and growing new audiences as identified by the redevelopment projecfs Activity Plan. In March the second of our Project Kalda roles, Archlves and Digitization Officer, was filled by Joseph Harris. The main purpose of the role Is to supporl the Assistant Curator in extendlng the Museum's reach through digitisation of our extensive archives and making our collections more accessible to researchers and hlstorians through better cataloguing and collections management. In the summer, our Digital Communications Officer, Brad Hall, left us for a commercial marketing role. His place was filled In November by Anusha Adhikari. Staff Professional Development and Networklng Trustees contlnue to glve hlgh priorty to the training and development of staff and to allocate funds accordingly. Staff now have access to a wide range of online trainlng and maximum use is made of thls for completion of annual routine and mandatory training such as health & safety subjects arKJ dala protection. Personal and professional development needs are Identified through the annual appraisal process and Individual training and development plans agreed accordingly. Opportunities are provlded for staff to meet fellow professionals at such events as the Amy Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT) Annual Conference, National Army Museum Conference and the Museums and Heritage Show. We believe engagement with our sector and our local community Is critical to success. The Assistant Curator Is a member of the Steering Committee of South West Museums Development, the Director chairs Hampshire Military Museums Network and the Natlonal Army Museum's Southem Anny Museums Forum. The Director is also a member of the Winchester Business Strategy Group and Winchester City Council's Cultural Strategy Development Forum. We play a very supportive role as part of Winchester's Military Museums. The stand out training and development evenl of the year was the opportunlty, in November 2024, for all of the office staff to vislt Nepal- for most a first visit. Accreditation The Museum is Ac¢redited by Arts Council England, first being awarded this in 2011 and was SUCGessful in its subsequent renewal in 2015 (registration no. 1775). Delays to the renewals process as a consequence of the Covid pandemic mean that our accreditation was extended arKI we were inv5ted to submit for renewal in late 2023. Appropriate effort had been put into ensuring the Museum's readiness for this, and we were able confidently to submit our appllcation in December 2023. We were dellghted that our application has been fvlly successful. Fundraislng Regulator The Gurkha Museum continues to register on a voluntsry basis with the Fundraising regulator. Rlsk Management All activities are subject to regular risk review by the Board of Trustees. Major risks are, for this purpose, those Ihat could have a signiflcant effect on: The Museum's operational perfonnance, including rlsks to staff and volunteers. The Museum's abillty to achieve its objects. Meeting the expectation of visitors and supporters. The Museum's reputation and Integrty. The Museum's assets. The Trustees identlfy and review these risks on an ongoing basis and satisfy themselves that adequate procedures are in place to minimise and manage the risks In a timely manner. Where possible and appropriate, risks are covered by insurance. Trustees noted the forthcoming presentstion to Parliament of The Terrorism {Proteclion of Premises) Act 2025 ("Martyn's La￿). Our visitor numbers and capacity are below the threshold required for fonnal action in light of this. However, trustees thought It prudent to take note of the requlrements and that staff should take up opportunities for relevant training. They also considered the new Statutory Duty to take all reasonable steps to avoid sexual harassment in the course of employment. A detailed risk assessment was undertaken wilh the support of our out-sourced HR advisors, and relevant policies were updated appropriately. OBJECTIVES AND ACTMTIES Objects for Public Benefit The objects of The Gurkha Museum Trust are stated in the Constitution; 'To advance education in partlcular but not exclusively by the provision of The Gurkha Museum and the preservation and maintenance of the Brigade collection; and to promote the efficiency of the Amed Forces by upholding the traditions and ethos of the Brigade of Gurkhas and perpetuating its deeds." Aims and Objectives Maintain, for posterity. collections and artefacts associated with Britain's Gurf(has and actively provide open public access, and academic research facilities, to promote military scholarships and public education and understanding. Encourage visitors of all ages, gender5 and ethnic identities to visit: or othe￿iSe engage with, the Museum to leam about and enjoy the unique history of Britain's Gurkhas, and to promote and educate the public in the history of Gurkhas and their culture in Nepal. Engage with local communities, schools, speclal Interest and disability groups and Nepalese community groups In providing a source of education, information and understandlng of the history, culture and religion of Gurkhas and their role In the modem British Army. Build parlnerships and networks with historical and cultural organisations, and other slmilar museums, to deliver more efficiently and widely promote the purpose, objectives, and activities of the Museum. Provide a heritage focal point for Gurkha units, past and present, and inspire future generations of British and Gurkha officers arKI soldiers. Provide the Army and other govemment departments with sources of information on historical matters unique to Gurkha service. Public Benefit statement The trustees confimi that they have taken into account the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefrt when reviewing the Charity's aim and objeclives and in making decisions. ACTIVITY AND PLANS 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Gurkha Museum, then in converted barrack-hut in Church Crookham, with limited public access. It was frtting, then, that as we celebrated that milestone, we took enonnous steps forward toWa￿S in our ambitious redevelopment projecl - Project Kaida. This will cement the 10 Museum's place not just as a must-see visitor destination but as the internationally recognised reference centre for Gurkha heritage. The main focus for the first seven months of the year was on the detailed design work for the redevelopment for which we had received 'Development Phase, funding frorn the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The designs, to Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination), were submitted to NLHF In July, together with a comprehensive plan for A¢tlvity and Outreach, a detsiled interpretstion strategy, and a business plan wlth long range Income and Expenditure forecast to demonstrate the financial viability of the project. The rigorous and comprehensive application, totaling some 19 supportlng documents and running to over 770 pages, paid off. In a fitting end to our Golden Anniversary year, in December we received the tremendous news that our application had been successful. Whlle there remains a funding gap to be closed, and a good deal of work Still to be done, this is a most significant step forward. More detail and latest updates can be found at: https:Ilthegurkhamuseum.co.uklproject-kaidal Another major achievement for the year was passing our re-accreditation with Arts Council England. This is no tiGk-box exercise but a root and branch examination of a museum's pollcles, procedures and practices, to ensure it deserves this coveted and indeed vital assurance Standard. We first achieved this in 2015, and it is normally a five-year cycle of re-evaluation. However, the Covid pandemic intervened and Arts Council England suspended the process and are only now clearfng a backlog of Accreditatlon and Re-accredltations. It is a particular credit to Doug Henderson, our Ass18tant Curator, who led the process, that we passed at first attempt. A thlrd standout success of our Golden Anniversary Year was to be awarded Cultural and Creative Business of the Year at the Winchester Buslness Excellence Awards. We were runners up In 2023, and winners of Ihe Digitsl Innovation category in 2021, so our track record is strong. We are a srnall museum by national standards but Consistently punch above our welght. That we do so is in no small part due to the support we receive from our Friends and supporters financlally, bul also to the many volunteers who help us, whether in a research capacity, in manning our shop, or in assisting with our outreach, engagement and education activities. Whlle the number of active subscription-paying Friends Increased by 320/0 over the course of 2025, our volunteers clocked-up an impressive 3,716 hours between them. Had we been paying them, even at just the National Living Wage of £11.44 an hour, that is a cash value of £42,500. 2024 saw a good spread of subject matter for our events and talks. covering, among others, the Hunza-Nagar campaign, Galllpoli 1915 (a lecture greatly enhanced by having a Turkish speaker give the Ottoman perspective), Imphal-Kohlma 1944, operations in the Far East after the Japanese Surrender, and, marking the 25th anniversary, the role of Royal Gurkha Rffles in the Kosovo campaign of 1999. Our Summer Exhibltion, among our most successful for footfall, marked our 50th year 11 with a reflection both of the Museum's growth and development and of the many changes undergone by the Brigade over that time. Noting our global ambitions, Ihe Director took part in 25th anniversary commemoratlons in Kosovo In June, and In September both Martin Brooks, our Chaiman. and Doug Henderson, our Assistsnt Curator, joined 7th Gurkha Rffles Regimental Assoclation members and serving soldiers of Tavoleto Company, exploring 7th Gurt(ha Rifles, operations on the Gothic Line and commemorating, in particular, the 80th anniversaries of the action at Tavoleto, and the liberation of San Marlno. In November, the Director joined a National Amiy Museum team in Delhi, deliverfng a curators, course to Indian tri-seNice military museum curators. This also enabled his participatlon in the Indian Military Heritage Festival. With fvnding support from our NLHF Development Grant, and in-county support from British Gurkhas Nepal, all office staff were able to attend an introduction and orientstion visit to Nepal, taking-ln the rnain cultural sights of Kathmandu, a political- military brief from Ihe Defence Attache, and a visit to Pokhara for a recrultlng brief and brfefs by the Gurkha Welfare Trust and the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association. They all returned better infomed and greatly inspired. The NLHF Development Grant furKled two new posts to help us move Project Kaida fO￿rd. In January we were joined by Lauren Grierson as Community Engagement and Partnerships Offscer (part time) and in March by Joseph Harris as Archives and Digitisation Officer. Lauren's role has been lo work with our contractors to deslgn the Activity Plan, to prepare for and initiate its delivery, while Jospeh has been paving the way for the full d igitisation of the archive. We have continued our regular briefings to Gurkha recruits and serving soldiers, seeing a significant growth in visits from units that now have Gurkha sU￿UnIts, or who find themselves working alongside Gurkhas. The instigation of the Community Engagernent and Partnerships Officer role has allowed us to improve the work we can do to inspire a younger generation. too. In February, we hosted a Children's Cury and Craft Day that saw over sixty visitors tour the Museum, handle Nepali objects; hear Gurkha stories, enjoy a bhat (traditional Gurkha cury), as well as participating in various arts and craft activities. There was also the opportunty to leam about Project Kaida and contribute to Ihe consultation. In August, we trailed a new summer hollday workshop, 'Everest Explorers.. In honour of the Olympics. we celebrated Naik Tejbir Bura's role in the 1922 British Mount Everest expedition. Families discovered whal it takes to climb Mount Everest and then built their own LEGO camp before bringing their creatlons to life using tablet-based coding. Our engagement with older veterans and thelr families also increased. In March, we shared our redevelopment plans with the Nepalese support group, Maddhat Shamuha. We vislted their meeting in Aldershot to deliver a presentstion on Project Kaida and to understand their heritage needs. In May, we assisted an English language wod(shop at Nayo Bato School, Rushmoor, using our object handling 12 collection. We also cond ucted an object-led storytelling workshop for One Community, encouraglng participants to share their own stories connected to our museum artrfacts, and delivered a workshop for Dementia Friendly Alton, where participants shared stories insplred by our Nepali artifacts. Support to those in education broadened, too. April saw a visit from Masters students from Southampton University, for whom the Museum staff team delivered a 'Behind the Scenes, talk showcasing their roles. In June, we participated in The Chalke History Festival schools, day, offering a workshop called Operation BUILD BRAVE. This hands-on activty gave students a glimpse into the Gurkhas, military ald work, particularfy during Operation MARMAT in response to the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. Students built and coded LEGO vehicles to simulate dellvering aid to Nepal. and participated in a question-and-answer sesslon with our Gurkha veteran Museum Asslstsnt Mekh Rana. In addltion to our two new posts, we have seen one other change in the office. Sadly, in the summer, Brad Hall, who had achieved so much as the first ever Dlgital Communicatlon Officer at the Museum, left us for new challenges with a commercial start-up. In November we welcomed as hls replacement Anusha Adhikari who has the added bonus of being of Nepali heritage. Acquisitlons The Museum has continued to acquire, through purchase or donation, objects which will add to the richness of its colleclion. As a guiding principle, we ask ourselves how the object will add to the telling of relevant stories. Notable acquisitions in 2024 were: Commemorative 6th Gurkha Rlfles silver tsnkard, produced for the amalgamation of 6th Gurkha Rifles into Royal Gurkha Rifles (and apparently having languished as a pen holder in one of Scotland's university's libraries for some time, according to the donor). Framed car pennant of General Sir Walter Walker when Director of Operations, Brunei and Borneo in the 1960s. Maquette statuette by sculptor Amy Goodman as preparation for her full-size statue of Kulbir Thapa VC in Aldershot. Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol of Capt Carr, 3rd Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, c1945. Material, including a ceremonial kukri, from Lt Wynn Pary￿OneS, with 9GR during the Amritsar Massacre of 1919. Archive of letters written by John Twells, 1 st Gurkha Rifles during his tirne In service in Ihe Second World War. Serbian Special Military Police uniform as wom in Kosovo during Royal Gurkha Rifles, adions there In 19gg. ArchNe of material of E.D. 'Moke' Murray, 4th Gurkha Rifles, 7th Gurkha Rines and V-Force in the Second World War. Presentation kukri presented to Dr Charles Lansley for his work with the Gurkha Language School in the 1990s-early 2000s. 13 3 x photograph albums belonglng to Col Rogers, the original founder of 2rKI Battalion 1st Gurkha Rffles c.1870. Looklng to the Future Throughout 2025 we wlll be celebrating 210 years since Gurl