KNARESBOROUGH
TOWN MUSEUM
Knaresborough Museum
Association
Charity No:1194614
Trustees, Annual Report
For the year ending 31 May 2023
Chair. Kathy Allday
Knaresborough Museum Association, 8 York Place, KnarestM)rwh, HG5 OAI
Email..
info
knaresborou
hlownmuseum.or
Website..
www.knaresborou
htownmuseum.or

1. Introduction
Knaresborough Museum Assooation (KMA) is a charttable incorporated
organisation (CIO). It consists of a Board of six Trustees and a group of
volunteers.
KMA was set up to plan and deliver the Knaresborough Town Museum
project, and thereafter to manage the day-ttrday operation of the museum and
continued development as a ￿￿tage asset.
Knaresborough Towm Museum is a heritage projeci that seeks to connect and
engage with the wide raroe of peopk who live in the town and who visit the
town each year. KMA feels strongly that enabling people of all age groups
and interests to understand and apweciate the diverse and rich history of the
town will generate positive outcomes and promote a feeling of wellbeing. The
educational value of the Town Museum displays and narratives will enthuse
and inspire visitors and preserve our heritage for fijture generations.
1.4 This Annual Report documents the progress KMA has made this year, the
second full year after KMA became a CIO. The objectives and actiVFiies
undertaken which support KMA'S mission statement are listed below and
indude KMA'S annual accounts.
2. KMA'S Mlsslon stat￿nent
o establish and run an Independent town museum in Knaresborough
for the benefit of the local communlty to advance public knowledge,
appreciation and enjoyment of the rich history of Knaresborough and its
surrounding area. We will achieve this by collecting, conserving,
displaying, and interpreting a range of historical material which
showcases social and industrial hlstory. archaeology and geology* and
providès an educational resource for local schools."
3. KMA'S Ob
ectlves
The principal obJ"ectives are as follows:
To build up, develop and support the KMA volunteers, bringing together
people from the IoGal communty who have a range of interests, knowledge
and sknlls, which will support KMA'S work. To engage with local people
through communty events, outreath work and social media.
To put in place robust govemance prO￿sSes, prO￿dureS and policies to
support the development of the museum. To forge long tenn alliances with
stske holdefs to ensure the long-tem sustainability of the museum.
To put in place a fundraising strategy to raise the money KMA require for
setting up and estsblishiTrJ the museum; and to manage KMAS finances in
a prudent aThl sustainable manner.
To either purchase or secure the tenancy of suitable premises in
Knaresborough for the Town Museum, negotiating acceptable tems for
renting the property from the landlord. orfvndraising the capital required for
purchasing: to plan the refurtmshment and modemisation required to mak8
the building accessible to the public,. and to plan how the stories of

Knaresborough will be told through a series of specially design8d
interconneding exhibitions.
4. KMA'S Ob'ectlves: Achievemènts and PerfornHnce
This Section is a ￿SUMe of the activit￿ undertaken by KMA in support of each
objective in order to show vthat KMA has achieved in year.
4.18uildin
and Develo
in
KPAA V lunteers
4.1.1 Bullding tho KMA Voluntser Base
KMA believes our volunteers are our greatest asset. KMA seeks to
enhance social interaction and volunteering opportunities for the local
communty. The number of voluntéers has steadily increased month on
month and currently stands at over fifty people. ranging in age be￿een
16 and 93. KMA has succeeded in bringing together a cohesÉve and
h￿hlY motrvated team. Recruitment is done through holding a programme
of Y￿11 publicssed events, social média, and by word of mouth.
4.1.2 Tralning KMA Volunteern
Training sessions have be8n held on safeguarding, health and safety and
first aid. Volunteers also attended a presentation about future plans for
the museum. They re￿1ve ongoing support from the trustees and have
regular meetings with Chair and the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
4.1.3 Res8arch Projects
KMA volunteers have been actively engaged in Carrying out research
towards the planned exhibition narratives for the Town Museum. Current
research topics indude the development of the linen industry in
Knaresborough. health. poverty and disease. the archaeology of
Plompton as well as the creation of a signfficant oral history archive
created from Interviev￿n9 local people ab)ut lrfe in Knaresborough in the
1930s. 40s and Sos.
4.1.4 Holding Events to Engage with the Local C¢)mmunity and to Broadon
and Increase the Future Audience Ba
KMA held tsvo Popup events to encourage community engagement and
widen support for the museum projecL
Festival 31d_ P June 2022
Commun
Histo
KMA planned the public everrt to coincide with the Queen's Platinum
Jubitee celebrations. It held over the long weekend at Knaresborough
House. Illustrated text panels gave histoTi(al infomiation on each of the
themed narratives and a richly diverse selection of objects were on
display, induding many acquired on temporary loan for the event.
Together they showcased l<naresborough from prehistory to the Romans,
the medieval period and into the 2￿ century. Exhibits included prehistoric
animal remains and ti)ols used by the first hunter gatherers living around
Knaresborough, Roman and medieval artefacts found locally, and objects
that shed light on l(naresborough's industrial and military past.

KMA arranged for Gommunity history groups to be represerrted and have
stalls at the event. There was also a separate OLrtdoor event in the
grounds of Knaresborough House on one of the days. The Community
History Festival attracted a lot of interest, with over 1,500 visitors. The
event was supported by a grarrt from NYC'S Local Communities Fund.
and Leisure Centre 3rd 4 and 10
Christmas Chari
December 2022
Friendshi
KMA volunteers used the stall to tell visitors about KMA'S heritage
actNlties and to sell KMA merchandise. The stall raised £850, with a
contribution from the income given to the Friendship and Leisure Centre.
stall at the Knaresboro
h Commun
Festival 22TrJ A ri12023
This was an opportunty to nehvork and raise KMA'S Profi￿ in a
communty family friendly setting in the grounds of a local school. KMA
mounted a popwp display and carried out fvndraising. The event was well
attended.
Exhibition.. The SecorKI Worfd War and its Im
March- 30 Se
tember 2023
act on Knaresborou
13th
This exhibition was planned as the first of KMA'S rolling programme of
displays open to the public for the small gallery Spa￿ at 8 YO￿ Place.
The narratives for the exhibitton were dra￿Tr from KMA'S research and
included first-hand accourrts from oral history interviews b%ryth local
residents. These provtde a unique and fas¢inating insight into local
people's lives during and after the war. Nine illustrated text boards Y￿re
pr(KlU￿￿ and a selection of historical ot4.ects a¢quired on temporary loan
to support the displays. KMA gratefully acknowledg8S the support of The
Yorkshire Fanning Museum, The Worfd War Two Experience, The Claro
Archaeology Group, The Harrison Collection and The Wood's Collection.
Archaeological artefacts discovered at the former Scriven Prison8r of War
Camp were also displayed.
KMA also led a series of wor2 themed walks around Knaresborough to
¢oincide with the eknibition.
KMA is grateful to the many ViSTlors to the exhibition who have made
donations.
Communty Archaeology Festival- October 2023
Planning began at the start of 2023 for KMA'S next communty festival
event, which vrill ￿ held over October half te￿. It will follow the
chronology of l<naresborough's archaeology from prehistortc times to the
Second World War. To complement and illustrate the exhibition
narratives. KMA is arranging to acquire on loan a range of historic21
objects. A mtjdel of Gates Hill Camp and a Plague mask are being
specially commissioned, and a series of paintings by local artist and
palaeontologist James McKay will be displayed vthich illustrate the early
history of Knaresborough G¢)rge.
KMA reorved a £10,000 grant from the Lottery Heritage Fund towards
the Knaresborough Communty Archaeology Project. This is funding

survey work in Bithham Woods and a geophysical sutvey of part of the
fomer Trinitarian Priory precinct on Abbey Road. The results of these
surveys wll also be displayed at the Communty Archaeology FestNal.
For KMA these community events have been well attended and have
proved a sueKessfvl steppingstone to engaging a WKler and rn0￿ dNerse
audience. KMA maintsins a reguEar preseno on social media to engage
with supporters.
4.1.5 Collaboration ￿th Local Schools. Colleges and Community Groups
KMA places great Importan￿ on this collaborative work. Presentations
and artefact handling sessions were held with one school and six
communty groups and societies. KMA'S planned collaboration with King
James's School in Knaresborough was thwarted by Covid and KMA
hopes to reschedule it for the coming academic year. KMA has recruited
several college students who have become volunteers. some on work
experien￿ and some working on researcth projects.
Discussions have taken place with ORB. a local mental hea￿h ¢harity,
and The Glft People, a social enterprise supporting adutts with leamin9
disabiltties. KMA plans to hold wotkshops with ORB'S service users in
order to erb3age them in creatNe outlets inspired by the stories and
artefacts to be displayed in the museum.
Furiher outreach work is also teing undertaken ￿ryth a number of groups
Supporting people wth a variety of disabilrties. KMA aims to obtain views
and fully engage participants in the development of the Ac￿sS Strategy
forthe museum.
4.2 Gov
rnance Procesw Procedures and Polici•s
4.2.1 Governancè and Pollcy Development
Expertise within the team of KMA Volurrteers, together with exlemal
professional advice received from the museum sector. has enablèd KMA
to make signfficant Fngress. Policies developed to date or currently in
progress for setting up running museum indude: GDPR,
Safeguarding. Health and Safety, Equalty and Diversity. Access,
Acquisition, Volunteer. Complaints and Whistleblowing. Finance and
Digital Strategy. KMA'S Volunteer Handbook is being developed.
4.2.2 Commissionlng of Feasibillty Study
KMA has submitted a grant application to the Shared Prosperity Fund to
pay for a consuttant to undertake a feasibilty study. The study will look at
the viability and sustainabilrty of the Town Museum ￿0jeCt and where the
museum woukl be best sited in Knarest¥yough.
The feasibilty study is part of a CoC￿dInated collaboratNe programme by
partnership organisations, under the umlxella of the Knaresborough Voice
intliative, to develop a vision for Knaresborough which aims to deliver an
improved sense of ￿ace alongside communty cohesion for the town.
The findings of the feasits'lty Study will not only b8 an important means of
guiding KMA in the p*ocess of establishing a suitable site andlor building
where the museum Goukj be housed but will also underpin and influence
fijture funding streams. By giving expert gUKlan￿ to KMA as it moves
fomard with bts plans to set up a new museum, the feasibilty study wtll

meet several of North Yorkshire Council's priorities, in partrcular enabling
local people to feel a sense of pride in their town and celebrate what
makes Knaresborough so distinct and vibranL
4.2.3 Consultsllon with Mu88um Develownent Yorkshiro over Museum
Accreditation
KMA trustees have held disixjssions wtlh and received helpful advice from
Museum Development Yoikshire. KMA trustees intend to apply for
AccredTrMion after tpe lease for Suitab￿ premises has teen secured.
4.2.4 Markatlng and Publicity for Town Museum
Press releases and artides about the Museum. for example in the
Knaresborou
hPos
The Yorkshire Post and in Interviev￿ wtlh Radio
York. have helped to raise the profile of the Tthvn Museum ￿￿]ect and to
promote the work it does for the communty.
4.2.5 Webslte Dovelownent
Developing KMA'S website was a key priority to gNe it an online
presence. It has proved an invaluable means of communic8tion with the
wider communty during the early planning stage of thè Town Museum.
Since the initial website was launched, further development has been
ongoing as part of KMA'S digital strategy and it n(pN indudes a donation
4.2.6 Museum Collection: Objects Offered to KMA
KMA is indebted to its many supporters who have offered to donate
historic objects to the Tcywn Museum.
4.3 Fundraisin
4.3.1 KMA is a financially Irmje￿ndent organisation and relies entirely on
donations, grants and furKlraising campaigns in order to 9enerate the
money required for taknng forward the Town Museum project and paying
for the KMA'S rolling programme of community events and adivities.
Fundraising progress is as follows."
4.3.2 A total of £10,300 was raised through successful grant applications
submitted by KMA. This includes a grant of £10,000 from the National
Lottery Heritage Fund towards KMA'S Community ArGhaeology Festival.
4.3.3 A total of £4,652 was raised through KMA'S fundraising events and £684
from donations. KMA volunteers also run regular community fundraisiNJ
stalls at events and in the local mark8L
4.3.4 KMA will wntinue to seek grant funding to ensure the ifjabilty of the
museum project over the medium and longer tems.
4.3.5 In addition to raising fvnds. KMA has r￿1Ved support from many
professionals. vtho have given their seprfices either without charg8 or at
reduced fees.

4.3.6 KMA acknowledge5 Wtth gratitude the support of Newcastle Building
SorAety for the donation of stationery and printing Servi￿S.
4.3.7 KMA is very grateful to all the individuals and organisations who have
supported our fundraising ¢ampaigr6.
4.4 Securin
ultable Premises In Knaresboro
h for the Town Museum
4.4.1 In October 2022. after the lease negotiations wilh Harrogate Borough
Council for the ground ftoor of former Castle Girfs. SGhool ended ￿lthOU1
agreement. W was fortunate to be offered the ground floor of 8 York
Place on a temporary basis. It is serving well as a communty base where
members of the public can visit. find out about KMA'S community and
outreach work. and offer to volunteer. It is used by KMA volunteers to hold
meetings, cary out resaarch and welcome members of the publiG. The
Spa￿ 18 divided into a small gallery and a separate offi¢e. The galkry
facilty has been a great asset arvj has allowed KMA to showcase the
town's rich history through a wogramme of temporary exhibitions.
4.4.2 For KMA 8 York Place has provided an effertrve OFerational base for
planning and delivering thè annual programme of communty oUt￿aCh
events and activities. while KMA continues to search for a pennanent
home for Knaresborough Town Museum. It has enabled KMA
volunteer team memter5 to get to know each other better and has
farilitated Gloser working relationships within the team.
4.4.3 KMA is very grateful to Peter La￿y, Director and owner of Whole
Systems Partnership, who has generously allowed us to use th8se
premises at 8 York Pl￿ at a nominal rent.
S. Flnancial R
5.1.1 KMA'S Annual Accounts are in Appendix 1.
5.1.2 A surplus of £45.924 was brougm forward from prior periods.
6.1.3 The cost of delivering KMA'S Communty H￿tOry Festival project was
£1.573. It was funded in part by a grant of £1.000 from North Yorkshire
County Council's Stronger Communities Fund (received the pr6ViOUS
year). £2,820 was rais8d at the event from donations and from the sale of
merchandise, leaving a net surplus of £2,247.
5.1.4 The Cost of delNering KMA'S 8xhibtlion The Seo)nd Worfd War and its
Impact on Knaresborough was £1,598, funded frcffi a grant of £2.500
from Knaresborough Council {￿￿1ved the previous year) for KMA'S
Memories Project.

5.1.1 KMA'S reoipts at year end, which total £52,036, are the result of a
combination of SUC￿$sful grant applications. donations, fundraising
events and other income re￿r¥ed.
5.1.2 KMA'S payments. which total £8,860. are s￿nifiCant1Y lower than the
planned expenditure for ttle financial year. The reason is that th8 planned
programme of building refurbishment and museum frt out works at the
former Castle Girls. Schwl did not proceed after the lease negotiations for
the building ended without agreement. KMA had set a target budget of
£140,OCQ for undertaking these works, to be funded from W's
fundraising programme and from a generous pledge of up to £100,000
from a local charttable foundation.
The trustses declare that they have appmved the trustees. report al)ove.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Kathy Allday
Malcolm Hay
Position
Chair
Vice Chair
Dats
8th January 2024
Trustee name
Office Irf any)
Dates acted If not for whole
ear
Kathy Alday
Malcolm Hay
Ruth Bulmer
Suzanne Coulson
Martin Bre*er
Chair
WI￿ Chair
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Secretary
Treasurer
Bill Rigby
Trustee

APPENDIX I
KMA Annual Accounts
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGiAND AND WALES
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
A1 Rereipts
111
21,Y1
13,701
1073
Crw¥fiJTrY
17
t70
Sub totthl(Grtsgs IrtOn￿ for
AR)
36
Ixe tabl•).
MIA
10.
1&
52.036
A3Pa
BU1￿ Cests
Affilvabun Fe
141
567
341
klarkebTy & Prir￿Tr3
170
170
145
Insurance
274
274
4f1
313
1318
i.syi
112
NIA
Sub fy>
6.112
7￿1
7511

furd

KNARESBOROUGH MUSEUM AssoaATION
Charlty no. 1194614
Independent Examinerfs Report to the
Tr￿teeS of KNARESBOROUGH MUSEUM ASSOCIATION
I report on the accounts of the KnaresbmW MweqHn AsxKiation. for the yew e￿d 31 May
2023, whlch are set ¢)Ut on pages I to 9.
The Charivs trustees are respo￿ for preparation ofthe aCco￿ts. The clwrivs tru51¢e5
conslder that an audll Is required thls year wIder￿tt￿rt 144 of the Charitlts Art 2011 lthe
Charities Act) and that an ¥￿Pe￿e1￿ eyafflinat￿n is needed.
It is my re5w>nsikn'kty to:
Examine the accourtts under sectk)n 145 of ￿ Charities Art
To follow the Pfocedtsres laid d(ywn in the General Directions gi*n ty the Chaftty
Commissioner (under sectxln 145ISMbl of the ChaTit*E5 Ac( and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was Caffied in xcordance with Genernl Dirertions given by the CharFry
Commisyon. An exaMinat￿n include5 a revlew of Ihe a¢countin8 records kepl by the charity arxl a
comparison of the accounts presented wirh those records. It al￿ includes considerat￿n of any
unusual items of disdosures in the accounts arrfl seekins explanation5 from w)u as trustee5
COrKemi￿ matters. The prO￿dureS w)dertaken do Thjt pro¥Kle all the evthnce that would be
requlred in an •￿Ilt and no is 8rt1 as to W￿ther the accounts iye5eni a "true
and fairf view, and the repon 15 linited to those Mat￿ set in ¢1* statement below.
In connect￿n my examinatK￿, no matter ha5 come to rry attention:
l. Whlch 81%*$ me reasonable cau* to betseve that In. ary material respecL the requlrernents:
. To keep recoats lft Kcordance wilh se¢tK•ft 130 01 the Charitles and
. To prepa￿ a¢counts whKh aca)rf with the ¥Co￿t￿l records aThJ comply wlth the a¢a￿DI11
uirements ot Charities Art have not been mrt: or
2. To whkh in my oplnion, attent¥￿ SI￿ l* drawn to enatAe a proper uthrstandlre ol the
•¢¢otsnts to be reaCtr￿d.
Stephen M Day A
20 Moorland
Harrogate HG2 7EZ
31* ()ecember 2023