The Museum of Dartmoor Life
Trustees, Annual Report 2025
Aim and Purpose
The aim of the charity is to provide and maintain the Museum of Dartmoor Life. The museum exists
to provide opportunities for visitors, volunteers and members of the local community to learn about
and enjoy the cultural and natural heritage of Dartmoor and Okehampton.
Objectives and Activities
The trustees, objectives are to collect, conserve and interpret artefacts and stories relating to
Dartmoor, its history and people, and to engage with visitors and the local community to inspire
diverse audiences and future generations to appreciate and protect the Dartmoor and its heritage.
The museum maintains the existing collection and conserves artefacts and records, presenting
them to the public in an absorbing and informative way. The museum co-curates an annual
exhibition and aspires to be a vibrant ￿ntre of lifelong learning with an exciting and diverse
programme of workshops and events for the local community and visitors alike. It is a specific
objective that the museum is for the public benefit, whether this is part of life long learning or
maintaining and developing the collection for visitors and the local community.
Achievements. Performance and Outlook
The museum normally opens from March to October and the 2024 season proved productive with
a steady stream of visitors. Our 'Magic and Myth, exhibition proved most popular and visitors also
attended talks from guest speakers and organised themed walks on Dartmoor to compliment the
exhibition. This remarkable exhibition encouraged many visitors who had not previously visited the
museum. Our theme for 2025 is 'A Shroud for Mother Nature- Is Dartmoor Dying?, which The
Royal Society have awarded a grant. The museum has a growing reputation for the qualty of its
annual exhibition.
We welcomed more than 7,500 Msitors, which included overseas visitors, local schools and
groups. The museum continues to undertake the role of PFoviding tourist information for the North
Dartmoor area.
Routine rna1ntenan￿ and some essential improvements to the fabrtc of the building have been
achieved, although there is continued deterioration to the fabric of the building's infrastructure
which was not addressed in the 2004 refurbishment. A costed condition survey has been
undertaken and listed works required at £524,000. These works will form part of the museum's bid
to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Without substantial investment and improvement in the
museum's infrastructure, this important herttage, community hub and visitor attraction may be lost
to future generations. The museum has a policy of sustainability and a longer term environmental
control programme, if externally funded, it will be put in place over the next five years to maintain
the integrity of the museum and collection.
The trustees have set out their five year plan and continue to tnonitor and develop the strategic
vision that will require, potentially" audien￿ development, new digital interpretation and
development of the premises. The project will need engagement with grant giving bodies, as well
as a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. New trustees with specific skills have been
recruited specifically to help develop the museum's future. Trustees have continued to ensure
good governan￿ is in place and trustees, staff and volunteers have re￿iVed external training
(electronically) to assist with our objectives.

The museum was reaccredited with the Arts Council in 2017 and will continue with accreditation
when the scheme is reintroduced by the Arts Council in 2025.
Financial Review
In this accounting period the trustees continued their policy of financial caution, especially with the
uncertainty of income streams and continually increasing Lrtility and Maintenan￿ costs. However,
the charity continued its trend of producing a small surplus over operating income and expenditure.
Capital assets at the end of the accounting period are £315,000 although these assets cannot be
used without undermining the work of the charity. Surplus funds have been set aside to invest in
development and infrastructure funding, together wtth any matched funding requirements.
There remain a number of financial risks to the charty, not least any loss of rental or grant income.
Therefore, the priority is to increase visitor numbers and shop revenue to offset any potential loss
of revenue in other areas. The trustees will continue to exercise prudence in the next financial
period and seek grants where possible.
The trustees are particularly grateful for the continued support of Okehampton Town
Council without whose financial assistan￿ the museum and charty would have ceased to be a
going con￿rn.
Reserves
11 is the charity's policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds, which equates to at least three
months expenses and an amount to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time,
equivalent to £25,000. The balance of £72.077 held in unrestricted funds, meets this target. The
trustees will continue with measures to ensure that cash reserves are maintained and available to
meet unforeseen eventualities.
Volunteers
Our volunteers continue to be the life blood of the organisation and the museum would not survive
without the dedicated service provided by our volunteers. The trustees would like to take this
opportunity to formally thank all volunteers who work tremendously hard in ensuring that the
museum continues to tulfil its purpose. Without our volunteers, valuable contribLrtion, the museum
would be unable to meet its objectives. Volunteers undertake a variety of vital roles. These ensure
that the maintenance, collection care and documentation of the museurn's core activities are
maintained.
In addition. in 2024 the front of house volunteers continued to provide the valued tourist
information service that has received many plaudits. The museum continues to seek volunteers,
especially front of house information advisers, who have an interest in supporting the community
through the museum and its activities.
It is the aspiration of the trustees that all volunteers should enjoy a rneaningful experience when
associated with the museum and every effort is made to ensure their experien￿ is as fulfilling and
structured as possible.

Structure, Govemance and Management
The method of appointment of trustees and the charty's officers is set out in the charity's
governing document. The trustees are responsible for the running of the museum and meet at
least six times a year. This can be virtually or in person. Administrative matters are overseen by the
trustees, off icers which consist of the chair, secretary and treasurer. Routine operational matters
are delegated to the manager who, with lead volunteers, has day to day operational
responsibilities. The trustees will continue to seek new trustees with appropriate skills to enhan
the work of the charity.
Administrative Inlormation
The trustees during the year and up to the date of this report are:
Deborah Pritchard
Karen Munn
Jonathan Gilpin
Jan Goffey
Jane Marchand
Dr Jenna Spellane
Joanna Rowse
John Palmer
Laura Bird
Philip Hutt
Richard Jennings
Dr Mary Seddon
Antonio Rinaldi
Appointed May 24 - Chair
Appointed Feb 25 - Secretary
Appointed Feb 25 - Treasurer
Resigned Mar 25
Resigned Oct 24
Resigned Feb 25
Resigned Mar 25
Approved by the trustees of The Museum of Dartmoor Lrfe o
their behalf by:
Trustee
Trustee
Date

The Museum of Dartmoor Life
Receipt and Payment Accounts
Charity No
1173111
For the period
To
1 Apr 2024
31 Mar 2￿25
Section A Receipts and payments
fvnds
funds
Total funds
Last year
A1 Receipts
Front of Hotssa Saes
11518
Donations
Grants
￿efUnd￿0ther
ank Interest
475
75
757
5,126
217
757
Stsb total(Gross income forAR)
4475
A2 Asset and investment sak
Isee lablel.
Sub total
54.317
3.475
57,792
44.&94
A3 Payments
Staff Costs
Stock
Event Costs
Utilities
Insurance
Routine Mainl￿anCe
R8
aits and other Pro
CotnmunicatN￿s
Adtnini%tration
Ca
ital Ex enditure
VolurtteerTravel and SUb￿sten￿e
ProfessionJ and Man
m&rt Fees
M2￿ell
DevelD
rnent
Collectlon 8nd Other Costs
17
7216
17012
4.995
3,(*1
1342
1057
C(>sts
1.182
1.051
1.018
1.169
100
1V2
Sub total
51.
5&(fi5
441rJ
A4 Assat and investment
purchases (see table)
Sub total
Totalpayments
51,630
43.173
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash fund5 this year end
2727
1,721
72,037
74077
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Categories
Details
funds
funds
to nearest £
B1 Cash funds
Uoyds Bank 3(lJJ&23 28255168
Lloyds Bank Deposit 18S15851LS
Uoyds Bank InstantAccess34918368
rotal cash funds
71037
Unrestricted Re5trfcted funds Endowment
Ivnds
funds
Stook
Costlot4irK
C¢wkEntvalue
loptional)
B3 Investrnent assets
CurrÈntvalua
loptionao
B4 Assets retained for the
charity's own use
Fixtu￿. Fitt￿￿ Equ￿￿11
15.(¥JO
to wh
Amount due
When duè
lopti
B5 Liabilities
sign￿ by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the Irustees
Signature
Print Name
Date of approval
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trust￿ of The Museum of Dartmoor Life
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages
4 and 5 above.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner:
The charitys trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43
(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act), to follow the prO￿dureS laid
down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43
(7)(b) of the Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examIne￿S report:
My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. 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 consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking
explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures
undertaken do nol provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and
consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view
and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the
requirements-.
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act," and to
prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with
the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act. have not been met" or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A Fisher
2 Church Meadows
Okehampton
Devon
EX20 1 LP
April 2025