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← Margate Museums Trust

2023-12-31-accounts

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Margate Museums Trust.

ANNUAL REPORT 2023 TO 2024

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 1 of 19

Introduction.

This report has been prepared for informative purposes to catalogue the work undertaken by the Margate Museums Trust (MMT) during the year 2023 - 2024.

Reference and Administrative Details.

Registered Name of Charity: Margate Museums Trust

Charity Registration Number: 1173031

Charitable Trustees: Robin Haddon Adrian Hughes Frederick Smith Felicity Stafford Amy Waterman

Structure, Governance and Management.

The Margate Museums Trust was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in May 2017. We are governed by a “Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation” with voting members other than its charity trustees (‘Association ‘ Model Constitution) dated September 2016.

Objectives and Activities.

The objectives of the CIO

To benefit the residents and visitors to, the town of Margate by:

VISION STATEMENT: PRESERVE INSPIRE EDUCATE

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 2 of 19

Achievements and Performance. The Year Past.

At the beginning of May 2024, the Margate Museums Trust was given notice to quit as custodians of the Museum. There was very little discussion with Council Officers who were reluctant to allow the Trust access to collect equipment and information. Various allegations were made that the Trust found related to events before they were founded in 2014. The Museum remains closed. As far as the Trust knows TDC has made little effort maintaining the collection or making repairs to the building.

During the period from September 2023 to May 2024 the Museum was closed on several occasions to due storms causing damage to the electrical system. In the New Year (2023) the Magistrate’s Court Room was also closed because of weather damage to the ceiling. This impacted on the exhibitions planned.

Volunteers managed to keep the downstairs section of the Museum open. Some planned events were able to continue. These are reviewed later.

Just a reminder that the Margate Museums Trust (MMT) was the custodian of an extensive collection of historical artefacts of the town of Margate dating back to the Bronze Age on behalf of Thanet District Council. Its primary aim and justification of public benefit was to enable, the general public, schools, colleges and universities, access to the town’s past by opening the Museums, displaying artefacts, mounting specific exhibitions based on local history and heritage, giving talks, arranging educational visits, and assisting students, bodies and individuals with research into the town of Margate.

Alongside this, The Trust hoped to restart the ongoing programme of auditing and archiving the collection which had lapsed during Covid. This would have been done by our volunteers in line with Arts Council Accreditation standards. Recruitment of volunteers has been put into place with the hope of replacing the Archive Team. Thanks to the Thanet Volunteer Hub project volunteers had been identified. Access to the Archive was problematical following the closure of the Magistrate’s Court and top floor.

An application to the Arts Council for Accreditation was put on hold during the lockdown and the time limit for application passed. This was still on the priority list for the MMT.

Opening Times: Opening days for both the Museum were restricted to Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holidays only. Opening times have also been restricted to between 11 and 3 pm with last entry at 2.15 pm. Prices have been kept to pre-Covid levels.

The Museum was opened to the public for free on National Heritage Days which usually take place in September. The Trust recognised that this did have an effect on income but gained is allowing access to the Museum for those who otherwise might not have visited.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 3 of 19

Tudor House: Unfortunately, MMT has been unable to open the Tudor House since February 2022. A major storm caused some damage to the building. This was followed a few weeks later by vandalism. The damage has been assessed by the Council but the Trust still awaits the starting of any repairs. The Trust has heard nothing, yet, as to when repairs are likely to start. The closure has affected the income of the Trust considerably. However, the Volunteer Gardeners continued to keep the grounds in good order making it an oasis of peace and calm in the midst of a busy town. It is sad to see the gardens now overgrown.

Enhancing protocols: The Trustees continued to take the opportunity to re-visit documents in order to enhance internal protocols and processes. As an example, work had been undertaken on reviewing the documentation relating to volunteers and trustees. MMT continued to take every opportunity to pursue discussions about formalising agreements and the way forward.

Accreditaton: An application to the Arts Council for Accreditation was put on hold during the lockdown and the time limit for application passed. This was still on the priority list for the MMT.

New Website: in 2022 – 2023 the Trust invested in a new website and associated social media.

The Work of the Museums :

This has included:

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 4 of 19

Financial Summary.

This will be updated when the accounts are finalised.

The Year Ahead.

Future Exhibitons:

Ideas for discussion included:

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 5 of 19

Artefacts of the Month:

Ideas for future artefacts had included:

Priorites:

At the beginning of September 2023, the Trust had several priorities in place for the coming year.

THANKS:

The Trustees thank the Volunteer Secretary, Treasurer and Executive, as well as the Volunteers for all their hard work and support over the past year from the day-to-day manning and archiving to the cleaning and care behind the scenes. The Museums could not have continued to run without them.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 6 of 19

TRUSTEES TO-DO LIST - 2023

ACTION PLAN.

2016 to 2021 2022 - 2023
2016 to 2021
1.0 Governance Completon
Year in
Previous
Plan 2016
to 2021		 Comment To
Acton
1.1 Ensure a Chair of Trustees
and Board of Trustees are in
place.		 2016/7 RH current chair. Review
succession planning for future
chairs
1.2 Review and ensure that all
Trustees are aware of their
responsibilites and legal
requirement		 2016/7 Trustee Handbook and Code of
Conduct to be updated and
agreed in 2023. Training to be
given to new Trustees appointed.
1.3 Trustees ensure that all staf
and volunteers comply with
Health and Safety
requirements		 2016/7 Volunteer Handbook is in the
process of being updated and
agreed in 2023. Volunteers to be
reminded of H and S
requirements. New volunteers to
be given informaton and training
as theyare appointed.
1.4 Trustees to monitor fnance
and income generaton		 2016/7 Finance Policy and Best Value
Statement to be updated in 2023.
Trustees to be given regular
reports and informaton.
1.5 Generate and deliver
fundraising plan		 2017/9 Fundraising to be discussed as a
priority.		 ALL
1.6 Establish criteria for
identfying and recruitng
trustees and efectve
Trustee succession		 2016/7 Criteria and process for efectve
Trustee succession to be
established in updated Trustees
Handbook.
1.7 Recruit new Trustees 2017/9 Plan for recruitment of new
Trustees to be established and
put into operaton as soon as
possible.		 ALL
1.8 Trustees Meetng for
strategic review and planning
to be held at least bi-
monthlyand more ofen if		 2016/7 Trustees meetng to contnue to
be held at least bi-monthly but
more ofen if necessary.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 7 of 19

necessary. Meetng to be
held virtuallyor face-to-face
1.9 Establish liaison group with
Local Authority and meet
quarterly		 2016/7 Update the need for this acton
point.
1.10 Establish efectve
relatonships with key
potental fund raisers		 2017/19 Update the need for this acton
point.
1.11 Establish Trustee Training
programme		 2017/19 See 1.7
1.12 Set up a comprehensive
Trustee Educaton
programme:		 2017/19 See 1.7
1.13 Review and revise Charity
public beneft statement		 2017/19 Update if needed.
1.14 Apply for Museum
accreditaton
Contnuaton of process		 Inital
process
begun in
2016/7
Halted in
January 2022
Becomes a
priority again
in
2023/2024		 Untl December 2021
accreditaton had been applied
for and eligibility confrmed by
the Arts Council. The process
was halted by Covid 19 lockdown.
See 4.1 and 4.2.
The Trust was informed that the
process would need to be re-
started if not completed by the
end of 2021.
In January 2022, the Trustees
decided halt the atempt.
This remains apriority.
1.15 Agree formal Service Level
agreement/Lease for
operatons with the Local
Authority:		 2017/9 Review current status of process
for applicaton of a Community
Asset Transfer		 ALL

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 8 of 19

ACTION PLAN.

2.0 Operatons and
Protocols		 Previous
Plan
2016 to
2021		 Comment TO
ACTION
2.1 Review and implement a
new volunteer structure to
ensure that it is ft for
purpose for delivery of the
MMT’s Acton Plan		 2016/17
2023/2024		 Over the past year the Trust has
actvely partcipated in a project
lead by the Tourist informaton
Centre (and others) designed to
maximise volunteers.
The Volunteer Handbook is being
updated in line with suggestons
from theproject.
2.2 Develop and implement
volunteer contracts,
interview and checking
procedures		 2016/17 See 2.1
2.3 Develop and implement a
volunteer policy. Reviewing
volunteer’s role and tasks,
recruitment, benefts,
coordinaton, satsfacton
and fulflment		 2017/19 See 2.2
2.4 Develop and implement a
volunteer training and
development plan to
complement that of
trustees		 2017/19 Se 2.2
2.5 Contnue towards to work
towards legal compliance
in relaton to Health and
Safety		 2016/21 The Trust has been ensuring that
any current Government
restrictons are followed.
2.6 All volunteers to be aware
of their roles and
responsibilites with regard
to Health and Safety		 2017/21 See 2.2
2.7 Establish internal
communicatons structure		 2016/17 Felicity Staford to contnue to
act as the Trustees liaison with
the volunteers.		 FS
2.8 Emergency protocols,
primary and secondary
contacts and named key
holders to be established
with the Local Authority		 2016/17 Review has been undertaken of
current key holders. The need
for further key holders will be
reviewed. Liaison with Local
Authority needs to be re-
established.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 9 of 19

2.9 Reportng procedures to
Local Authority to be
implemented		 2016/17 These need to be reviewed in the
light of change of Trustees.
2.10 Financial policy and best
value protocols to be
implemented		 2016/17 The Finance and Best Value
Policies will be reviewed in 2023
to 2024.
2.11 Rolling event and
exhibiton plan to be
maintained		 2016/21
2023/2024		 This will contnue to be reviewed
with the help of FS, RS and AH.
This includes major exhibitons,
pop-up exhibitons and the
highlightng of Artefacts of the
Month.		 FS/RS/AH
2.12 Conduct IT audit and
create plan for enhancing
IT systems and security
Review website and work
on improving informaton
for public.		 2016/21
2023/2024		 Contnue to review IT equipment
and the need for CCTV for Tudor
House and updates for Museum.
A new website and e-mail system
has been set up and its potental
needs to be explored.
2.13 Assess use of buildings and
identfy insufciencies and
potental opportunites to
improve visitor experience,
accessibility. Exhibiton
display and educatonal
and community oferings		 2016/17
2023/2024		 The Trustees need to re-visit the
potental opportunites of
displays and visitor experiences
as a mater of importance.
Ideally this should be done in
conjuncton with the Volunteers.
Improving disabled access either
for wheelchair, visually impaired
or hearing impaired needs to be
reviewed. External groups that
could advise need to be
consulted and grants applied for
to cover the costs.
2.14 Conduct market research
into existng visitor profle
and identfy gaps		 2017/19 Identfy who should undertake
this role.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 10 of 19

ACTION PLAN.

3.0 Finance and Income
Generaton		 Previous
Plan
2016 to
2021		 Comment TO
ACTION
3.1 Establish formal
accountng procedures
and submit annual
accounts to Local
Authority where
appropriate		 2016/17
2023		 Following the change in Trustees
there is a need to ensure that the
fnancial procedures are securely
in place and that new signatories
have been added.
Update accounts regularly and
report to Trustees at Trustee
Meetngs.
Report to Local Authority.
August 2023:The changeover
from an ordinary account to a
business account is stll not
complete.
3.2 Implement and maintain
objectves of Finance
Policy		 2016/17 Ongoing
3.3 Ensure efectve cost
control, fnancial systems,
processes and scrutnies
are maintained. Embed
full cost recovery across all
Museum actvites.		 2016/21 Ongoing
3.4 Identfy grant funding
opportunites		 2016/21 Re-establish this as a priority. ALL
3.5 Prepare and submit
funding bids to enhance
the Museum’s ofer and
visitor experience		 2017/21 See 3.4
3.6 Ensure all grant and loan
conditons and terms are
met.		 2017/21 See 3.5
3.7 Establish a reserve
equivalent to six months
operatngcosts		 2019/21 Work with Treasurer to ensure
that this in place.
3.8 Develop fundraising plan 2017/19
2023/2024		 Lead Trustee and Volunteers to
work together to put this into
place.
3.9 Review all liabilites and
prioritse actons to reduce
impact		 2017/19 Ensure that the Treasurer and
Trustees review outgoings to
ensure that all expenditure is stll
valid.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 11 of 19

3.10 Develop merchandising
opportunites and
enhance retail ofer		 2016/21 Stocktake current items in shop
and work out plan for increasing
sales of current stock.
3.11 Review admission prices in
relaton to the market and
competton to ensure that
admissions become
maximised		 2016/21 Admission prices were kept stable
afer Covid-19 Lockdown. In
2023/4 MMT need to assess
entrance fees to other venues
and consider the need to change
theprice structure.
3.12 Develop venue hire and
increase events revenue
potental		 2017/21 To be developed
3.13 Identfy income generaton
opportunites for both
buildings		 2016/21 To be developed
3.14 Develop strategy for
increasingdonatons		 2016/17 To be developed
3.15 Implement a membership
scheme		 2019/21 To be developed. Consider
whether this could include fund
raisingactvites. See 3.8

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 12 of 19

ACTION PLAN.

4.0 Collectons and Building
Conservaton		 Previous
Plan
2016 to
2021		 Comment TO
ACTION
4.1 Apply to the Arts Council
for the Accreditaton
Scheme for Museums and
Galleries		 2016/17 The Museum will contnue to
work towards accreditaton. This
remains a priority.
4.2 Review, update and ensure
Accreditaton Compliance		 2017/21 See 4.1
4.3 Support the Local
Authority in implementng
their HLF funding for
archiving and creatng a
publicly accessible
collecton		 2016/17 This was a short-term scheme
funded by HLF. The MMT Archive
Team contnue to use the Modes
Sofware to archive the
collecton.
The responsibility for the cost of
the contnued use of this
sofware needs to be discussed
with the Local Authority.
4.4 Resolve collecton
ownership issues		 2017/19 Ensure any items are donated to
MMT rather than the Museum
are catalogued and archived..
4.5 Arrange to house
collecton in suitable
environment with
controlled conditons		 2017/19 Check environmental conditons
for the collectons in the light of
the problems caused by bad
weather.
4.6 Rehang collecton and
establish a means to
regularly update
exhibitons more easily		 2017/19 Ongoing.
4.7 Acquisiton and disposals
policyto be established		 2017/19 Check that this in place. See 4.4.
4.8 Further develop the role of
volunteers in supportng
archive and collectons
care management,
buildingon current work		 2016/19 Ongoing.
4.9 Develop and implement a
building conservaton and
maintenanceplan		 2017/21 The state of both buildings
remains a cause of concern.
4.10 Refurbish building fabric
and implement identfed
opportunites for
enhanced exhibiton
display, educatonal and
communityfacilites		 2019/21
2023		 The recepton area was
re=designed and rebuilt during
2018/2019. Further changes
would need to be discussed with
Thanet District Council and
fundingexplored.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 13 of 19

Disabled access and improved toilet facilities are two areas for review. See 4.9

ACTION PLAN.

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 14 of 19

5.0 Educaton and
Interpretaton		 Previous
Plan
2016 to
2021		 Comment TO
ACTION
5.1 Establish informal learning
package for all school
groups		 2017/19
April 2022
2023/2024		 This needs to be reviewed.
At present the Trust does not
have an Educaton Ofcer. The
Museums contnue to work with
educatonal and community
groups when and where possible.
5.2 Establish, review and
update record keeping
systems to ensure capture
of all relevant informaton
required by the Museum
to evaluate the formal
learning ofer and build the
domestc and internatonal
schools and university
market		 2017//19 See Item 5.1
5.3 Develop and test the
demand for informal
learning programmes for
heritage courses on a cost
beneft basis		 2017/19 See 5.1
5.4 Deliver a programme of
temporary exhibitons in
the museum and review
the functon and viability
of the gallery spaces		 2016/2021 From 2017 to 2023 there have
been several exhibitons including
the Batle of Margate 1387, The
Home Front in World War I and
Holy Trinity Church and David
Railton.
In 2019 the Museum hosted a
major exhibiton on Turner with
the help of Funding. This was
hard work and without enough
support this level of commitment
is difcult to maintain.
In 2022 Exhibiton was based on
Margate’s Royal Connectons.
In 2023 the Museum hosted an
exhibiton designed by Clifonville
Voices who the Museum had
worked with during the year.
Other events included hostng a
play based on the story of Sidney
Fox.
There have been two Pop-up
Exhibitons:The Batle of Margate

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 15 of 19

1387 and The Incorporaton of
the Town – 1857
5.5 Develop exhibitons plan
driven by the collecton,
sense of place and
audience development		 2017/19
April 2022		 Plans for 2023 have already been
discussed.
A major exhibiton on Storms and
Floods is planned.
A pop-up exhibiton is planned
focusing on The Winter Gardens
using posters and other material
in the Museum
There is now a programme of
Artefact of the Month. So far
these have included: The
Sunbeam donkeys, Flint, Coal and
The Margate Bellman.
Informaton sheets are available
for visitors and booklets for
sale/donaton ofered as well.
Other likely artefacts include:
Chairs from Winter Gardens, the
1821 Edmunds map
5.6 Develop outreach
programme for schools
and community groups		 2016/21 The Museum does ofer visits etc
to schools and universites.
However, the lack of dedicated
Educaton Ofcer means the
Museum is hindered in what it
can ofer.
New guidelines and risk
assessments need to be
reviewed..
See 5.1.
5.7 Create a dedicated
educaton suite within the
museum building		 2019/2021 This is a long-term plan.

ACTION PLAN.

6.0 Communicatons and
Marketng		 Previous
Plan		 Comment TO
ACTION

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 16 of 19

2016 to
2021
6.1 Raise the profle of the
museums buildings and
collecton		 2016/21 Signage within the Museum
needs to be updated using the
MMT branding images as a basis.
Consideraton needs to be given
to the needs of children and those
with visual problems. Outside
consultaton might be needed.
A dedicated programme for
advertsing in local magazines,
newspaper and social media
needs to be discussed and
implemented.
Partcipaton in Heritage Open
Days needs to be contnued.
6.2 Communicatons and
marketng of the current
programme targeted at key
visitor market to increase
visitor numbers		 2019/21 Key markets need to be reviewed
and a targeted programme put
into place.
See 6.1
6.3 Communicaton and
customer care training for
volunteers on an annual
basis		 2017/21 Ongoing.
6.4 Collect and use informaton
about visitors and their
experience to develop and
improve the visitor
experience.		 2016/21 This needs to be a focus for the
next few months to inform 6.1
and 6.2.
Volunteers to remind visitors that
a comment in the Visitors Book
would be good.
Use very simple exit
questonnaires to gain
informaton and identfy current
visitors.
6.5 Improve networking with
other local museums and
review potental joint
venture opportunites		 2017/21
2023/2024		 This needs to be revisited. With
no day-to-day organiser there
needs to be an identfed person
who can deal with this.
As of August 2023:
The Wheels of Time scheme
contnues to be ofered.
The Trust has registered with two
bodies designed to increase
volunteers numbers.
The Trust contnues to work
closely with the Tourist
informaton Centre(TIC).

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 17 of 19

The Trust was asked to join a
project being run by the TIC, East
Kent College and Margate Caves.
It is aimed at promotng numbers
of volunteers. The Trust has
partcipated in this project and
will contnue to do so.
6.6 Develop and implement a
Communicatons and
Marketngstrategy		 2017/19 This contnues to be a necessity.
6.7 Review of the brand and
museum name, marketng
to visitors and potental
visitors, external
relatonships		 2016/17 In 2022 – 2023 the Museum put a
new website and e-mail
connecton into place
6.8 Identfy and successfully
apply for awards that
demonstrate achievement
across visitor provision and
services		 2019/21 Ongoing.
6.9 Establish social media
strategy and improve
online presence		 2019/21
April 2022		 In 2022 – 2023 the Museum put a
new website and e-mail
connecton into place. Investgate
extending to improve other social
mediapresence.
6.10 Establish autonomous
website for communicatng
up to date visitor
informaton and current
and upcoming events and
exhibitons		 2016/17
August
2023		 See 6.9

Current Trustees (2023/2024) Robin Haddon - RH Adrian Hughes - AH Frederick Smith - RS Felicity Stafford - FS Amy Waterman - AW

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 18 of 19

Margate Museums Trust Annual Report 2023 to 2024 Page 19 of 19

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