2024-05-31-accounts

Knaresborough Museum Association

Charity No:1194614

Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ending 31 May 2024

Chair: Kathy Allday

Knaresborough Museum Association Knaresborough Heritage Centre, 12 High Street, Knaresborough, HG5 0EQ Email: [e-mail] Website: www.knaresboroughtownmuseum.org.uk

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA) is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It consists of a Board of five Trustees and is supported by approximately 50 volunteers.

• 1.2 KMA was set up to plan and deliver the Knaresborough Town Museum project, and thereafter to manage the day-to-day operation of the museum and its continued development as a heritage asset.

• 1.3 Knaresborough Town Museum is a heritage project that seeks to connect and engage with the wide range of people 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 appreciate 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 future generations.

• 1.4 This Annual Report documents the progress KMA has made this year, the third full year after KMA became a CIO. The objectives and activities undertaken which support KMA’s mission statement are listed below and include KMA’s annual accounts.

2. KMA’s Mission Statement

• 2.1 “To establish and run an independent town museum in Knaresborough for the benefit of the local community 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 history, archaeology and geology, and provides an educational resource for local schools.”

3. KMA’s Objectives

• 3.1 The principal objectives are as follows:

• To build up, develop and support the KMA volunteers, bringing together people from the local community who have a range of interests, knowledge and skills, which will support KMA’s work. To engage with local people through community events, outreach work and social media.

• To put in place robust governance processes, procedures and policies to support the development of the museum. To forge long term alliances with stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the museum.

• To put in place a fundraising strategy to raise the money KMA require for setting up and establishing the museum; and to manage KMA’s finances in a prudent and sustainable manner.

• To either purchase or secure the tenancy of suitable premises in Knaresborough for KMA’s wide-ranging community work, negotiating acceptable terms for renting the property from the landlord, or fundraising the capital required for purchasing; to plan the refurbishment and modernisation required to make the building accessible to the public; and to plan how the stories of Knaresborough will be told through a series of specially designed exhibitions.

4. KMA’s Objectives: Achievements and Performance

This section is a resume of the activities undertaken by KMA in support of each objective in order to show what KMA has achieved in year.

4.1 Building Up and Developing KMA Volunteers

• 4.1.1 Building the KMA Volunteer Base KMA believes our volunteers are our greatest asset. KMA seeks to enhance social interaction and volunteering opportunities for the local community. The number of volunteers has steadily increased month on month and currently stands at over fifty people, ranging in age between 16 and 93. KMA has succeeded in bringing together a cohesive and highly motivated team. Recruitment is done through holding a programme of well publicised events, social media, and by word of mouth.

• 4.1.2 Training KMA Volunteers Training sessions for volunteers have been held on safeguarding, health and safety and first aid. They receive ongoing support from the trustees and have regular meetings with the Chair and the Volunteer Co-ordinator.

• 4.1.3 Research Projects KMA volunteers have been actively engaged in carrying out research towards the planned exhibition narratives. Current research topics include World War Two and its impact on Knaresborough, the development of the linen industry in Knaresborough, health, poverty and disease, and the archaeology of Knaresborough including a case study of and archaeological survey in Plompton and a further survey on the site of a former Trinitarian Priory. In addition, ongoing work is being undertaken to expand KMA’s significant oral history archive created from interviewing local people about life in Knaresborough in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

• 4.1.4 Holding Events to Engage with the Local Community and to Broaden and Increase the Future Audience Base KMA took part in several events to encourage community engagement and widen support for the museum project.

KMA Chair took part in a Career Advisory Day for several classes at St Roberts Primary School in Harrogate explaining her career and role as KMA Chair as well as highlighting the role of the charity and career opportunities in the heritage sector.

KMA volunteers took part in Knaresborough Parish Church’s Christmas Tree Festival by installing a tree decorated with hand knitted historic characters. By appealing to a wider audience at this popular month-long event, KMA reached new audiences and showcased Knaresborough’s history in a fun and child friendly manner.

This was an opportunity to network and raise KMA’s profile in a community family friendly setting in the grounds of a local school. KMA mounted a pop-up display and carried out fundraising. The event was well attended.

Exhibition: The Second World War and its Impact on Knaresborough

This exhibition was held at KMA’s former premises at 8 York Place and finished on 30 September 2023. Nine illustrated text boards were produced and a selection of historical objects acquired on loan to support the

displays. Approximately 380 people visited the exhibition, and dozens went on WW2 themed walks around Knaresborough to coincide with the exhibition. The exhibition was well received and generated enough income to cover our costs.

KMA is grateful to the many visitors to the exhibition who have made donations.

Community Archaeology Festival – October 2023

The community festival event was held during October half term. It followed the chronology of Knaresborough’s archaeology from prehistoric times to the Second World War. To complement and illustrate the exhibition narratives, KMA acquired on loan a range of historical objects. A model of Gates Hill Camp and a Plague mask were specially commissioned and the display included a series of paintings by local artist and palaeontologist James McKay which illustrate the early history of Knaresborough Gorge.

KMA received a £10,000 grant from the Lottery Heritage Fund towards the Knaresborough Community Archaeology Project. This was used to fund survey work in Birkham Woods and a geophysical survey of part of the former Trinitarian Priory precinct on Abbey Road. The results of these surveys were displayed at the Community Archaeology Festival.

For KMA these community events have been well attended and have proved a successful stepping stone to engaging a wider and more diverse audience. KMA maintains a regular presence on social media to engage with supporters.

Archaeology Exhibition – April 2024

The first exhibition in our gallery at Knaresborough Heritage Centre opened to the public on 27 April 2024 and runs for five months. It showcases the unique geology of Nidd Gorge and over 4,000 years of the archaeology of Knaresborough and the surrounding area. Included in the display is an audio-visual presentation with footage filmed by an underwater robot, supplied by mechanical engineering experts at the University of Leeds, which show stones lying at the bottom of the River Nidd, believed to be from the first attempt to build the town’s railway viaduct.

The gallery has a dedicated children’s zone, which offers dressing up clothes, a small library and a Victorian school desk.

Archaeology was chosen for the first exhibition, because of the interest shown in KMA’s Community Archaeology Festival, held as a pop-up event over a few days in November 2023. It was felt the opportunity should be given to more visitors to enjoy the exhibition narratives over a longer period. New display boards have been commissioned and the exhibition benefits from the display of greater numbers of archaeological objects, many of which have been generously loaned to KMA. The exhibition is being well received by visitors.

Monthly Talks Programme

KMA reached an agreement with COGS (Centre on Gracious Street) to hire their church hall and café once a month for a series of regular monthly talks on a variety of subjects relating to the history and heritage of Knaresborough and the surrounding district. The first talk took place on 21[st]

May and attracted nearly 40 people, generating significant additional income.

Collaboration with Local Schools, Colleges and Community Groups

KMA places great importance on this collaborative work. Presentations and artefact handling sessions were held with one school and six community groups and societies. KMA’s planned collaboration with King James’s School in Knaresborough was thwarted by Covid and KMA hopes to reschedule in due course. KMA has recruited several college students who have become volunteers, some on work experience and some working on research projects.

Two workshops and a guided walk took place with ORB, a local mental health charity. In addition, a visit to the Heritage Centre was organised for The Gift People, a social enterprise supporting adults with learning disabilities.

Over the year, the KMA Chair gave talks about KMA’s work and the charity’s research projects to five schools and nearly a dozen community groups, raising the charity’s profile and providing information on Knaresborough’s history and heritage and educational material (including displays of artefacts) to a wide and diverse audience.

4.2 Governance Processes, Procedures and Policies

4.2.1 Governance and Policy Development

Expertise within the team of KMA Volunteers, together with external professional advice received from the museum sector, has enabled KMA to make significant progress. Policies developed to date or currently in progress for setting up and running the museum include: GDPR, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Access, Acquisition, Volunteer, Complaints and Whistleblowing, Finance and Digital Strategy. KMA’s Volunteer Handbook has been completed and is in use.

4.2.2 Commissioning Feasibility Study

Following the successful grant application to the Shared Prosperity Fund, KMA commissioned the consultants Headland Design Associates to undertake a feasibility study into the viability and sustainability of the Town Museum project. The study forms part of a coordinated collaborative programme by partnership organisations, under the umbrella of the Knaresborough Voice initiative, to develop a vision for Knaresborough which aims to deliver an improved sense of place alongside community cohesion for the town.

The consultants looked at all aspects of KMA’s community work, together with KMA’s governance and management procedures. They advised that KMA had a ‘strong track record of delivering project-based activities, funded through grant applications and aimed at both local people and visitors to the town’. They felt that Knaresborough Heritage Centre, which KMA had recently opened, ‘provides a great opportunity to collect visitor data including postcodes to identify local people and visitors as well as visitor surveys to understand what people have enjoyed or areas for improvement and feedback on admission charges and what else they have visited’.

Part of the brief was to advise where the museum would best be sited in Knaresborough. The consultants commented that the 12 High Street premises, which KMA had recently procured for running Knaresborough Heritage Centre, provided a suitable base for the short to medium term. They recommended that KMA develop a 5–10-year plan to purchase a medium sized building in the town centre at a cost of around £400-£500k (2024 prices).

The 5–10-year plan would allow KMA time for the following:

• To justify the investment currently being made in fitting out the current building.

• To demonstrate sufficient demand for a larger venue.

• To allow time to raise significant funds locally.

If a suitable building were to become freely available, or at much less than market value, or with a funding mechanism attached (e.g., through a community asset grant), the consultants suggested that KMA might choose to move sooner but recommended that such a move should not take place in less than 3 years.

KMA trustees are very grateful to the consultants for undertaking the feasibility study. The findings and recommendations will be used to guide KMA’s future strategic planning.

4.2.3 Consultation with Museum Development Yorkshire over Museum Accreditation

KMA trustees have held discussions with and received helpful advice from Museum Development Yorkshire. KMA trustees intend to apply for Museum Accreditation.

4.2.4 Marketing and Publicity for Town Museum

Press releases and articles about the Town Museum, for example in the Knaresborough Post, The Yorkshire Post and in interviews with Radio York, have helped to raise the profile of the Town Museum project and to promote the work it does for the community.

4.2.5 Website Development

Developing KMA’s website was a key priority to give it an online presence. It has proved an invaluable means of communication with the wider community during the early planning stage of the Town Museum. Since the initial website was launched, further development has been ongoing as part of KMA’s digital strategy and it now includes a donation facility.

4.2.6 Museum Collection: Objects Offered to KMA

KMA is indebted to its many supporters who have offered to donate and loan historic objects.

4.3 Fundraising

KMA is a financially independent organisation and relies entirely on donations, grants and fundraising campaigns to generate the money required for taking forward the Town Museum project and paying for the KMA’s rolling programme of community events and activities.

Fundraising progress in 2023-24 is as follows:

• A total of £49,650 was raised through successful grant applications submitted by KMA.

• A total of £5,539 was raised through KMA’s fundraising activities and from donations. KMA volunteers run regular community fundraising stalls at events and in the local market.

• KMA will continue to seek grant funding to ensure the viability of the museum project over the medium and longer terms.

• In addition to raising funds, KMA has received support from many professionals, who have given their services either without charge or at reduced fees.

• KMA acknowledges with gratitude the support of Newcastle Building Society for the donation of stationery and printing services.

• KMA is very grateful to all the individuals and organisations who have supported our fundraising campaigns.

4.4 Securing Suitable Premises in Knaresborough for the Town Museum

In November 2023, KMA secured the lease on larger premises at 12 High Street, which, following a successful grant application to the George A Moore Foundation, were refurbished over the following months to provide a flexible museum gallery space, together with office and shop accommodation. When the building work was nearing completion, KMA vacated their temporary office accommodation at 8 York Place and moved in.

The 12 High Street premises were opened as Knaresborough Heritage Centre on Saturday 27 April 2024. The Centre is open to the public on four days each week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

The design of the Centre’s new gallery included moveable walls to allow for different display layout configurations, a bespoke lighting system and audio-visual displays in order to maximise the potential for delivering exhibitions which would allow easy and effective engagement with today’s visitors. The programme of temporary exhibitions showcases aspects of Knaresborough’s rich history.

Priority was given to completing the refurbishment of the gallery, reception and shop areas first, in order to open the Centre to the public as quickly as

possible. KMA is very grateful to all those who worked hard to complete the refurbishment work on time.

The new building is an excellent asset for KMA and is serving well as a community heritage hub where members of the public can come to visit exhibitions and find out about KMA’s many areas of work. Its position on the High Street opposite the bus station makes it easy to find. The building is also the base for KMA trustees and volunteers to carry out their daily work. Research is carried out in the office behind the gallery and it is the venue also for meetings.

The move to 12 High Street in Knaresborough is an important achievement and step forward for KMA. It will allow KMA’s work for the community to continue to evolve and develop. KMA trustees are mindful that a further move may be required in the future to achieve the longer-term goal of establishing a Town Museum.

5. Financial Review

• 5.1.1 KMA’s Annual Accounts are in Appendix 1.

• 5.1.2 A surplus of £52,699 was brought forward from prior periods.

• 5.1.3 KMA’s receipts at year end, which total £55,189, are the result of a combination of successful grant applications, donations, fundraising events and other income received.

• 5.1.4 KMA’s payments, which totalled £52,953, reflect the significant investment in opening the new Knaresborough Heritage Centre at 12, High Street from April 2024.

The principal items of expenditure are related to:

• Building renovation costs for 12 High Street (£13,564)

• Rent costs for 12 High Street and 8 York Place (£5,335)

• Utilities and other running costs (£3,377)

• Exhibition design and fit-out costs (£11,681)

• Feasibility study consultants' fees for museum project (£9,720)  Marketing, exhibition & event costs (£9,277)

• 5.1.5 The result as at 31 May 2024 was a net surplus for the future development of the museum of £54,935. The surplus contains unspent Restricted Funds of £16,238, which includes £5,280 for finalisation of the Feasibility Study and £10,154 for completion of the Heritage Centre development in the following financial year.

• 5.1.6 As at 31 May 2024 there is a financial commitment relating to the lease for Knaresborough Heritage Centre. The lease commenced on 20 November 2023 for 5 years with the first break point at 18 months subject to 3 months' notice.

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

----- Start of picture text -----
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Kathy Allday Malcolm Hay
Position Chair Vice Chair
Date
24 [th] February 2025
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Dates acted if not for whole
Trustee name Office (if any)
year
Kathy Allday Chair
Malcolm Hay Vice Chair
Ruth Bulmer Volunteer Co-ordinator
Suzanne Coulson Secretary
Martin Brewer Treasurer
Bill Rigby Trustee Until 26 September 2023
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CHARITY COMMISSION FCIP ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs ￿port on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tho trustms Knaresbwough Museum AssocLqtion (KMA) Charlty no | 1194614 On accounts for th• ymr 31￿ May 2024 •nd•d S•t out on pag•8 1 .2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of thè above dwnty llho TnJ81') for the yéar ènd￿ 3110S2024I R•spon8ibilill•s and basls ol r•port AS the ¢hanty$ trustees. you are rnsponsible for ihe weparation of the accounts in aGcordanGe wth the requirements ol the Charities Acl 2011 (ltre A(l. I report in respert of my examinkn'on of the Trusf$ 8¢¢ounts camed (xrt under seGI￿n 145 01 the 2011 Act and in carying out my examinalwi. I have followed all the applicable tl'rections given by tm Charty Cornm￿ under secbon 1495}(b) of tho Aia. Independent IThe 1am qualified to •xamln•rf• •tat•m•nt undertake Ihe examinatK)n by beiTha a qualif￿ memtw of The Ass￿#1 of Taxation Techn￿lan$. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no malenal mattW8 have come lo my attention in connection wrth Ihe examination whith gNes me ause to beI￿ve that In, any matenal ￿$1￿￿. the 8e¢ounling records were not kepl in acGordanc8 with sKtson 130 of the Chants Acl. or the accounts dKI not accord wrth the accountirwJ recwth,. or the accounls not comply wilh the applicable requirements Conceming ihe fomi and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2CQ8 other than any reqUIr￿)ent that the accounts 9ive a Ynje and fairf vbew thi¢h is not a matter con$hJered as part of an independent examination. I have no corKem$ and have come no other matters In conne(lion tNith the examination to ￿lch attention shoukl be drawn in thig report in order to enable a Pfoper understanding of the aGci)unt$ to be rexhed. . Please delele the ￿)rdS fft the brackels rfth8y do not apply. Slgn•d: 08111r2024 Name: Stephen MiiS)aèl Day Afr {Felltrw) Relevant prohsslonal quallficatlon(s) or body Ilf any): Arr