OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Blandford Forum Museum, Heritage & Arts Trust

Charity registration number: 1190608

Objectives and Activities

SORP
reference
Summary of the
purposes of the
charity as set out
in its governing
document		 Para 1.17 The aims of Blandford Museum are to record, conserve
and display all aspects of the prehistory and history of
Blandford and the surrounding region, and to bring the
records and displays to the attention of the public.
Recording is accomplished by maintaining archives and
library facilities and making these available to the public;
display of Blandford history is managed by means of
exhibitions mounted in the museum and through outreach
and educational projects within the community. The
museum holds a small art collection and art exhibitions of
locally relevant art is a part of our purpose and an
increasing part of our vision.
Summary of the
main activities in
relation to those
purposes for the
public benefit, in
particular, the
activities, projects
or services
identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17
and 1.19		 Activities relating to Specific Grants:
DORSET COUNCIL GRANT – Culture and Community
Project Fund R6:Blandford Heritage in 3D – to start a 3D
photographic and video group. This group works in
partnership with the Blandford Forum Town Council and the
Blandford Fashion Museum (Cavalcade of Costume).
£2,800
National Heritage Lottery Fund – Reaching Out With
Sound:This grant allowed us to introduce programming
for the visually impaired and blind visitors to the museum
through the use of a new technology called NaviLens. The
museum is the first to use this technology in the Heritage
sector. It further allowed us to create 11 videos and
establish a YouTube channel for the museum. These videos
show museum exhibitions and tell the story behind them.
They are available for anyone, but with subtitles they are
especially useful in care homes. £25,020
General Activities
Activities designed to maintain both museum objects
collection, archive collection, and photos and video
collections. Community activities include: lectures, family
events, fundraising events, research, education work with
primary age children, education work with high school,
college and university students, local sustainability events,

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

lectures and activities, garden activities, archaeological talks
and events. For a list of all events held in 2024:
https://blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk/events-
archive
Statement
confirming
whether the
trustees have had
regard to the
guidance issued
by the Charity
Commission on
public benefit		 Para 1.18 The charity's purposes are to record, conserve and display
all aspects of the prehistory and history of Blandford and
the surrounding region, and to bring the records and
displays to the attention of the public. During the year, our
museum maintained a growing collection, created
exhibitions and work in ways to engage with the public
about the history and prehistory of the local area. The
trustees confirm they have had due regard to the Charity
Commission's public benefit guidance when exercising their
duties.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Grant funding is secured by the
Director for museum building
improvements (such as new LED
lighting and new Solar Panels) and
for specific projects (3D
photography Group, NaviLens codes
for vision impaired visitors, museum
garden activities, research, and so
on). Funding is sourced for projects
that produce programming that will
increase visitor numbers and/or
provides access to groups who have
not typically used museums.
We also look for funding that will
facilitate community interaction and
involvement with the museum on
research projects, garden activities,
archaeology projects and more.
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 NA
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 Blandford Town Museum is
completely volunteer run. For 2024,
roughly 50 volunteers provided over
7000 hours of volunteer work.
Other

Achievements and Performance

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

SORP
reference
Summary of the
main
achievements of
the charity,
identifying the
difference the
charity’s work has
made to the
circumstances of
its beneficiaries
and any wider
benefits to society
as a whole.		 Para 1.20 The main purpose of the museum is to preserve the objects
in its collection, maintain and increase the collection
(archives, photos, objects) and make the materials available
to the public through activities, exhibitions and events. We
also consider local environmental issues as part of our
remit. We maintain a garden as well. All activities are
designed to engage with the public and raise funds for the
museum’s work.
For a complete list of museum activities and events for
2024:
https://blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk/events-
archive
All activities and events are aimed at several things:
•
Engaging with visitors about the heritage of the
Blandford Area
•
Maintaining the Collections
•
Bringing in Volunteers
•
Maintaining the Museum as a community resource
Short list of some activities through 2024:
January: Behind-the-scenes volunteers worked throughout
the month. The Archaeology Group and Garden Group
continued to meet and hold talks
February:Talks were held by the various groups under the
museum umbrella: Archaeology/Garden/Sustainability
March:Museum and group talks were held in addition to
Coffee Mornings.
April:Talks continued as well as Museum Garden activities.
Guided Town Centre Heritage and Perimeter Walks
continued. Museum held children’s Easter events
May:As in April, with the addition of our Friday suppers in
the garden, which run from May through September.
June:Participation in in Blandford Hidden Gardens with
partner BET.
July:In addition to continuing the above activities, The
Sustainability Group held the Green Fair at the Arches in
collaboration with BET. We held a combined Family
Archaeology and History Day with the Portable Antiquities
Team.
August:Coffee Morning was held, Civic Group held 3
walks, Clean up Blandford Campaign was held, and the Last
Friday in the Garden was held.
September:Continued group events as above.
October: Alfred Stevens Exhibition was highlighted in
conjunction with other museums and Visit Dorset, with a
special day of activities highlighting his work.
November:In November we held a meeting for all
interested parties about a possible Museum Expansion
project to take place on the gravel area leased to the
museum by William Williams Trust. It was well attended
and lots of new ideas came out of it. Archaeology Group
Lecture: We also held our 2ndAnnual “Having a Green
Christmas.”
December: We participated in the Blandford Yuletide
Festival: Museum open, festive refreshments

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

During all these months, projects on the River Stour/Medieval Tapestry/1831 Riots Book/ and other projects have continued behind the scenes. We held two training sessions with staff in the museums and 5 Volunteers attended 7 special training workshops Meetings were also held with North Dorset Museum Association, South West Museums Development and Dorset Museums Association. Trustee and other meetings were carried out by ZOOM.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements
against
objectives set		 Para
1.41		 Blandford Forum Museum, Heritage and Arts Trust has been
working toward 5 strategic Aims, which are outlined in our
accreditation Documents and Forward Plan.
Strategic Aim #1: Financial Stability:Ensure we are a financially
viable organisation, making effective use of our resources and income.
In 2024, the Trust continued to work against a budget approved by the
Trustees, which was based on the previous year (2023). The Treasurer
presents the accounts against that budget at each Trustee meeting so
that they can monitor expenditure. We have aFinancial Policyin
place which dictates where our accounts are held, what is kept in
reserve, and who has access to the funds and for what purposes.
Strategic Aim #2: Increase space:Create the space and facilities
to deliver the museum’s vision and mission.In 2024, we continued to
look for spaces to purchase, rent or develop as the need for more
storage and exhibition room is severe. By the end of 2025, the museum
had received permission to use a gravel area next to the museum, with
the aim of developing a plan to build a permanent structure on the site.
We are currently engaged in that process (2024). In the interim, we
have built a garage-type shed on the property to hold items that were
taking up space in the museum, but are not subject to damage as the
temperature and humidity change (2025).
Strategic Aim #3: Growing our Audiences:Grow the museum’s
audience from within and outside the town.As our volunteer base has
increased, our ability to carry out more events and bring more visitors
to the museum has increased. This link takes you to our complete
museum calendar of events:
https://blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk/events-archive
Our museum visitor numbers continue to increase over the last four
years. In 2024 we were only able to open 4 days a week, compared to
pre-covid, when we were open 6 days a week. Even considering that,
we are exceeding those pre-pandemic numbers by about 500. The chart
below shows event attendance, museum visitors, and the total for each
6thmonth period. The yearly totals are also shown for comparison.

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

----- Start of picture text -----
Jan to July to Jan to July to Jan to July to
June Dec June Dec June Dec
2022 2022 2023 2023 2024 2024
events 1237 895 1374 1154 1056 1438
visitors to 1001 1803 1562 2522 1956 2571
museum
Total for 2238 2698 2936 3676 3012 4009
events +
museum
visitors
Yearly 4936 6612 7021
Total
Strategic Aim #4: Growing our Volunteer Base Develop a
multigenerational volunteer base to deliver all aspects of the museum’s
operation. The museum is completely volunteer run. In 2023, our staff
numbers were around 30. In 2024, this increased to about 50.
Volunteer staff numbers fluctuate due to illness and family issues, so
these numbers are an average.
Our volunteers come to us through two main paths: word of mouth
from other volunteers and visitors who decide they would like to join. In
2023 we held online Zoom events, which brought in about 5 volunteers.
These volunteers were highly skilled and this has been a huge
advantage to us in out operation in 2024 with improved website and
social media and with increased events. (Our numbers for 2025 are
increasing dramatically as a consequence.). Our website has
exceptionally good Accessibility: https://blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk
Strategic Aim #5: Improve exhibition and storage spaces To
improve our exhibition and storage spaces and cases so that that the
collection is displayed in a manner that maximizes security and
environment (temperature and humidity). We have maintained weekly
records for the museum environment and out controls are very good for
the collection and exhibitions. In 2024, two volunteers came forward to
work on Pest Control.
We now have 2 volunteer staff who are working on improving museum
security (2024). (That has increased to 3 in 2025).
----- End of picture text -----

We now have 2 volunteer staff who are working on improving museum security (2024). (That has increased to 3 in 2025). Performance of In 2024 we set a budget of £2500 to be raised from events and talks fundraising and we succeeded in raising £3188 activities Para 1.41 against objectives set Investment performance Para against 1.41 objectives Other

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 The finances in 2024 reflected another
successful year at the museum. We had a
deficit of over £5500 but this is explained
by spending nearly £8000 more of the
grant money for the 3D Photography and
Reaching Out with Sound projects than we
received in the first instalments. The total
of funds held at the end of 2024 was
£108,631 of which £15,729 were restricted
funds held for Museum Groups.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Approximately £72,000 was earmarked for
future museum development
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47 We receive 2 main organisational grants:
Dorset Council - £10K per year.
Blandford Forum Town Council - £2.5K per
year
All other funding comes in through:
Memberships
Donations
Shop Sales
Fundraising Events
Bequests
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted		 Para 1.46
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 The Museum Risks are as follows:
•
Financial insolvency. We keep a
check on finances at each Trustee
meeting
•
Disaster: Fire, Flood. We maintain
insurance and have a plan of
evacuation for objects. We also
hold a policy with Harwells for
specialist disaster recovery support

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

for fire and flood damage to
collections.
•
Loss of Volunteers
•
Loss of Trustees
•
Loss of skilled Museum Staff
•
Injury to staff: £10 million ELI
•
Injury to visitors: £5 million PLI
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing
document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 CIO
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 We have no formal policy on
Trustee induction. Training
opportunities are taken advantage
of whenever possible when these
are offered through relevant
museum associations and bodies,
such as the Association of
Independent Museums, Museum
Development South West, and
Dorset Museums Association.
Trustees review their responsibilities
through online support on the
website of the Association of
Independent Museums, found at
https://aim-museums.co.uk/being-
an-effective-trustee

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and
procedures
adopted for the
induction and
training of
trustees		 Para
1.51		 Blandford Museum makes use of the workshops/training/best
practice/policy advice of appropriate museum bodies, such as AIM, Arts
Council, and Dorset Museum Advisory Panel.
We also consult regularly with the Museums Advisor for BCP & Dorset
Councils.
The charity’s
organisational		 Para
1.51		 The Board of Trustees(or governing body) is comprised of 15
Trustees (Chairman, Deputy Chair, Treasurer, and 12 other
Trustees) that provide governance by oversight, agreement on
policies, and setting overall budgets. TheMuseum Directoris
responsible for daily operations, proposing overall missions and

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

structure and
any wider
network with
which the
charity works		 goals, staff management, and budget handling. This structure
ensures accountability and effective management by assigning
ultimate responsibility to the board and delegating day-to-day tasks
to the director.
2024 Organisational Structure:
Relationship
with any related
parties		 Para
1.51		 We partner with other charities in Blandford Forum on
projects and events only. There are no shared funds or
responsibilities.
These include:
Blandford Environmental Trust
The Blandford Fashion Museum (Cavalcade of Costume)
Blandford Forum Town Council
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name BlandfordForum Museum,Heritage andArtsTrust
Other name the charity uses BlandfordTown Museum
Registered charity number 1190608
Charity’s principal address Blandford Forum Museum, Heritage and Arts Trust
The Market Place
Bere’s Yard
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 7HQ

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
JoyReynolds
Melanie Wyles DeputyChair
Heather Packwood Treasurer
Teresa Cooper
Linda Johnson
Rex Badgley GroupRep
Sheila Nicola
Brown		 Group Rep
Anne Quinney Upto 14/08/25
CallyTurnbull GroupRep 21/06/24 to date
CindyWood 21/06/24 to date
Shaun Christopher Stewards Rep 19/09/24 to date
Mark Aldis 19/09/24 to date
Cinnamon Trundle 19/09/24 to date
Wilmar Voitus van
Hamme		 Chair 31/10/24 to date
Julie Dunk 30/05/25 to date
Gina Hartwell Secretary 03/07/25 to date

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of
adviser
Name		 Type of
adviser
Name		 Address
Museums
Advisor for
BCP &
Dorset
Councils		 Vicky Dewit Dorset History Centre
07876 790641
vicky.dewit@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Dr Sylvia Hixson Andrews

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

/Users/heatherpackwood/Desktop/TAR-DOC 29092025.docx

Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustees Slgnaturels) Full naTh(s) Posftlon (eg Secretsry. Chalr, alc) o9/1012•2r IUsers/heatherpackwood/DesktopnAR-DOC 29092025.docx

The Blandford Forum Museum, Heritage and Arts Trust The Blandford Forum Museum, Heritage and Arts Trust 1190608
Receipts andpayments accounts CC16a
For the period
from		 01/01/2024
To		 31/12/2024
Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Restricted funds
to the nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £		 Last year
to the nearest £

Grants: Blandford Town Council SLA		 2,500 - - 2,500 2,250
Grants: Bristol Council SWMD Green Grant - - - - 2,500
Grants: Dorset CountyCouncil Organisational 10,000 - - 10,000 5,000
Grants: Blandford Environmental Trust - - - - 450
Grants: Freelance OpportunityMyCareer - - - - 2,625
Grants: Dorset Council 3D Project - 1,400 - 1,400 -
Grants: NHLF ReachingOut With Sound - 12,510 - 12,510 -
MembershipSubscriptions 2,588 - - 2,588 2,369
Donations / Bequests 10,405 - - 10,405 4,719
Events / Talks 3,188 - - 3,188 2,572
Hidden Gardens 265 - - 265 272
SundryIncome - - - - 68
Education 40 - - 40 130
Museum Publications 796 - - 796 -
ShopSales 3,353 - - 3,353 2,057
Interest 2,770 - - 2,770 1,089
Gift Aid 475 - - 475 551
Railway 292 - - 292 356
ArchaeologyGroup - 574 - 574 478
Victorian Garden Group - 1,394 - 1,394 1,400
Civic Group - 658 - 658 167
SustainabilityForum 50 - - 50 119
Museum Extension 2,000 - - 2,000 -
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 38,722 16,536 - 55,257 29,172
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
-
Sub total - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
29,172

Grants: Freelance OpportunityMyCareer		 - 1,750 - 1,750 875
Grants: Dorset Council 3D Project - 2,194 - 2,194 -
Grants: NHLF ReachingOut With Sound - 19,685 - 19,685 -
Utilities,Council Tax & Insurance 9,764 - - 9,764 7,351
Buildings & Repairs 11,290 - - 11,290 1,824
Office Expenses 2,152 - - 2,152 3,544
Honorarium 1,261 - - 1,261 2,489
External Subscriptions 156 - - 156 115
Events/Talks 974 - - 974 1,437
SundryExpenditure 162 - - 162 35
Training 109 - - 109 -
Publicity/ Advertising 1,486 - - 1,486 1,539
Rent 1,500 - - 1,500 -
Curatorial 1,030 - - 1,030 1,017
Education - - - - -
Museum Publications 1,126 - - 1,126 -
ShopSupplies 2,801 - - 2,801 992
Financial Costs - Square & Auditors 613 - - 613 580
Railway 178 - - 178 -
ArchaeologyGroup 292 450 - 742 218
Victorian Garden Group - 981 - 981 1,836
Civic Group - - - - -
SustainabilityForum 376 - - 376 37
Museum Extension 499 - - 499 -
**Sub total ** 35,769 25,060 - 60,830 23,889

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

09/03/2025

1

A4 Asset and Inv•Btment purchase 15ee table) Sub total Totalpayments 35,769 25.060 23.889 Not of r•¢elMrfpaym•nts) AS Trnnsforn b•lw••n funds A6 Cash fund$ last y•ar end Ca$h fvnds this yearernl 2.953 8.$2$ S.S72 5,283 97.268 16.935 114.203 108,920 92.902 15,729 108,631 114,203 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrèstricted lunds b)n•Ar•At£ Restricted fund5 Endowment fund8 lo £ 1•gOn•S B1 C•$h funds Trthsmr& Wc 1271 13 1A157 B•ih 17,1 Clly Lld 71192 P•iiy 12fy 221 rA6h Tot•l¢ash funds 92,902 15.729 Unrn8trfct•d funds R•8trfet•d fund• Eltrdowrngnt lunds to nMr•At £ B2 ¢knr mon•tsry 81••ts ¢>rr•rt walu• t•1 B3 Inv•stm•nt assets tl( 84 A$s•ts rttslrnd for th• charSty'8 own u88 iknrnslncted 4.31$ Il•¥llty r•lat•s B5 Uabilities Slgned by onè or Iwstees on beh8Jr of all lh8 trustèes Data of 8pprov81 .livS L.14& etrTrtER H . A . PaLku-tt4 ts1 10+/2r CCXX R2 aLwunt5 (SSI 0910312025

Notes to the Accounts

1 The Group Balances at 31/12/24 were:

Lloyds Lloyds Petty Cash /
Group a/c Treasurers a/c Cash in Hand Total
Victorian Garden £ 3,283.76
 £ 13.25
 £ 84.06
 £ 3,381.07
Archaeology Group £ 2,868.05
 £ -
 £ 174.60
 £ 3,042.65
Civic Group £ 9,305.49
 £ -
 £ -
 £ 9,305.49
Totals £ 15,457.30
 £ 13.25
 £ 258.66
 £ 15,729.21

Dorset Council 3D Project £ 794.18 NHLF Reaching Out With Sound £ 7,174.93 Totals £ 7,969.11

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages		 THE BLANDFORD FORUM MUSEUM, HERITAGE AND ARTS TRUST THE BLANDFORD FORUM MUSEUM, HERITAGE AND ARTS TRUST THE BLANDFORD FORUM MUSEUM, HERITAGE AND ARTS TRUST
31stDecember 2024 Charity no
(if any)		 1190608
1 & 2
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024 .

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: K Dalton Date: 7[th] May 2025

Name: Karen Dalton for Artema Accountants

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Brooke House, Oakley Hill Wimborne, Dorset

Oct 2018

1

IER

BH21 1RJ

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material 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 .

Oct 2018

2

IER