Norfolk Fire Museum
Charity Number 1181921
Trustees’ Report April 2023 to March 2024
Purpose of Charity.
To advance education of the history of firefighting in the county of Norfolk through the establishment and maintenance of a museum and the preservation and restoration of firefighting equipment, artefacts, records and documents of historical or educational interest. The education and training of members of the public by promotion of a safer community thereby reducing loss of life, personal injury and damage to property or the environment.
Summary of main activities.
There are 5 main areas that the museum engage in to meet the purposes of the charity. Attendance at events and shows to take historical vehicles and equipment to display to the public along with activities to engage with visitors, especially children as a means to promoting safety with regards to fire, water safety and vehicle collisions. The “pop up” museum display in a shopping centre which displays uniform and equipment through the history of firefighting and providing fire and safety advice and literature.
The maintenance of website and Facebook pages where historic photographs and information is regularly posted which creates interest from current and retired firefighters and their families as well as the general public.
The use of our own workshop facilities to preserve, restore and maintain the vehicles and equipment in our care.
We are part of the local resilience forum and maintain a fully equipped salvage tender that is used to support the local community affected by natural emergencies especially flooding.
Statement
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Main achievements.
It has been a busy year for the museum. We continued to build on the events we attended and engage with visitors there. We managed to engage with over 5,000 children who took part in our car fire activity at the events that we attended over the summer.
The “pop up” museum in Gt Yarmouth went from strength to strength with another retired firefighter joining the team which meant we were able to open every week we hosted over 4,000 adults and 1,500 children.
The resilience work continued with the aftermath of Storm Babet which resulted in 2 appliances spending a weekend in Attleborough assisting residents whose homes had been flooded. We were involved in 6 premises, clearing them out, washing down walls and finally removing all the water to enable them to dry out quicker.
We made contact with a museum that was closing and arranged to transfer many of the donated artifacts to our museum, this will extend and enhance our displays in the longer term, there is going to be a lot of work, collecting, sorting and displaying these items next year.
It was a successful year for the museum and we ended the year in a lot stronger position to move forward and meet the objects of the charity in new ways in the coming years.
Financial position.
The museum ended the year in a better financial position than we expected at the start of the year. Our income from normal fund raising started to rise again but not yet back to pre pandemic levels. We are looking towards creating new funding streams that hopefully will enable us to build our reserves back to the level they were. The charity has a firm financial base and is looking towards the future.
Structure, Governance and Management.
The charity is an unincorporated association governed by a constitution. The charity is run by trustees which are elected by the membership at each AGM and stand for one year, they are eligible for re-election at each AGM.
We work closely with the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and have a serving officer as one of the trustees.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity Name | Norfolk Fire Museum |
|---|---|
| Other names | the charity does not use any other name |
| Registered charity number | 1181921 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o 21 Chapel Lane, Coltishall, |
| Norwich NR12 7DR |
Names of charity Trustees who manage the charity.
| 1. | Simon Mason | Chairman | Full year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | Colin Farrington | Treasurer | Full year |
| 3. | Kevin Kiddell | Curator | Full year |
We have no corporate trustees.
None of the trustees hold title to property belonging to the charity. We hold no funds on behalf of others.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
Colin Farrington Treasurer 13[th] December 2024
Kevin Kiddell Curator
| Norfolk Fire Museum Accounts 2022-23 |
Norfolk Fire Museum Accounts 2022-23 |
2023-24 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts opening Balance | 15189.43 | 9715.13 | |
| Income Banked | 29407.04 | 26339.80 | |
| 44596.04 | 36054.93 | ||
| Refunds | 4748.78 | 60.00 | |
| 49344.82 | 36114.93 | ||
| Expenditure | 39629.69 | 33516.28 | |
| Closing Balance | 9715.13 | 2598.65 | |
| Income | |||
| Sales | 2458.10 | 1795.00 | |
| Donations |
10817.08 |
13875.00 | |
| Tombola | 640.00 | ||
| Activities | 5510.40 | 6318.80 | |
| Adult Tombola | 4236.46 | 3721.00 | |
| Subs | 50.00 | ||
| Total Operating income | 23022.04 |
26339.80 | |
| Grants /refund | 6385.00 | 60.00 | |
| Total Income | 29407.04 |
26399.80 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Merchandise | 1444.05 | 1530.60 | |
| Fuel | 9157.93 |
6307.87 | |
| Parts | 2407.16 |
4350.00 | |
| Rent/fees/insurance | 16075.45 |
16402.28 | |
| Misc | 8370.83 |
2646.00 | |
| Shop costs | 6.50 | ||
| Adult Tombola | 1415.08 |
1054.64 | |
| Activities |
344.89 |
210.00 | |
| Expenses | 414.30 |
1008.00 | |
| Total |
39629.69 |
33516.28 | |
| Surplus for year |
(10222.65) |
(7116.48) |
I have inspected the books and vouchers and confirm that these accounts represent a true record.
Norfolk Fire Museum Accounts 2022-23 2023-24 Accounts opening Balan 15189.43 9715.13 Income Banked 29407.04 26339.80 44596.04 36054.9) Refunds 4748.78 49344.82 60.00 36114.93 Expenditure 39629.69 33516.28 Closing Balance 9715.13 2598.65 Income SaIes Donations Tombola Activities Adult Tombola Subs Total Operating income Grants Irefund Total Income 2458.10 10817.08 1795.00 13875.00 640.00 6318.80 3721.00 50.00 26339.80 60.00 26399.80 5510.40 4236.46 23022.04 6385.00 29407.04 Expenditure Merchandise Fuel Parts Rentlf¢¢sfinsurance Misc Shop costs Adult Tombola Activities Expenses l444.05 9157.93 2407.16 16075.45 8370.83 1530.60 6307.87 4350.00 16402.28 2646.00 6.50 I054.64 210.00 1008.00 1415.08 344.89 41430 TotaK 39629.69 3351628 Surylus for year (10222.65) (7116.48) I have inspected the books and vouchers and confirni that these accounts present a ue record.