Peter Cushing major exhibition
Wheels of Time Every Kent Museum Visited!
Dressing Derrick West
2024-25 Report and Plan
Whitstable Community Museum & Gallery Registered Charity No. 1171101
Match Label Exhibition
V Weapons over Whitstable
Objects of the Month
April 2025
Page 1
Collaboration Partners Kent co ithryt County Council ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL the HERNE BAY Lp(I WIIIIILI IIIE TRUST heritage open days museum development HORSE BRIDGE 4tyiFÉ%( souih easi southeastern HITSTABLE ** Page 2 April 2025
Contents
Collaboration Partners .................................................................................................................................. 2 Report from Angela Boddy, Charity Chair .................................................................................................... 4 Visitor Numbers ............................................................................................................................................ 5 A Year on One Page ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Museum History ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Governance ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Museum Charity Accounts Financial Year 2024 / 25 .................................................................................... 8 Business as Usual (revenue) ................................................................................................................. 9 Major Activities (capital) ....................................................................................................................... 9 Reserves for Future Projects and Emergencies .................................................................................... 9 Performance Indicators .............................................................................................................................. 10 Museum Reports ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Exhibitions – Steve Keeler ................................................................................................................... 11 Research – Angela Boddy and David Newman ................................................................................... 11 Children’s Activities – Peter Banbury ................................................................................................. 11 Archive Library and Research Area – Linda Livingstone ..................................................................... 12 Collections - Roger Livingstone ........................................................................................................... 12 Volunteer Development – Dinah Hillier .............................................................................................. 12 Museum Gardens – Maggie Banbury ................................................................................................. 12 Museum Shops – Maggie Banbury ..................................................................................................... 13 Volunteers – Gail Rogers..................................................................................................................... 13 Membership – Jane Crowley .............................................................................................................. 13 Internship and University Placement – Lillie Cripps and Georgie Evans ............................................ 13 Wheels of Time – David Roberts ......................................................................................................... 14 Marketing – Post vacant ..................................................................................................................... 14 Major Projects – Peter Banbury.......................................................................................................... 14
April 2025
Page 3
Report from Angela Boddy, Charity Chair
This has been a year of real progress and renewed confidence for our museum. Thanks to our volunteers’ dedication and member and visitor support, we are able to look back with pride on a season of achievement, while also being clear about the challenges that still lie ahead.
After ten years without change, our admission fees were increased in April 2024, yet rather than discouraging visitors, footfall grew. Feedback has been positive, and we continue to offer free entry to students, children and local residents. Shop sales have also risen, reflecting our strong focus on high-quality and relevant items. Together, these developments have given us our best business result in three years and provided a more secure foundation for the future.
Exhibitions remain at the heart of what we do, and this year we enjoyed one of our busiest and most successful programmes. Our major display on Peter Cushing attracted national attention, including BBC coverage plus a special event from Talking Pictures TV, and brought visitors from across the world. Alongside this, a lively sequence of smaller displays ranged from “Wild About Whitstable” and the wartime V-bombs to harbour photography and match labels.
We have published two new books one on the railway, and another on Peter and Helen Cushing, both proving very popular. Our archives and collections team continue to catalogue and conserve important objects, including the stationary winding engine and Whelk Boat Floreat , both of which have seen major progress this year.
Education and community engagement remain central to our mission. School projects, work experience placements, Duke of Edinburgh candidates and university students all contribute to the life of the Museum. The Wheels of Time scheme continues to prove a great success, with over 500 diver badges awarded since 2022, helping us reach children and families who may not otherwise have discovered us. Every child who comes through our doors is offered a challenge, and the enthusiasm and creativity they bring is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work.
Our volunteers are the Museum’s greatest asset. Over fifty people give their time to keep us open nearly 200 days each year, to greet visitors, manage the shop and archives, develop exhibitions and answer many enquiries. A survey of volunteers showed strong levels of satisfaction and retention but also highlighted the need for more training. We have responded with refresher sessions and plans for first aid training. Membership, too, remains healthy, providing vital financial support and demonstrating the community’s commitment to our work. Social events have been particularly popular, with record numbers attending the launch of the Peter Cushing exhibition.
Our gardens also continue to develop as welcoming and peaceful spaces and attractive settings for summer events.
There are, of course, challenges ahead. The long-awaited £175,000 Arts Council grant for urgent building repairs, can only be received once a solution for ownership or leasing of the buildings is concluded which has proved to a long process. We recognise the need to improve our digital marketing and to create a dedicated volunteer role for communications, ensuring that our work and events are promoted more widely.
Despite these pressures, this year has been marked by resilience, creativity and strong community support. It has been a successful year, and a reminder of how much Whitstable Museum contributes to the town’s cultural life. With your continued backing, we will build on this momentum and ensure that the Museum remains a place of learning, inspiration and enjoyment for all generations.
April 2025
Page 4
Visitor Numbers
Annual (right)
Museum reception staff record every visitor. (April to March financial year)
Visitors by Month (below)
(Total visitors):
Red: 2015 – 16 Orange: 2016 – 17 Yellow: 2017 – 18 L. green: 2018 – 19 Dk. green: 2019 – 20 Cyan: 2020 – 21 Lt. blue: 2021 – 22 Dk. Blue: 2022 – 23 Dk. Purpl: 2023 – 24 Magenta: 2024 – 25
Ten Years’ of Data in One Chart!
-
The front (red) row is the last year of CCC museum operation, 2015-16. Over seven months, the museum only opened in school holiday weeks. Total visitors 2009 for the whole year.
-
The orange row shows footfall for 2016-17. A big increase to 4927 visitors, open every month.
-
By 2017-18 (yellow) winter months were contributing 41% and summer months 59% of annual footfall. Well worth opening in winter.
-
The Covid-19 year 2020-21 (cyan) difficult to see in this type of chart. The museum was able to open for a few months, with precautions, resulting in 3347 visitors.
-
The museum was closed the first 2 months of 2021-22 (royal blue) but a bounce back to 10,539 was satisfactory in the circumstances.
-
Three subsequent years to 2025 show a 12%pa increase for each year.
April 2025
Page 5
A Year on One Page P£T£R CUSHING ove Tiolan Collaborations Arts Council England Bradbury Grange Brownies and Rainbows Canterbury City Council Canterbury College Crab & Winkle Trust Duke of Edinburgh Award Fun Palace Heritage Open Days Horsebridge Arts Centre Peter Cushing Association Primary schools Secondary Schools South East Museums Southeastern Railways Seaside Museum Special Schools University of Kent Wheels of Time Ild About Whitstable 17,417 Vlsltors Whitstable Museum Vlsltor Incrna88 11.8% 20241251 30 Countrles 2455 Chlldren Children's Activities Local Vlsltors 605% Books Published Peter & Helen Cushing Crab & Winkle Railway Conservation Whelk Boat Stationary Engine Paper & Oil Paintings Collection Care Cataloguing New donations Objects of the Month Tooth A-CREDITED MUSEUM Page 6 April 2025
Museum History
On August 12[th] 1885, Harbourmaster William London recorded the “Opening of the Whitstable Museum” in his diary. This was probably a ‘cabinet of curiosities’ in the Assembly Rooms, where lectures were given and meetings held. Today, the Horsebridge Arts Centre occupies a similar site.
After WW2, the Whitstable Historical Society began to collect artefacts and documents. Eventually in 1985, the current main museum building (the Foresters’ Hall) was purchased, funded by the Fred Goldfinch Trust. The Foresters’ Hall Trust, the successor charity, with Canterbury City Council (CCC) as the corporate trustee, then owned the main museum building and part of the collection.
In 2024-25, discussions focussed on the transfer of the main museum buiding to WCM in order for the museum to continue to flourish. The building facing Oxford Street, originally purchased around 2000 for an extension to the museum, is essential to museum artefact storage, offices and the shop. It is owned by CCC but used by WCM in delivering one of CCC’s museums.
In 2014, responding to budget pressures, CCC planned to reduce opening or to close Whitstable Museum. Six charities formed the Whitstable Community Museum Group in August 2014 to seek transfer of museum operation to community volunteers. In January 2017, Whitstable Community Museum & Gallery (WCM) became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered charity No. 1171101.
WCM, on its own merits, gained Arts Council England accreditation in October 2018. This is the national benchmark by which performance, object loans and grants to museums are based.
Governance
The CIO is limited by guarantee, is governed by a formal Constitution and comprises individual and corporate fee-paying members with voting rights on specific resolutions and election of Trustees.
The membership of the museum charity elects the trustees at the AGM. The elected Trustees form an Executive Board to manage CIO activity with the immediate aim of operating Whitstable Museum on behalf of the community in collaboration with CCC Museums and Galleries.
Day to day operation of the Museum is managed through committees, reporting to the Executive Board.
WCM CIO’s charitable object:
To advance education in Whitstable and the surrounding area by the promotion and support of heritage centres, museums, galleries and libraries and by related programmes of outreach and research, fostering knowledge, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts, history, science and technology for residents and visitors.
WCM’s immediate objective is to operate Whitstable Museum on behalf of the community and CCC.
WCM statement of purpose:
To use the resources of the museum, the Whitstable area and community, the collections and the experience of the volunteer staff to enthuse and inform visitors and residents in the history and heritage of the local area. The museum will be proactive in recording, conserving and interpreting the history, heritage and culture of Whitstable, the surrounding villages and countryside. Our customer relationship will encompass exhibitions, collection development, research, learning, community engagement and outreach. The widest possible range of users will be provided with access to the museum, collections and opportunities.
Probity: Museum income and expenditure are administered by an elected treasurer reporting directly to the Executive Board. Accounts are externally examined, published annually and submitted to the Chairty Commission.
April 2025
Page 7
Museum Charity Accounts Financial Year 2024 / 25 Independently examined and submitted to Charity Commission and Museum Charity AGM.
April 2025
Page 8
Commentary, Financial Year 2024 - 25
In April 2024 admission fees were raised from £3 to £4 (concessions £2 to £3) after ten years without change. Footfall actually increased, with very few complaints at the new charge level, in line with a national report on museum charges. Students, children and local residents have free entry. Museum retail income also improved due to a tight focus on the quality and range of sale items.
Negotiations with CCC about the future of the museum, which started in June 2022, dragged on and the £175k Arts Council (ACE) grant awarded in March 2023 could not be drawn-down without a lease, so repairs and developments were delayed for the second time. Eventually it became clear to CCC, that the Foresters’ Hall Charity could not operate the museum and Councillors and senior CCC officers worked with WCM on transferring the main museum building, and its maintenance costs, to WCM.
Day-to-day income and expenditure (revenue) has to be trreated separately from grants and legacies (capital). Capital funds are for specific purposes and cannot be used for operating revenue costs. Funds must also be reserved for emergencies, maintenance, projects and ultimately for possible closedown.
| Business as Usual (revenue) | 22-23 | 23-24 | 24-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income: retail, donations, admissions etc. | 54,112 | 49,697 | 73,590 |
| Management contract CCC (in above income) | 15,000 | 7,500 | 0 |
| Museum operating costs | -56,243 | -61,302 | -58,490 |
| New maintenance reserve | -12,800 | ||
| Balance | -2,131 | -11,605 | 2,300 |
This is the best business result for three years and reflects volunteers efforts to create and sell high quality items and to attract increased donations through providing an enjoyable, family-friendly service.
| Major Activities (capital) | 22-23 | 23-24 | 24-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant income (restricted) | 1,600 | 13,120 | 13,233 |
| Capital expenditure (ACE planning) | 10,652 | 14,425 | 23,837 |
Oil and paper painting conservation has continued, funded by the Goldfinch Trust and the Peter Hadlow bequest. Whelk boat restoration is now complete and selected items have been purchased for the Peter Cushing collection. The winding engine restoration has started. However other major projects have been delayed as volunteer resource has been dedicated to ensure that the future of the museum was secured.
Reserves for Future Projects and Emergencies
Predicting that we will have to maintain the Foresters’ Hall building and services, WCM has created a designated reserve for this purpose.
Reserves designated by Trustees and funds restricted by the provider include:
| Maintenance | £12,800 | designated |
|---|---|---|
| Building Reserve – courtyard cover, storage. Target £200k | £40,000 | designated |
| Emergency – a future pandemic, charity close down. etc. | £20,000 | designated |
| Projects – to fund long-term projects over multiple years | £7,132 | designated |
| Peter Hadlow Collection Fund (ACE grant match) | £74,520 | restricted |
| Peter Hadlow Collection Fund (collections) | £89,882 | restricted |
April 2025
Page 9
Performance Indicators
The Trustees regularly monitor performance, reporting progress against the Aims and Objectives. Whitstable Community Museum (WCM) sets performance targets which include CCC key performance indicators in any grant agreement, which are summarised below. The value of volunteer work set out below is the pay that they would have received, without on-costs, in a paid museum role.
| Area | Performance Indicator |
2015/16 Baseline |
2016/17 (no contract) |
2017/18 (no contract) |
Report 2018/19 |
Report 2019/20 |
Report 2020/21 |
Report 2021/22 |
Report 2022/23 |
Report 2023/24 |
Report 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation | CMG managed | WCM managed |
WCM managed |
WCM contracted |
WCM contracted |
WCM contracted |
WCM contracted |
WCM contracted |
Out of contract | Out of contract | |
| Operational Indicators |
Number of visits to Whitstable Museum (Monthly Reporting) |
CCC target 6000 (2009 actual footfall in CMG management) |
4927 (Increase of 145% on previous year) |
9144 Adult +86% Child +137% inc. |
Footfall 11,664 (Closed 5 weeks) |
Footfall 13063 (closed 2 weeks COVID- 19) |
Footfall 3347 (closed 38 weeks due to COVID-19) |
Footfall 10,539 (closed 6 weeks due to COVID-19) |
Footfall 13,867 |
Footfall 15,563 |
Footfall 17,417 |
| Days open to public | CMG proposal 120 CMG actual 96 |
Actual 124 | Actual 150 | WCM target 180 Actual 177 |
WCM target 190 Actual 175 |
Target 85, Actual 50 |
Target 150, Actual 160 |
Target 180, Actual 180 |
Target 180 Actual 175 |
Target 180 Actual 175 |
|
| Accreditation (Annual Reporting) |
Retained by CMG |
Retained by CMG |
WCM accreditation applied for. |
Awarded 4th October 2018. |
Retained by WCM |
Retained by WCM |
Retained by WCM |
Retained by WCM |
Retained by WCM |
Retained by WCM |
|
| Volunteer time | Number volunteers | 65 | 85 | 75 | 85 | 69 | 59 active | 64 | |||
| Hours | Est 4,000 | 5,556 | 7,008 | 8,652 | 3,708 | 10,169(6 FTE) | 10,611 | 11,481 | 10,671 | ||
| Value of volunteer support –payequiv. |
£54k | £75k | £95k | £119k | £50k | £146k | £152k | £175k | £174k | ||
| WCM Membership |
Paid up members | Friends | 121 | Actual 134 | Actual 186 | Actual 150 | Actual 163 | Actual 180 | Actual 165 | Actual 175 | |
| Customer Indicator |
Percentage of people satisfied with WCM |
New Indicator set by CCC at 85%. |
2 adverse comment of 147 Achieved 98% |
CCC target 85% 1 adverse in 491. Achieved >99% |
WCM target 95% 2 adverse comments in 691 Achieved > 99% |
WCM target 95% 1 adverse comment in 678 Achieved > 99% |
WCM >> 95% No adverse comments. |
WCM >> 95%. No adverse comments. |
WCM > 99% Good social media and visitor book comments. |
WCM > 99% Social media, verbal & book comments good. |
WCM > 99% Social media, verbal & book comments all good. |
| Finance Indicator (annual) |
Council proportion of Museum management income. |
CCC target <53% (WCM Income excluding grants) |
Income £21,000 CCC fee £20k CCC part 49% |
Income £22,000 CCC fee £20k CCC part 48%. |
Income £30,737 CCC fee £20k CCC part 39%. |
Income £35,634 CCC fee £20k CCC part 36%. |
Income £22,568 CCC fee £20k CCC part 47%. |
Income £31,407 CCC fee £18k CCC part 36%. |
Income £39,012 CCC fee £15k CCC part 28% |
Income £49,697 CCC grant £7,500 CCCpart 15% |
Income £73,590 CCC management grant zero |
| CCC subsidy per visitor |
As described in 2014 CMG annual report. |
£9.9 per visitor |
£4.06 per visitor |
£2.2 per visitor |
£1.71 per visitor |
£1.53 per visitor |
£5.39 per visitor |
£1.71 per visitor |
£1.08 per visitor |
£0.48 per visitor |
Zero |
CMG = Canterbury Museums & Galleries.
April 2025
Page 10
Museum Reports
Exhibitions – Steve Keeler
This past year has been a very busy and successful season for exhibitions. We always aim to present exhibitions professionally and the comments books show that we are doing something right!
Our main exhibition concerned Peter Cushing and has drawn interest from far and wide, with people traveling hundreds of miles just to see our display. The BBC covered the exhibition, broadcasting nationwide. Talking Pictures, the TV station, even arranged an event based around the exhibition; Hammer Films have been involved too.
Our smaller exhibition space has also had a run of successful displays. A ‘Wild About Whitstable’ display opened many visitors eyes to what is quite often unnoticed. An exhibition on the V1s and V2s that landed in Whitstable between June 1944 and March 1945 took some people by surprise, not realizing that any ever landed here. Photographs of Bert Parker and John Filmer, taken at Whitstable Harbour in the 1950s and 1960s, were displayed and proved very popular. A match label display, a collection from Peter Hadlow was unusual but was enjoyed by everyone. This was followed by a collection of model boats from Whitstable’s working past. The current display is focused on the South Eastern’s 200th anniversary of the railways, which has spawned railway walks and talks for those interested.
Research – Angela Boddy and David Newman
Whitstable Museum aims to ensure that accurate information is available to academics, the general public and to children. Newspaper archives research and investigating the collection both contribute to publications – this year new books on the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway and Peter & Helen Cushing were published for general audiences. Reprints of both books have been required.
The Museum helped Endowed Junior School pupils to investigate its 180 year history with the first headteacher’s evidence of the poor state of public health in 1849, photographs and maps of a growing Whitstable and evidence from the 1895 registers. The pupils responded magnificently.
Enquiries from the public are researched with a strict time limit. Donated and loaned photographs from Whiststable residents, with associated stories, are really valuable historic records, but it is essential that they are catalogued and the material made available to the public.
Children’s Activities – Peter Banbury
Nearly every child visiting the museum responds well to our welcoming question “would you like a challenge”. Naturally, we have learned how to detect when a child is shy or just fed-up for some reason, and back-off! Our museum’s objective is to make a visit interesting and enjoyable, but with a background of learning, sometimes disguised. Certainly the one-to-one interaction between a museum volunteer and a child usually brings out their best side.
Fortunately we have volunteers who are qualified teachers in primary and secondary education and over time a good range of hands-on activities have been developed. Volunteers have mastered the skill of quickly matching an appropriate challenge to the child as they welcome a family.
The “Spot & Dot” observation quizzes continue to evolve, with games based on a single theme such as diving, or oil paintings with levels from ‘Easy’ to ‘Impossible’.
April 2025
Page 11
Archive Library and Research Area – Linda Livingstone
Work has begun on cataloguing the Archives Library. Books can be requested to view through Archives volunteers, and more use has been made by professional researchers. The Museum’s policy of collecting new books on Whitstable and its local surrounding area continues.
The Education and Research Area itself has seen an increase in use, particularly by individuals, authors and journalists as a starting point using the research folders. Archive volunteers suggest ways in which research can be extended, and point enquirers to additional information sources.
Handling items prove popular and useful during school visits, and to individual child visitors. ‘Spot and Dot’ sheets have been updated to complement new exhibitions and themes, and appeal to children’s competitive natures.
Collections - Roger Livingstone
The conversion of the current inventory system for accessioned artefacts (Ad-lib) to the new system called Axiel has commenced. Aided by the use of an Intern funded by a successful grant application a good start has been made but not without initial difficulties.
The conservation of all the oil paintings on permanent display has been completed. This work, by an accredited conservator, consisted of an initial evaluation, cleaning, some repairs, and re-framing including conservation standard non-reflective glass. This re-display has had favourable comments by visitors.
Volunteer Development – Dinah Hillier
During the months of April to July 2024 a face-to-face survey of ten questions was conducted with frontof-house volunteers, achieving an 89% response rate.
The survey found a good level of retention and satisfaction, but also identified some basic training needs. As a result, refresher training in day-to-day activities such as fire drill and using the cash register have been undertaken, new radios and communication procedures introduced to further improve safety, and several volunteers in key roles have attended online training courses hosted by Kids in Museums and the Museum Association.
The survey results, which were shared in summary with all participants, continue to inform staff development, with a first aid training course being arranged for trustees and operational positions. New recruits are guided through the application process, induction and provided with on-going support.
Museum Gardens – Maggie Banbury
The courtyard garden provides an attractive and peaceful space for visitors and volunteers to relax. The side fence has been cleared and we plan to replant in large pots with climbing plants to attract bees, butterflies and birds to the garden. The courtyard has also been used for events in the summer months and is even used as our only semi-private meeting area, with comfort greatly improved by a donation of garden chairs.
The rear ‘hidden’ garden is growing well, also providing space and plants for wildlife including birds, butterflies and even a humming-bird hawk moth.
April 2025
Page 12
Museum Shops – Maggie Banbury
Sales in the shops continue to do well. Popular items include books, postcards, magnets and children’s fossils and rocks. “Crab & Winkle” and “Peter & Helen in Whitstable”, two books published by the museum have sold-out and been reprinted this year. Interest in Peter Cushing souvenirs, particularly the character sketch fridge magnets, has boosted sales. Prints also continue to sell well, especially at Christmas time. Railway posters remain the most popular items, both framed and unframed, as well as Canterbury &Whitstable Railway prints. We also sell copies of old photographs for research purposes.
Volunteers – Gail Rogers
Ensuring that the museum is open to the public nearly 200 days per year is a major exercise and we are very grateful to our many regular Front of House volunteers. Volunteer numbers have increased this year with new recruits including University students and assisted by Duke of Edinburgh candidates.
Volunteers continue to ensure the smooth running of the museum by managing the shop, creating new publications, maintaining our exhibits, archiving and cataloguing new donations plus dealing with the many requests for historical information.
As an Arts Council England accredited museum, we must provide a high quality museum experience to every visitor. As visitors arrive, volunteers have to establish in a brief conversation what would be of interest. The railway expert, artist, parent or child may have completely different expectations and we try to suggest ways that the museum visit will work best.
Membership – Jane Crowley
Museum membership remains healthy. Subscriptions are a vital element in supporting the Museum, especially at a time when we are taking on more expenditure from the Council.
Museum Members influence the future direction of the museum through useful feedback at events, during visits and more formally at the AGM. A sound membership also demonstrates the community’s support for the museum and helps the charity overcome occasional rough patches.
Social events remain very popular and we had our highest ever attendance at the launch of the Peter Cushing exhibition. Members and volunteers are the first to be invited.
The membership application and renewal forms have been simplified and are available at reception. Membership rates have remained at the same rate as when first introduced.
Internship and University Placement – Lillie Cripps and Georgie Evans
As the home to the Invicta Engine, Whitstable Museum has an extensive collection of Canterbury and Whitstable Railway material. The Archives Team has been working hard to compile a detailed spreadsheet of all the items as well as keeping a log and photographic record of the work completed by Dick Church and Roger Mathews to restore the winding engine.
This is the third year that a University of Kent student has worked at WCM as part of a Museum Studies Course, this time the focus being on “Object of the Month” displays and installing the new computer cataloguing system which has been investigated in detail. We also continue to take both school and college work experience and Duke of Edinburgh award students, currently at bronze and gold levels.
April 2025
Page 13
Wheels of Time – David Roberts
The “Wheels of Time Kent” initiative was first launched across the county eleven years ago. We started participating in the scheme in 2022, since then we have presented over 500 children with our unique museum diver badge.
This initiative has clearly captured the imagination of many children and provided them, and the accompanying adults, with an enjoyable and educational experience they may not have otherwise had.
Wheels of Time also serves to promote the Museum more widely through the involvement of the other 50 or so participating museums across the county.
Marketing – Post vacant
Whitstable Museum maintains background, static, information on a web site. However we need to move to a more dynamic method of update, particularly for events. Facebook and Instagram pages are used to advertise and report activities. Good response has been received to many posts – not always those that we expected to be popular. Posters and leaflets are produced in-house as required.
The Whitstable Map leaflet has been revised to add seating and update information. It was created and funded jointly with the Whitstable Improvement Trust as we came out of Covid, to help Whitstable recover as quickly as possible. It remains extremely popular and is in its third reprint at over 15,000 copies distributed by charities and businesses.
WCM realises that we need to further improve marketing and a dedicated volunteer post is required.
Major Projects – Peter Banbury
Invicta – Michael Bailey’s archaeological study of Invicta has been reprinted with the drawings now integral to the binding to avoid having to increase the price. To complement this formal approach we published a new book “Crab and Winkle” which has been designed by volunteer Kate Stilliard for a more general readership, now in its second printing.
Stationary Winding Engine – Volunteers took advice from leading conservators of large industrial machinery and are using hand tools to gently clean and conserve each component. After a huge struggle, the piston has been extracted from the cylinder and to everyone’s surprise it is in remarkably good condition. Detailed measurements have been incorporated in CAD drawings which are being animated to test fit the components together.
Whelk Boat FLOREAT – The restoration of the boat is essentially complete after 5 years work by Roger, Dick and many other volunteers. The traditional skill of copper nailing had to be learned in order to replace many rotten oak frames. The donation of Derrick’s working clothes by the West family will dress a mannikin to be placed in the boat. Safe steps will enable supervised visits by children on special days.
April 2025
Page 14
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Charity Name|No (if any)|
|Whitstable Community Museum & Gallery|1171101|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|Period start date|Period end date|
|To|
|from|01/04/2024|31/03/2025|
|ee|ee|ee|
|Section A Receipts and payments|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Total funds|Last year|
|funds|funds|funds|
|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|
|Admissions|15,271|-|-|15,271|-|
|Shop Sales|21,628|-|-|21,628|-|
|Membership|2,302|-|-|2,302|-|
|Donations|6,650|-|-|6,650|-|
|Shop rental|5,165|-|-|5,165|-|
|Grants|-|13,234|-|13,234|-|
|Council grant|7,500|-|-|7,500|-|
|Other|1,840|-|-|1,840|-|
|Sub total|(Gross income for|
|13,234|-|73,590|-|
|AR)|[ 60,356 ]|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|(see table).|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|——————|Total receipts|60,356|13,234|-|73,590|-|
|A3 Payments|
|Services|7,088|-|-|7,088|-|
|Administration|7,907|-|-|7,907|-|
|Shop sales|8,877|-|-|8,877|-|
|Exhibitions|5,490|-|-|5,490|-|
|Gardens|214|-|-|214|-|
|Marketing|2,354|-|-|2,354|-|
|Staff Development|2,683|-|-|2,683|-|
|Projects internal|8,215|-|-|8,215|-|
|Projecte external|-|15,662|-|15,662|-|
|Sub total|[ 42,828 ]|15,662|-|58,490|-|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases,|(see table)|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-|
|—|Total payments|—————|42,828|15,662|-|58,490|-|
|Net of receipts/(payments)|17,528|- 2,428|- 15,100|-|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|128,932|185,002|-|313,934|-|
|Cash funds this year end|146,460|182,574|- 329,034|-|
|===|==>|
----- End of picture text -----
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
25/01/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature PeterJBanbury Details Details Bank balance 31 March 2025 Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 146,460 182,574 - - - - 146,460 182,574 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Peter John Banbury |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
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| PeterJBanbury | Peter John Banbury | 25-Jan-26 | |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
25/01/2026
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Whitstable Community Museum & Gallery On accounts for the year ended 3110312025 Charity no {if any) 1171101 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110312023 Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the braGkets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Wendy Tetley ACMA CGMA MCIPD Relevant professional qualification(s) or body {if any): Chartered Institute of Management Accounts Address: 123 Harvey Drive Chestfield Whitstable Kent CT5 3QY IER
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER