Mountsorrel Museum and Heritage Trust
Report of Trustees 2024
Objectives and aims
Mountsorrel Museum and Heritage Trust ("Mountsorrel Heritage Group" or “MHG”) has referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing its aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees have considered how MHG's activities have and will continue to deliver the aims and objectives they have set. The objectives and aims of MHG are as follows:
“To advance the education of the public by the establishment and maintenance of a museum and educational facility for items of historical and archaeological interest, archives, photographs, flora and fauna and arts and crafts especially those relating to the village of Mountsorrel and the surrounding area”.
The trustees are satisfied that MHG's aim and objectives continue to be met; the provision of a museum facility, the continuing development of an archive of local materials to support local history studies have been promoted and maintained, as has work in the further development of the Navins Wildflower Meadow and general support of other wildlife related initiatives within the village.
The results of research have been disseminated widely through open access to the Museum and Archive, talks and publications. The use of the website and social media has led to a wider engagement locally and even internationally.
Risk management statement
The Group is a very small charity with gross income well below the statutory audit threshold (£1,000,000) but does recognise the encouragement by the Charities Commission to make a Risk Management Statement as a matter of good practice.
We have no staff, pay no remuneration, and do not require a suite of employment policies. Our investment policy is set out in our reserves policy, below. Rules concerning payments to trustees or connected persons, and rules concerning conflicts of interest, are set out in paragraphs six and seven of our Constitution, respectively.
We do not work with children or vulnerable adults; we are not providing social services or support to any identified group at risk, although we may come into contact with them. The Group has a suite of policies and a code of conduct for volunteers which are reviewed annually and together with a copy of our Constitution, are available for inspection at the Museum.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
1. Talks Series
The Group holds a series of Talks at Mountsorrel Memorial Centre with a minimal admission fee for both Members and members of the public to cover room hire and speaker costs. Charges for Members are discounted.
Talks series from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024:
9[th] January 2024 – Mountsorrel Hills.
13[th] February 2024 – Beatrix Potter.
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12[th] March 2024 – Disappearing Mountsorrel.
9[th] April 2024 – Bits and Bobs.
7[th] May 2024 – Stonywell Cottage
10[th] September – Roman Leicester
8[th] October – Vaccinations
5[th] November – History of St Peter’s Church
10[th] December – Members’ Night
2. Museum Exhibitions and Other Displays
Throughout the period under review the Museum has been the site of out “Blast from the Past” exhibition looking at all aspects of the history of quarrying within and around the village. This has been enabled by financial contributions by TARMAC, and a Charnwood Borough Council Ward Councillors Grant. The exhibition, some two years in production, consisted of artefacts, display panels and research papers. It was further enhanced by the long loan of artefact from the Leicestershire County Museum Service including for a short period, the “Mountsorrel Bucket”. That Exhibition ended in December 2024 at which point we temporarily closed the Museum whilst we prepared for our new exhibition approach. We plan to re-open in March 2025 with a mix of permanent and changing displays.
The Group has also supported commemorative events in village by the production of short-term single subject displays used in the village library and in the Mountsorrel Memorial Centre. These displays focussed on the roles of Mountsorrel Service personnel in the key battles of World War 2 that saw their 80[th] Anniversaries in 2024.
3. Publications
An illustrated Newsletter is published monthly and emailed to the Membership together with other interested parties. For those members who are not IT users a printed copy is provided.
A small pamphlet was produced to support the “Blast from the Past” Exhibition as was, with the support of Christ Church & St Peter’s School a quiz sheet aimed at primary school pupils.
4. Website and Social Media
The Group website is widely accessed and generates questions on a wide range of subjects including, understandably, many family history research queries. The site is the process of being restructured and this work, for which we are reliant upon internal resources, will take some time to complete.
We maintain a Facebook page which in addition to Group News, updates details of upcoming talks etc is used for “Fortnightly Photo” article. This has proved particularly popular both locally and with many followers who have Mountsorrel roots but are now spread across the globe. Followers and general readership of our postings vary in numbers very much depending on the subject matter with the average about 1000 but that in one case hit 2700. It is particularly pleasing to see these postings generate on-line discussions amongst members and the general public that add information not previously recorded and, in some instances, furnish photographic and other artefacts to add to the Collections and Archive.
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5. Membership
There were the usual small fluctuations in memberships over the year following new memberships, members leaving (resigned, deceased or simply departed the village) with 36 members at the start and 43 at the end.
6. Committee
The Trustees fill the roles of Officers of the Group and form, with a Co-opted Member the Management Committee. Details are set out below.
7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202
| 7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202 | 7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202 | 7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202 | 7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202 | 7. Financial position – Balance Sheet 01 01 2024 – 31 12 202 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountsorrel Museum and Heritage Trust Balance Sheet for the period January 1st2024 to December 31st 2024 |
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| INCOME | EXPENDITURE | |||
| Balance B/f | £2,490.24 | Room Hire | £397.00 | |
| Members Subs | £410.00 | Speakers Fees | £250.00 | |
| Meetings Income | £981.00 | Insurance | £304.50 | |
| Donations | £66.00 | Stationary | £41.04 | |
| Sales of books etc | £115.00 | Web Hosting and Maintenance |
£200.00 | |
| Quiz Evening Income | £674.00 | Quiz Evening Expenses | £669.00 | |
| Revival Income | £311.16 | Revival Expenses | £79.93 | |
| Sundry Expenses | £82.23 | |||
| Computer Updating | £635.99 | |||
| Castle Materials | 116.31 | |||
| Balance C/f | £2,271.40 | |||
| Total | £5,047.40 | Total | £5,047.40 | |
| LLOYDS BANK TREASURERS ACCOUNT |
£2,159.41 | |||
| CASH IN HAND | £111.99 | |||
| TOTAL | £2,271.40 | |||
| These accounts have been Independently Examined by Geoff Wainwright |
NB: A signed copy of the balance sheet is available for inspection at the AGM.
8. Reserves policy
The trustees have reviewed the need for a formal reserves policy for the charity but in the light of present known current or future likely financial requirements feel this is not currently necessary.
9. Future Plans
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The intention of the Trustees is to continue to deliver the aims and objectives of the Society through encouraging the active interest in all aspects of the heritage of Mountsorrel by:
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Further developing the Museum facility sited at the Library,
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Further developing the Village Archive, consisting of Photographic, textual and historic artefacts relative to the village.
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Carrying out Archaeological Test Pit Digs on an opportunity basis and making the results known both to Members and the general public,
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Maintaining Membership engagement through provision of Newsletters, encouraging their recording of village history, events and personalities and valuing their input
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Engaging with the public on village heritage matters using social media and our website,
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Providing single subject information displays on an opportunity basis,
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Continuing our well-established programme of talks,
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Maintaining the Navins Wildflower Meadow and enhancement work in the Peace Garden,
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Providing village related family history support to enquirers within our capacity,
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing document
The Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ("CIO") operating under a Constitution dated 5[th] September 2017.
Organisational structure
The Management Committee (the "Committee") comprises not less than seven and not more than nine persons and consist of the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Society and other committee members as appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
All members of the Committee are Trustees, three of whom retire on a rolling basis with effect from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting but are eligible for re-election at that meeting.
The Committee meets on a regular basis and is responsible for the overall policy of the charity, and matters relating to finance and the delivery of the charitable objects.
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered Charity number
1174559
Principal address
C/o Mountsorrel Library, Church House, The Green, Mountsorrel, LE12 7AF
Trustees and Management Committee
Chairman: John Doyle
Secretary: Keith Foster
Treasurer: Pat Neal
Trustee: Linda Tyman
Trustee: Mary Geary
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Trustee: Trish Stones
Trustee: John Hingley (Resigned 26 Sept 2024)
Trustee: Eric Makin
Trustee: Chris Lyon Trustee: Caig Boon (Elected 26[th] Sept 2024)
Co-opted Member: Leanne Boon
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