OROYAL
AIRFORCE
museum
Royal Air Force Museum Account 2023-24
HC115

Royal Air Force Museum Account 2023-24
Presented to Parfiament pursuant to the RAF Museum Framework Agreement and under
Royal Charter
Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 26th of July 2024
HC115

@ Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government LI￿n￿ v3.0 ex￿pt
where othenmise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.ukldoclopen-
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Vvhere we have identified any third-party copyright infomiation you wll need to obtain
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Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at Royal Air Force Museum,
Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, NW9 5LL.
ISBN.. 978-1-915287-45-8
Printed in the UK on behalf of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
CONTENTS
Page
Annual Report
Administrative Information
Charitable Aims and Activities
Perfomiance Report
Overview
Future Plans
Strategic Priorities
Performance Analysis
Financial Review
Accountability Report
Corporate Governance Report
30
Chief Executive Officer's report and govemance statement
31
Statement of the Board of Trustees, and Chief Executive Officer's Responsibilities 38
Remuneration and Staff Report
39
Padiamentary accounlabilily and audit report
The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
10
20
22
45
Financial Slatements
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities
Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheet
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Notes to the Financial Statements
51
52
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Address of the charity
Royal Air Force Museum
Grahame Park Way
Hendon
London
NW9 5LL
Registered charity number
1197541
Names and addresses of other relevant organisations
Auditor
Comptroller and Auditor General
National Audit Offi
157-197 Buckingham Pala￿ Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP
Solicitors
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
5 Fleet Place
London
EC4M 7RD
Bankers
Barclays Bank PIC
PO Box 12820
Vvhetstone
London
N20 OWE
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
CHARITABLE AIMS AND ACTIVITIES
Our Purpose
The Royal Air For￿ has shaped our nation and our society. It has InflUen￿d how we live our
lives today through its impact on world events, sociely and lechnology. The purpose of the
Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum is to share the story of the Royal Air Force, past, present and
future
using the stories of its people and our collections to engage, inspire, entertain and
encourage learning.
The RAF Museum was established as a legacy of the RAF'S fiftieth anniversary in 1968,
opening our London (Hendon) site in 1972 on the historic pioneering airfield in Colindale
(previously RAF Hendon, and home of the London Aerodrome from 1910). Our Midlands site
began as the Aerosp8￿ Museum at RAF Cosford (established in 1938 as a joint aircraft
maintenan￿, storage and technical training site for the Ministry of Defence) in the spring of
1974 and joined the family in 1979. It was renamed RAF Museum Cosford in 1998, and more
recently in March 2022 as RAF Museum Midlands. The Museum also has external stores,
one in Stafford and another within RAF Cosford.
For over a hundred years the RAF has defended the skies of Britain. The RAF'S mission is to
defend the UK, to attack if required, to provide reconnaissance and intelligen￿, to support in
times of humanitarian crisis and to move people and equipment across the world quickly. The
RAF provides the UK Government with choices in a rapidly changing world through its
extraordinary people, innovative technologies, global alliances and partnerships with industry.
The RAF is woven into our history, from its fomation during the First World War to the vital
role it perfomis today as the nation's first line of defence. These are stories of people. And
whether they are stories of technical and engineering innovation, of values and camaraderie,
or of courage against all odds, there is connection and relevance for each and every one of us
that the Museum hamesses for learning and inspiration.
Charilable Objects
The formal objects of the charity are to educate and inform the public and members of the
Royal Air Force about..
The history and traditions of the Royal Air Force., and
The role of the Royal Air Force in relation to the armed forces of the realm, other air
forces and aviation generally.
In particular, but not exclusively, this will be achieved by collecting, conserving, preserving,
managing, exhibiting and storing documents, items, artefacts and other materials in the
collection, and encouraging research and sharing of information.
The RAF Museum was registered as a charity (Registered Charity Number 2447081 in 1968
and to 31 March 2022 was governed in accordance with a Scheme of the Charity Commission
dated 4 June 2007 which replaced the fomer trusts of the Museum. From 1 April 2022, the
new incorporated charity with Royal Charter status {RC000922, Registered Charity Number
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
1197541) is govemed in accordance with its Charter and Bye-laws to deliver the same
charitable objects
Governance
The RAF Museum is a National Museum, a Government non-departmental public body
(NDPB) and a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The Museum is the National
Museum of the Royal Air Force, unique in its size and scope, and officially recognised as such.
The Museum works closely with the Royal Air Force, ils sponsor organisalion al the Ministry
of Defence, including liaison with the Air Historical Branch, RAF Heritage and RAF
Engagement. HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, was Patron of the Museum from its
inception in 1968 until his death in April 2021. The Museum is honoured and delighted that in
May 2024 it was confirmed Ihat His Majesty King Charles 111 has accepted the Patronage of
the Museum.
A trading subsidiary Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Ltd (company number 1511481) is
incorporated as a company limited by shares (wholly owned by the RAF Museum} to manage
the associated commercial activities land any activities that are 'non-primary purpose trading'l
for the benefit of the Gharity. All profits of RAF Museums Enterprises Ltd are gifi-aided to the
Museum on an annual basis, as agreed in a Deed of Covenant between the parties. Effective
1 April 2022, the shares held by nominees on behalf of the trust were transferred lo the Royal
Charter company, which became the sole shareholder of the Royal Air Force Enterprises Ltd
company.
The Royal Air Force Museum Investments Limited (company number 40269951 is a wholly
owned subsidiary which is incorporated as a limited liability company to hold the real property
assets of the charity on behalf of the Trustees. In March 2005, the Cosford and Stafford
leasehold property was transferred to this company from the charity, followed by the London
(Hendon) freehold property in January 2008. Effective 1 April 2022, the shares held by
nominees on behalfofthe trust were transferred to the Royal Chartercompany, which became
the sole shareholder of the Royal Air Force Investments Ltd company.
A Partnering Agreement is in place between the RAF Museum and the RAF which sets out the
sponsor relationship and identifies the services that the Museum provides and the support
given by the RAF in order that these aims are achieved. RAF colleagues past and present
continue to provide fantastic support and inspiration lo the Museum to enable us to share the
ever-developing RAF story. Aligned with the Partnering Agreement is a Framework Document
drawn up by the MOD in consultation with the RAF Museum and which sets out the broad
governance framework within which the Museum and the MOD operates. It sets out core
responsibilities, describes the governance and accountability framework that applies between
the roles of the MOD and the Museum and sets out how the day-to-day relationship works in
practice, including in relation to governance and financial matters.
The Public Bodies Review of the three Service Museums - National Museum of the Royal
Navy, National Army Museum and Royal Air Force Museum was carried out under the
Cabinet offl￿'S Public Bodies Reviews Programme during 2023-24 and the Secretary of
State-approved final report was published on 1 March 2024. The review considered the
governance, accountability and efficiency of the three museums and was led by an external
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
independent lead reviewer, Mrs Lopa Patel MBE, non-executive director at the Intellectual
Property Office., supported by MOD civil servants, independent of the seNice museums and
the seNice museums sponsor teams. A challenge panel was used to test the evidence base
and challenge emerging thoughts and recommendations. Evidence was gathered through
interviews, documentation supplied by the museums, museum visits, public reports about the
wider cultural and heritage sector and desk-based research. The review found that MOD
seNice museums are effective in fulfilling their purpose and should remain as NDPBS within
the Ministry of Defence.
One of the key recommendations was closer wothing between sponsor bodies and their
museums and new regular liaison meetings have been scheduled between Assistant Chief of
Air Staff, the RAF'S RAF Museum Board representative., Air Command's Director of Resources
(who leads the RAF'S sponsorship team)., the Commandant and Station Commanderfrom RAF
Cosford., and the Museum's Chief Executive.
Our Activities
The RAF Museum's vision is 'inspiring everyone with the RAF story- the people who shape
it and its place in our lives,. We are committed to using our Collections to share the story of the
Royal Air Force and its people. Entry lo the Museum is free to the public and the Museum
welcomes almost one million visitors a year across its two sister sites, and alongside this
undertakes impactful learning activities with children and young people, both fomially and
informally. As an educational charity, whether visitors are engaging with our displays, taking
part in discussion and debate, studying our archive, holding a corporate event in our Spa￿$,
having fun at events and in our playgrounds, or enjoying a rest in our cafés, there are
opportunities for inspiration from the incredible RAF story in every pore of our Museum.
Our current strategic plan 'Strategy 2030, sets out an ambitious vision for the future, shaped
and shared by our Trustees, staff team (employees and volunteers) and key partners, and
which continues to guide the Museum during a complex period of our history, with climate
change and an unstable international environment, and ever-present threats to our way of life.
We have much to do, but we look foNard with confidence and clarity. By 2030 the RAF
Museum will be recognised as a world class National Museum, respected for our commitment
to focusing on our audiences and using our collections and spaces in creative ways to engage
them with the RAF'S story. We shall remain financially sustainable, with firm foundations that
enable an agile and creative future. Our collection is central to everything we are and do and
comprises around 1.3m objects which we hold in trust for the people of the UK.
Our aim is to deepen further our focus on immersive RAF storytelling and be more ambitious
in encouraging reflection and debate across our spaces and programmes, as well as
welcoming all our visitors for a great day out. We are committed to engaging more people and,
equally important, a more diverse range of people by ensuring that ourgovernance, ourteams,
our collection and our storytelling are better reflective of the changing national population.
Equally, we are committed to sharing the RAF story outside our walls across the UK and
beyond through in-person outreach programmes and online engagement. Examples include
touring iconic objects from the collection, research activities, community workshops, loans with
partner organisations and storytelling through www.RAFStories.or
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Both our sites continue to require significant investment to care appropriately for our unique
collection and to reach wider audiences. Our priority project is the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF
Museum Midlands Development Programme which forms the first major slep of a twenty-five
year Master Plan for our Cosford site, while we continue to make significant improvements at
London. The Midlands Development Programme of engagement and capital investment will
transform our Museum and our impact through a series of phased projects
engaging
audien￿$ who may not obviously identify with the FIAF story by finding common interests and
histories which link them.
The scope of the London Master Plan rationalises our use of the Hangar 3, 4 and 5 building in
order to maximise opportunities for visitors to engage with the collection and RAF story in
meaningful ways. It will improve both our operational effectiveness and the visitor experience
through the necessary modemisation of our front and back of house resources and
environment, with a focus on commercial imperatives and sustainability of income generation,
while balancing considerations of storage and care for the collection, developing new facilities
(including a new Research and Immersive Leaming Centre) to improve the care of and a¢￿$S
to our nationally important archives, library, photographs and art collection., and taking into
account fundability of projects, environmental impact and engagement of stakeholders.
The RAF is iconic to so many people in the UK and overseas and we will continue to research
and share its history. Equally, today's men and women in the RAF are active on more fronts
than they have ever been in our increasingly complex world. We ensure that their stories are
at the top of our agenda through contemporary collecting and innovative programmes that
keep us relevant and connected.
We are immensely appreciative of Government investment in its National Museums, and
specifically grateful to the MOD and Air Command for their support for the RAF Museum.
However, to achieve our Slrategy 2030 ambitions, both across day to day programmes and
apital improvement, the Museum must further grow our commercial and fundraising success
significantly within the challenging financial context we operate in. Creative income generation
opportunities are embedded in Museum planning and will continue to be focused on as both
additional storytelling platforms and essential enablers for our plans.
Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme
Our £27M RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme and fundraising campaign
launched in March 2022 and is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), the
RAF, and a number of other funders comprising trusts and foundations, industry partners and
individuals. In February 2023, we entered a two-year Developmenl Phase to shape detailed
plans for the Delivery Phase which is scheduled lo start in May 2025 (running to December
2028, with new spaces opening for summer 2027) if our fundraising target is achieved.
Through the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme, we will..
Become a valuable resource for our Midlands community and welcome more visitors
nationally and internationally, onsite, offsite, and online
Work with partners to involve people in their local and RAF heritage, improving
wellbeing and developing skills
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Work with our audiences to share RAF stories that are relevant to their lives and lived
experiences, inspiring them lo fulfil their own potential
Ensure our collection will be better understood, cared for and more widely shared
Move towards our target of being a Carbon Net Zero organisation
Be a more resilient organisation and able to support our community in the future.
The transformation Programme comprises..
An Engagement Programme that will deliver a range of creative, wellbeing and skills
development activities rooted in our unique collection
An innovative, nationally relevant new exhibition sharing the critical role of the RAF
over the last 40 years, explore its mission today and imagine its future
A new Learning Centre providing bespoke facilities dedicated to the provision of
lifelong learning programmes
A new Collections Hub which will enable us to move our collection from inaccessible
storage to our public site, opening it up to visitors for the first time
Improvements to our outdoor spaces, offering areas for learning. discovery and
ontemplation while increasing biodiversity.
The story of the RAF and Midlands, aviation, industrial and engineering heritage have been
deeply connected throughout the RAF'S 100-year-plus history. The region encompasses air
bases and test sites. It has supported innovation, inventors, engineers, businesses, and
factories that have shaped the RAF in the past and are helping lo design and deliver ils future.
Through the Programme, this rich heritage will be researched, celebrated, and shared through
Cowcreation, outreach activities and storytelling, helping support placemaking and engendering
a sense of local pride and belonging.
Ac￿sS and inclusion sit at the heart of our Programme, empowering our audiences to
Influen￿ and be actively involved in the creation of new interpretation, how we use our
collections, and in the design of facilities and activities, resulting in a welcoming, relevant offer.
We will tackle unequal access to heritage by building and broadening audiences and reaching
those who may not have always felt our offer, or museums in general, are for them. Barriers
relating to Socio-economic background, ethnicity and disabiliiy will be confronted, ensuring
communities can take part equally and independently.
Our Vision and Values
We are working to achieve our vision through five strategic priorities that focus outwards with
our collections and spaces at their heart. These priorities are supported by the ongoing
development of strong internal systems which ensure we deliver creatively and responsibly..
AUDIENCES Inspiring innovative engagement, debate and reflection (onsite, offsite
and onlinel- Why? We know relevan￿ and dynamism are key to fulfilling our ambitions
as a National Museum.
TEAM - Inspiring our people within a dynamic, diverse and collaborative culture- Why.
Our inspirational people in turn inspire our visitors and we know we achieve our best
when we're committed and motivated.
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AGILE - Embedding an entrepreneurial, agile and sustainable approach - Why? Our
visitors, lives and society are changing fast and we need to remain fomard looking and
resourced to fulfil our ambitions.
PERFORMANCE - Fit for the future with brilliant basics - Vvhy? We need strong and
suslainable foundations to fully achieve our vision.
PARTNERSHIPS - Connecting with communities and partners - Vvhy? We know we
can deliver better and more creatively through meaningful relationships with others.
We are a values driven organisation with a team of talented and dedicated people who use
their knowledge and creativity to make our collections sing and bring our spaces to life to
inspire our audiences locally, nationally and internationally. Our work and our behaviour is
underpinned by six guiding values..
INtegrity'. we are open, transparent and ethical
Sharing.. we work as a team to ensure our collections and expertise are ac￿Ssible to
Passion.. we care deeply about sharing our collections and their stories
Innovation.. we tell our stories and develop our business with creativity and imagination
Relevance.. we ensure our legacy by linking our histories with today and tomorrow
Excellence.. we are professional and strive for ex￿llenCe in all we do
Underpinning everything that we do, the Museum has three overarching commitments that
inform our insight, business planning and strategy development, these are our..
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDII Commitment- we believe that everyone has
the right to live without fear or prejudice regardless of race, age, gender, disability,
sexual orientation, social class, religion and belief. We aim to embed a supportive and
open culture which is inclusive, positive and fair to all, develop flexible opportunities to
encourage engagement with the Museum onsite, offsite and online and celebrate
differences.
Sustainability Commitment- we are in a climate emergency, and we are committed
to addressing this crisis through our operation and with our audiences. We will operate
in an environmentally sustainable way, applying the principles of sustainable
development for the benefit of current and future generations, both locally and globally.
Health and Wellbeing Commitment- we are committed to creating an environment
where health and wellbeing are actively promoted, where people feel engaged and
valued for their contribution. We aim lo create a health promoting workplace where
people can be themselves, feel their best and perfom at their best, so we can deliver
an ex￿pIlOnaI experien￿ for our visitors.
Partnerships
As one ofthe UK'S National Museums, the RAF Museum's responsibility and remil is UK-wide
and partnership working locally, nationally and internationally is vital to the Museum's vision.
The Museum works closely with our sponsor organisation the RAF and receives much valued
support.
In addition to its own two public sites, the Museum seeks opportunities to share collections
through loans and online, as well as through its enquiries Servi￿ and research programme.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The RAF Museum is a member of the UK Museums Association, the National Museums
Directors, Council, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the Association of
Independent Museums and the Groupfor Education in Museums. It is committed to supporting
other museums both across the UK and intemationally by involvement in national and
international programmes.
As well as being a National Museum which tells globally important stories, the RAF Museum's
two public sites have an important role lo play in their local communities. Museums help define
a place.. they help shape and convey a sense of identity and contribute to local distinctiveness.
The Museum is committed lo working with its local communities to collect and represent their
diverse and collective history and heritage as part of the RAF story.
The Museum also works with a wide range of individual and corporate partners who share its
vision of inspiring everyone with the RAF story. Our partners not only support us financially
through grants, sponsorship and gifts in kind but they enable us to continue to engage and
inspire our audiences through shared programmes and activities.
We work with partners to ensure the collection is kept up lo date and cared for and rely on
them to help us acquire new items of national importance. In addition, our partners have
supported our Access and Learning teams in London and Cosford to deliver workshops and
activities for children across the UK. The Museum also works in partnership with the RAF
Museum American Foundation, a legally separate organisation, sharing ideas and
collaborating together on fundraising opportunities to support the RAF Museum and foster and
celebrate relationships between our two air forces.
We should like to thank all our partners who have helped us to continue to share the RAF
story.
Charitable Fundraising
The Museum has an in-house Development (Fundraising) team who raise funds to support our
core work, as well as to enable major capital projects as part of Strategy 2030, including the
Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme., and the Research and
Immersive Leaming Centre project at our London sile. The Museum is a member of the
Institute of Fundraising and a registered member of the Fundraising Regulator. We work lo the
Fundraising Code and Promise set out by the Regulator and are signed up to their Code of
Practice.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
PERFORMANCE REPORT
OveNiew 2023-24
The Museum has achieved its highest ever visitor numbers during the year 2023-24, apart
from the RAF Centenary year in 2018, welcoming over 929,000 visitors and showing a strong
continued recovery from Ihe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic pressures oflhe
cost of living crisis.
During 2023-24 the Museum's collection and knowledge has been reflected in an engaging
programme of events and exhibitions. Visilor numbers have been supported by the return of
intemational tourists in London and the Museum's strong public events programme. Other
events have included our 1940s Week and Vintage Fair, Community Day and Hercules Flypast
in the Midlands, our Pilot Training Programme in London, and our Horrible Histories Up in the
Air Adventure at both sites over the summer.
We are pleased to report that the Museum has exceeded its target of breakeven for 2023-24
with an unrestricted operational surplus of £289,000, which has been made possible by a
strong trading perf0mlan￿, ongoing improvements lo our resourcing model, and a successful
challenge to our 2017 business rates valuation.
The Museum has continued to significantly progress other major projects and initiatives in line
with our Strategy 2030 as well as investing in necessary infrastructure improvements. Two
new permanent exhibitions (Bomber Command and Inte￿ar) were opened during the year
and a £1.8M project completed to replace the glazing and carry out redecoration works to the
exterior of the iconic historic colonnade building at our London site. The glazing project has
led to significant improvements in the aesthetic and environmental performance of the building,
improving the experience of our visitors and staff team. Alongside this, design work to develop
concept proposals for a new commercial zone in London including a pay-to-play area,
simulator zone, and café and a new Research and Immersive Learning Centre was completed
prior to project phasing subject to funding availability.
Substantial progress has also been made towards achieving our restricted fundraising target
for the £27M Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme with
fantastic support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund INLHFI and our other partners and
friends., although we still have some way to go to ensure all necessary fund5 are in place to
enable the works to go ahead in the planned timeframe. The Museum has been successful in
its NLHF Round 1 application for a development grant of £713,222 (towards a full application
for £5M), and Arts Council England have confirmed a grant award of £99,999 through their
Unlocking Collections Fund. During 2023-24 the Museum has established a cross-
departmental Programme team supported by external expertise including an architect-led
multi4isciplinary team, exhibition designers, Quantity SuNeyors and Capital Project
Management. Capital design work has reached Spalial Coordination RIBA Stage 3 and
planning applications have been subrnitted to the Shropshire Council Planning Department.
Other activities have included carrying out non-visitor research and the development of the
Engagement Programme, ConseNation Management Plan, Collections Relocation Plan,
Community Grants Scheme, Environmental Sustainability Plan and Audience Development
Strategy. The recruitment, onboarding and training of project volunteers got underway, and a
regular stream of volunteers is now practically engaged in supporting the paid staff team.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
In March 2024 we received the excellent news that the Museum was successful in our £2.4M
grant application lo the Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant
(adminislered by Salix Finance) to fund a £2.9M project (including £520k Museum match
funding) to replace the gas heating system in Hangars 3 and 4 in London, completing in March
2026. This project represents a major step forward in the Museum's sustainability commitment
to achieving carbon net zero by 2030.
Future Plans 202425
The framework to deliver our over-arching Strategy 2030 is reviewed annually as part of the
Museum's business planning cycle with an update of Strategy 2030 every three years, and
within this context a detailed Budget and Business Plan has been developed for 2024-25. The
primary focus forfundraising and project development is our Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum
Midlands Development Programme, however, we continue to deliver and develop additional
London and Midlands projects thal will move us towards our ambition of welcoming more
visitors and extending our audience reach and impact on-site, off-site, and online.
The Museum's 2024-25 Business Plan objectives are focussed through our five strategic
priorities in the context of Strategy 2030, against the backdrop of ongoing inflationary
challenges (notably the cumulative effect of the pay award over the last two years), and the
closure of Colindale Tube Station for much of 2024-25. The approved budget targets an
operational breakeven based on a Cautious but challenging visitor profile 1835,000 visitors)
and further targeted savings in our resourcing model. Project priorities include the RAF
Museum Midlands Development Programme Development Phase, scheduled to complete in
October 2024 priorto submission ofour Round 2 NLHF grant application. In London's Hangars
3 and 4, the detailed design of a greener heating system will be underway, new blinds will be
installed to improve environmental conditions, and our Pay to Play area will be delivered.
The Museum continues to be acutely conscious of the need to be agile in its approach and to
build financial resilience against the background of a challenging economic and political
landscape. We aspire to grow and diversify our commercial and fundraising income streams
in order to achieve agreed outcomes, whilst maximising use of our resour￿$ to deliver
effectively within our means. At the same time, long term underfunding in our capital
infrastructure means that our project phasing and financial planning must take account of the
need for significant investment at both sites to deliver standards and outcomes befitting a
National Museum, enabling us lo care for and inspire wilh our amazing collection.
We will continue to develop and nurture meaningful partnerships and invest our funding
strategically, recognising the importance of museums and culture lo the social wellbeing and
economic prosperity of our communities. Meanwhile, we shall continue to build and sustain the
foundations we need in terms of collections care and management, our estate, and our IT and
digital infrastructure. Our team is vital to all of this and our leadership and development
programmes will help ensure our committed people are the best we can be in order to deliver
our vision and purpose with and for our visitors.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Strategic Priorities 2023-24
Strategic priority 1: Inspiring innovative engagement, debate and reflection
Collection, Exhibitions and Interpretatio
The RAF Museum collection represents the national memory ofthe RAF at work and play, war
and peace. 11 includes".
The largest and most Gomprehensive collection of RAF related aircraft in the world,
from the tiny Avro Rota autogyro, used for secret radar calibration missions during the
Battle of Britain, to the VC-10 transport aircraft, in service for nearly fifty years
Objects ranging from uniforms and medals lo unique personal items
including the
scrap books of Lord Trenchard and Sir Frederick Sykes, respectively the first and
second Chief ofthe Air Staff, and the personal effects of Amy Johnson-that bring the
stories of the iconic figures connected to the RAF to life
An extensive oral history collection, from first-hand accounts of First World War pilots
to the experiences of personnel deployed in current operations
Large official collections, from manuals to training films, illustrating the inextricable link
between the RAF and its suppliers.
The Bomber Command exhibition opened at RAF Museum Midlands and RAF Museum
London in May 2023, marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise. The exhibition,
funded with the support of the Bomber Command Association, explores the important and
often ovedooked story of Bomber Command and its pivotal role in the Second World War.
Interpretation is nuanced and sensitive, exploring the suffering and loss experienced by crews
and civilians, as well as ￿lebrating the heroism and victories of Bomber Command personnel.
The Interwar exhibition opened in December 2024 in London. It explores the pivotal interwar
years in which the RAF established its identity and hierarchy, in parallel with rapid technological
developments and wide-ranging social changes.
The 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift provided the Museum with the opportunity to share
the RAF'S experiences through a new international Collaboration Berlin Airlift Remembered.
The Museum led this collaboration which includes the Alliierten Museum, Militarhistorisches
Museum and the National Museum ofthe United StatesAir Force. A bi-lingual website released
stories in German and English featuring objects from the respective partners, collections as
part of a timeline telling the story of the airlift. We also used our existing online platforms to
share these stories and the history of the RAF during the Berlin Airlift. This project has been
captured in both the German and British digital archives ensuring it will be permanently
preserved and accessible.
Collection Loans and Acquisitions
In total 711 objectslobject groups were accessioned to the Museum's collection. Key
acquisitions of the past year include..
Squadron Leader Arthur Scarfs Victoria Cross formally entered the collection after the
suc￿Ssful 2022-23 fundraising campaign
The papers relating to Major James Mccudden VC DSO" MC. and his family. These
include personal correspondence and ￿rtIficateS as well as the flying logbooks of all
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
three brothers. Of particular significance is Mccudden's logbook compiled during 1916-
1917 when he claimed his first five aerial victories over the Western Front
The papers of Gp Capt John Derek Bisdee which include his diaries written during the
Battle of Britain
An ongoing inteNiew series with key RAF personnel and a Cold War reminiscence
session with several ex-Tornado pilots and navigators.
We have continued to share our Collection widely at over 154 venues both nationally and
internationally through our Loans Programme, with 985 items out on loan during 2023-24. New
and renewed loans included..
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome - renewed loan of Avro 504K aircraft and a new
loan of Tabloid aircrafi
Militarhistorisches Museum, Bedin-Gatow- new loan of Fw 190 aircraft
Science Museum- renewed loan including P.1127 aircraft
Birmingham Museums Trust
renewed loan of Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory
commemorative item and Metalworkers hand tool
National Museum of the Royal Navy- renewed loan including two engines
RAF College, Cranwell - renewed loan of 'Lancaslers over the Dutch coast,, 'Flt. Lt.
R.P. Beamont DFC and Bar, and 'Sir Frank Whittle, paintings.
RAF Stories
The Museum's RAF Stories programme remains a crucial way for sharing content, as well as
remaining agile and proactive in tracking new developments in the RAF'S story. In the past 12
months, a major focus has been to support the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands
Development Programme Exhibition team, providing content that shapes the development of
the new exhibition and reflects the contemporary RAF.
The RAF Stories team has also continued to proactively collect and produce content - 28
unique interviews were recorded, with each multi-hour interview capable of generating multiple
pieces of content., and the team supported 23 co-curalion and dissemination events.
Relationships have been built and maintained with organisations as varied as the Royal Air
Force Aerobatic Team, UK Space Command, Fighting with Pride and the RAF Widows
Association lo provide a continuing Sour￿ of stories over the Goming years.
The RAF Stories programme weaves through the wider activities of the Museum and is
increasingly supporting the wider curatorial department with new object acquisitions, recording
inteNiews with donors where appropriate, and lending their objects a first-hand human voice
which provides enormously valuable context lo in-gallery interpretation.
Research
The Museum's Research Strategy continues to be supported by a voluntary Research
Advisory Board, chaired by Sebastian Cox OBE, Head ofthe Air Historical Branch ofthe RAF.
In continualion with recent years, the 2023-24 research programme was offered in a hybrid
format both virtually and in-person. During this period, the programme featured lectures to the
Royal Aeronautical Society, Air Power lectures with the Centre for War and Diplomacy at
Lancaster University and the University of Wolverhampton, and lectures held at the Museum's
Midlands site. Physical attendan￿ has averaged at 30 people, and around 70 people regularly
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
watched the lecture live via Crowdcast with replays at around 100 views. The hybrid approach
has been beneficial, as it has enabled the Museum to deliver engaging and intellectually
rigorous content to a domeslic and international audien￿. The UK and US made up the
majority of the audience for lalks, but countries represenled in the audience include Auslria,
Brazil, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea. Furthemiore, a special lecture
held on the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape at our Midlands sile attracted 63 in-person
attendees and over 200 people online.
The Museum hosted its annual conference on 5-6 September 2023, with the theme 'Progress,
Regress, and Change: Air forces since the early twentieth ￿ntury,, with 45 researchers, staff
and delegates attending in-person at the Museum's London sile, and a further 105 individuals
joining live via the online video. The Museum's 2022 Academic Awards were presented to
undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, continuing to build upon our growing role
in encouraging and developing the next generation of Air Power scholars. Academic prizes for
2023 have been awarded, and will be formally presented at the 2024 conference. In addition,
the Museum organised and hosted two research conferences with external partners. The first,
organised with the Royal Aeronautical Society, explored the development and cancellation of
the TSR-2 and was attended by 60 delegates al our Midlands site. The second conference,
organised with the British Commission for Military History, explored the history of Close Air
Support with 50 delegates attending at our London site.
The Museum has also continued to develop and nurture the next generation of Air Power
specialists by supporting existing doctoral students at Lancaster University, Newcastle
University, the University of Bristol and the University of Glasgow. A further doctoral project
commenced in collaboration with King's College London, and funding for further projects in
association with the Universities of Kent and York are in progress.
Due to essential building works the Museum's Reading Room was closed for six months but
hosted 104 researchers between August and March. The Collections and Research team were
also active in sharing knowledge, including creating records for the Museum's Collections
Online and delivering in-person stakeholder engagement sessions. Papers were given at
national conferences and talks provided to visiting groups to the Museum, for example
community researchers for the Past Present Future NLHF supported project and Age UK
groups. The team contributed expert commentary for several media projects, including radio,
print and television, and engaged with a number of partner organisations over the year to
promote the Museum's collections including Art UK and notably the Berlin Airlift project.
Access 8nd Learning London
2023-24 has been the first year since the start of the pandemic where Covid hasn't impacted
any of the planned activities. The full schools workshop programme has run, together with a
healthy number of events, both onsite and offsite. 663 schools visited the London site, with an
additional 15 schools joining us for online workshops. 1,599 learners were engaged through
outreach to their schools. While these schools were mainly local, our reach was extended after
we were successful in bidding to run STEM {Science, Technology, Engineering, Malhemalicsl
outreach days in Hertfordshire schools on behalf of the RAF Youth and STEM team. As these
days are designed for Year 7 and 8 students, we also increased our engagement with
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
secondary age learners. It has been gratifying to see our learner numbers retuming to pre-
pandemic levels.
In addition to the slandard suile of school workshops focused on History, Science, Citizenship,
Design and Technology and Literacy, we also contributed to marking the 80th anniversary of
the Dam Busters Raid by creating a schools, resource pack, and to Pride Month by creating a
video for secondary schools which highlights LGBTQ+ people in the RAF. We took part in two
nationwide initiatives", Kids in Museums Takeover Day, where children performed tasks usually
undertaken by Museum staff, and Art Fund's Wild Escape project which culminated in a dance
performan￿ al the Museum. Year 6 STEM Days and Scouts Air Researcher Activity Badge
Days sponsored by the RAF were oversubscribed throughout this period, and in 2024-25, we
will be sponsored to deliver an additional two dates to respond to demand.
Access and Learning, Midlands
2023-24 figures for the Midlands show that we have remained at pre-covid numbers for the
second consecutive year, with an increase in both the number of schools visiting the Midlands
site and in online engagement. This suggests that both types of engagement are still required
by schools. The Midlands engaged with 626 schools.. ofthese 528 were onsite, 78 online and
20 offsite. In total we engaged with 44,909 learners.. 29,940 onsite and 14,969 offsite and
online.
Aside from our core learning programme of school workshops with a focus on History and
STEM, we have expanded our events and outreach offer. Our Summertime Advanced
Aeronautical Residency (STAARI programme ￿lebrated its sixth year. Supported by sponsors
Northrop Grumman as well as our partners from RAF Cosford, and Tablet Academy ITA
Education), in 2023-24 the programme was delivered to 40 young people. We also delivered
a variety of events on behalf of our key partners, the RAF Youth STEM team. This included
eight Key Stage 2 STEM Days, four Glider Challenges, Ihree Scouts Air Activity Badge Days,
and for the first time, five outreach STEM days. We were successful in our bid to deliver five
STEM days to schools within Mid-wales, a region that we have been keen to improve
engagement with. We also hosted the third annual Forces in STEM event, considered a
flagship STEM event forthe RAF Youth STEM team, and welcomed over 1,000 young people
to the Museum to participate in over 35 activities delivered by over 25 partner companies. The
demand for these free events has increased exponentially since the Pandemic, highlighting
the need to continue offering learners these opportunities. For 2024-25, we are increasing our
capacity for the three Scouts Air Activity Badge Days, from 200 Scouts per day to 600, to meet
demand.
Strategic Priority 2: Inspiring our people within a dynamic, diverse and collaborative
culture
The RAF Museum staff team, including those of its trading subsidiary, comprises over 238
employees and c.400 volunteers, and includes well-established work experience, traineeship
and apprentI￿ShIp programmes. Our priority is to ensure that individuals are proud to be part
of a brilliant and diverse leam, feeling valued, supported and appropriately skilled and
rewarded, working positively together to deliver our vision. We actively promote and progress
equity, diversity and inclusion, with the support of our EDI Working Group, and continue to
encourage and underpin best practice.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme provides an
amazing opportunity to broaden engagement and support learning and skills development for
our visitors, local communities and Museum team (volunteers and employees) through both
the Development phase and future Delivery phase, and new roles have already been recruited
to.
During the year our HR and Volunteering team have designed and delivered Effective
Recruitment and Effective Performance Management Training sessions for all managers and
supervisors, introducing a new Recruitment Policy and improved pro￿sses, to enhance
Confiden￿ and skills and ensure a fair and consistent approach. Departmental facilitated
discussions and action plans in response to the Museum's People Engagement Survey have
encouraged a culture of collaboration and mutual trust, whilst ensuring that individuals are
listened to, valued and well informed.
Our work experience programme aims to break down barriers to museums and heritage
careers, offering an oversight across the wide range of Museum activities (Visitor Experience,
Access and Learning, Retail, HR and Volunteenng, Events, Communications and Marketing,
Exhibitions and Interpretation, Archives, Library and Research and Conservation teams) so
that students can see the variety available. During National Careers Week {4 - 9 March), the
Museum hosted a virtual insight day with Speakers for Schools- a charity that supports social
mobility by providing young people with work experience opportunities. The insight day was
delivered via livestream to 70 young people from the Midlands area and was developed and
presented by the Apprenticeship and Skills Pathway Manager. Each different museum
department was explored in detail, and small projects and polls set to encourage engagement.
The Museum has also partnered with Movement to Work- a Youth Employability Charity that
aims to provide experiences and opportunities for NEET (Not in Education, Employment or
Training) young people. Due to the Museum's pledge and success with the work experience
programme, we have been nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the Youth
Employability Awards by Movement to Work.
11 has been a busy and exciting year for Volunteering with nearly 400 active volunteers in total
172 at London, 180 at Midlands, 22 at our Stafford store, and 12 volunteering remotely. Our
volunteers donated a total of 19,814 hours in 2023-24, an increase of 10,271 hours on the
previous year- 13,004 hours were donated al Cosford, 6,605 hours at London and 205 hours
for those volunteers supporting the RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme.
Volunteers are now assisting in nearly every Museum department across our three siles.
During 2023-24 year we have recruited volunteers for both existing and new roles. In London
the Family Event Maker role was created. In the Midlands a new role was created to assist the
Retail team with the Spiffire Open Cockpit. Much of our volunteer activity has been linked to
the Midlands Development Programme, with nine new roles created for the Development
Phase, while funding has supported an audit of our current volunteers, skills and migration to
a new volunteer management system which has markedly improved onboarding and
communication.
Strategic Priority 3: Embedding an entrepreneurial, agile and sustainable approach
The Museum's Commercial Strategy, managed through the trading company, focuses on
maximising commercial opportunities and income generation, while delivering new and
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
improved experiences for our visitors. RAFMEL'S net profit after tax for the financial year 2023-
24 is £1,178,00012023'. £724,000), its most successful year to date, £301,000 above budget.
Bolh our public siles reported visitor numbers above annual targel, with London at 496,250
(18Q/o above) and Midlands 433,057 (10/0 above). Numbers have been supported by the return
of international tourists in London and the Museum's public events programme, with the
Cosford Air Show al RAF Cosford attracting 55,000 visitors to our Midlands site. Other events
have included our 1940s Week and Vintage Fair, Community Day and Hercules Flypast in the
Midlands, and our Pilot Training Programme in London. Although ULEZ was expanded to
coverthe London site during the yearwe have not seen any adverse impact on visitor numbers
or parking revenues thus far. Retail performance in particular has supported increased profits
with strong retail margins and conversion rates at both sites. The London catering and events
contract went out to tender during the financial year and was awarded to Graysons (from 4
January 2024)., with the Midlands Catering offer continuing to be delivered by Restaurant
Associates.
In line with our Fundraising Strategy and Plan, we continue to focus our efforts on campaign
fundraising for the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme,
building our pipeline with the support of the Museum Fundraising Board, while also delivering
essential revenue fundraising to support core activity.
Strategic Priority 4: Leading the way with brilliant basics
The Museum's Collections Development Strategy and associated policies and procedures are
entral to our delivery of effective museum managemenl and our audien￿ engagement. After
50 years of fomial collecting, the Museum continues to collect stories and objects lo reflect the
whole history of the RAF, including our priority lo represent today's seNice. The team also
continues work to rationalise the collection, improve storage and conservation, and to open up
a¢￿$S to connect with all our audien￿$ and share the rich and diverse story of the RAF
through its people, culture, technology, timeline and places.
Objects are collected, preserved and used proactively for a clear purpose of engagement,
including exhibitions, events programmes and research, in accordance with identified dynamic
collecting priorities. The Museum's London site includes a hub for small objects conservation,
which is complemented by the Museum's considerable large object conseNation expertise at
our Michael Beetham Conservation Centre IMBCCI al our Midlands sile.
During 2023-24, the work ofthe Museum's conservation team was dominated by aircraft move
activities alongside care and maintenance of aircraft and large objects on display. A total of 17
aircraft were moved to and wilhin the Midlands sile, including the Wellingion T.X to the new
Bomber Command exhibition following a 13-year restoration project. 14 aircraft were moved
to and within the London site, including a replica Mew Gull and the Westland Wallace for the
new Intetwar exhibition.
The Museum is in the eleventh year of a comprehensive Collections Review, with its
Collections Review Committee assessmenl surveys making recommendations for action in
line with the Museums Association's Code of Ethics. Vvhere objects or aircraft are duplicates,
or fall outside the Museum's Collection Development strategy, wherever possible these are
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
either offered as part of a proactive loans programme or gifted to Accredited museums
following the Museums, Association Disposals Toolkit guidelines. All disposals are approved
in accordance with the RAF Museum's Disposals Policy and Pr0￿dUreS. During the year, five
aircraft were transferred to new museum homes.
The team based at our Stafford store have supported the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum
Midlands Development Programme through a range of activities lo document objects, account
for hazards, improve storage arrangements and support the Collections Review.
Strategic Priority 5: Connecting with communities and partners
Exhibitions and Interpretation
C￿creatIon was key to the Interwar exhibition development. The team worked with local
communities to develop a timeline representing social and RAF developments during the
period. Dance students at Middlesex University co-created a film which visitors use to learn to
dance the Charleston. Students from the Animation course at the University produced an
innovative film introducing the interwar period to visitors. Local school children worked with the
team to develop an interactive in which visitors create their own squadron badge.
C￿creatIon is also central to the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development
Programme. Extensive consultation has been carried out with community groups, such as
Telford and Wrekin Young Carers, Carers Café attendees and the RAF Cadets, to define our
approach lo content and design. A programme of co-design workshops is developing
interpretation and design as a collaborative process. For example, workshops with our
Midlands Access Panel have explored the use of audio visual experien￿$ in the new exhibition
and methods of aircraft access.
Community Engagement, London
We continued to play a key role in local forums including the Grahame Park Strategy Group
and Colindale Consortium. This year we joined the group developing a Cultural Strategy for
Barnet. Relationships which continued this year included a series of bi-weekly sessions for
Age UK members, partnering with Barnet Libraries to launch theirsummer Reading Challenge,
and contributing activities as part of Burnt Oak Library's 'Saturday Socials,. Grahame Park
Independent Living Group returning for their annual picnic, and Barnet Young Carers enjoyed
facilitated sessions at the Museum. A local reading group and an art group continued to meet
weekly in the community room. The pholographs resulling from a visual storytelling project
with local residents went on display in our community gallery.
The Historic Hendon talk {which proved so popular during lockdown) continued to be offered
to care homes, demenlia groups and older people groups (bolh in-person and online). In the
Easter and summer holidays, the Museum once again ran Friday afternoon activities for local
children in receipt of free school meals as part of BACE Holidays (Barnet. Active. Creative.
Engaging. Holidaysl organised by Barnet Council and Young Barnet Foundation). A
relationship which re-started post-Pandemic was that with Home-start Barnet who joined us
once again, this time for sea-themed activities in the hangars.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
New relationships initiated and developed this year included sharing RAF stories as part of an
Armed Forces Day event at the Royal National OrthopaediG Hospital and representing the
Museum as part of'urban Gamez'_ a free to attend sport event on the Grahame Park Eslate.
Together with the London Borough of Barnet, we hosted an afternoon-tea to ￿lebrate the 75th
anniversary of Windrush and to Collect Windrush stories from local residents. We also offered
research skill support to 'The Community Researchers,, a group of local residents with an
interest in exploring specific aspects of the history of Colindale and Grahame Park.
In March 2024, we hosted our first London lfiar event, where approximately 300 members from
North London Muslim Scout groups came together to take part in various family activities and
to break their fast. For many, this was their first visit to the Museum.
We connected with ourfamily audience in a variety ofways.. a Windrush 75 Family Day in June
which celebrated local connections to Windrush and highlighted the RAF story which is such
a key part of Windrush., ￿lce monthly 'Little Swifts, sessions for the under-5s', and free
storytelling in local schools to celebrate Black History Month. To mark the Coronation of King
Charles11 I, a Coronation Quiz, a marching and military music resource, and a Royal aircraft
blog were produced.
We continued to connect with our young adult audience via the Museum's Youth Panel who
participated in a summer project where they curated a display to mark the 75th anniversary of
the Berlin Aitlift. We engaged with older audiences by joining with other local organisations for
a large Silver Sunday event held at Middlesex University.
Working with the London Borough of Barnet, we hosted a showcase of sustainability projects
in Barnet Schools. We also took part in a cultural afternoon at a local school which focused on
local history and the importance of the Museum as the cradle of aviation.
Led bythe Communily Engagement Manager, the RAF Museum London was re-accredited as
a Dementia Friendly Venue, communicating to visitors and staff that it is accessible to people
living with dementia and their families.
Community Engagement, Midlands
The Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme has been a key
focus of engagement this year, including piloting of future projects, with events held onsite and
offsite, hosting of community groups and other Museum-led activities. Digital Skills for over
60$ and two creative arts projects.
In April 2023, we had held our first Open Family Iftar in partnership with Equalinks CIC and a
Muslim Scout group, welcoming 103 guests, with our second Open Family Iftar in March 2024,
welcoming 187 people. In June 2023 we held our first Community Day in partnership with
Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council sharing stories of RAF personnel from diverse
backgrounds, with many people attending thal had not been to the Museum before.
In August 2023 we held our first Midlands-focussed Access Advisory Panels- one on-site and
one online. All members are registered as volunteers so that they can access the associated
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
support. The panels are held three times a year and contributions so far have included
consultation on both the outdoor realm and the prayer room to support the RAF Museum
Midlands Development Programme.
Carers Café activity piloting sessions have gone from strength to strength, with 6-10 regular
attendees each month and we have established a Carers Café Social, which takes pla
monthly and is an opportunity for carers to come along for an informal chat. We have continued
to engage a variety of groups. Examples of these are the male carers group from Telford and
Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service, who we welcomed for a tour and handling session. We
also welcomed a group of carers from Shropshire for Carers Week, the second year we have
been involved with Carers Week. Other groups that visited have included Dementia Singing
and the Friendly Faces group from Wombourne who provide activities focused on being social.
A co-creation project with a group of young carers resulted in the design of new placemats for
the Museum's restaurant.
The Community Engagement Manager and volunteers delivered sessions and activities offsite
including taking part in Armed Forces Days, one at Shrewsbury Castle and the other in
Telford. The Museum was also involved in the Black County Living Museum's 1940s weekend
in July 2023, where we took along the Spitfire cockpit. Over 1,200 people enjoyed silting in the
cockpit and trying on original RAF uniforms. Our volunteers ran a co-creation project with
Vvheatlands Care Home working with the residents of the home to create an immersive loan
box using items from the Museum's Handling Collection.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Perfomiance Analysis
The Museum uses a number of KPIS to regularly measure and assess its performan￿ and
these are reported to the Board on a quarterfy basis and reviewed by management on a
monthly basis.
Key Perfomiance Indicator:
Visitor numbers (including events such as the
Midlands Air Show)
London
Midlands
Total
Trading income £
Number of learners- onsite, online, offsite
London
Midlands
Total
Visitor satisfaction ratings,
Enjoyment
London
o Midlands
Value for Money
London
Midlands
Likelihood to recommend
London (net promoter score)
Midlands {net promoter scorel
2023-24
2022-23
496,250
433,057
929,307
4,447,000
427,980
395,704
823,684
4,305,000
44,057
44,909
88,966
40,316
40,371
80,687
91°
940/0
89%
910
920A
94°
960/0
730A
830
Social media interaction (no. of Facebook
followers, Twitter users, Instagram subscribers
and TikTok followers}
Social media engagement Ino. of likes, comments,
shares)
258,836
250,000
2,212,700
526,000
Visitor Numbers
Visitor numbers totalled 929,307 for 2023-24 (2023.. 823,6841, the highest ever outside of the
RAF Centenary year in 2018, showing a strong continued recovery from the impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic and economic pressures of the cost of living crisis.
Trading Income
Turnover of £4,447,000 is reported for the year (2023.. £4,035,000) with the increase on prior
year land corresponding increase in cost of sales) due mainly to the impact of higher visitor
numbers on commercial activity. During the year, a number of Museum staff and other
resources were utilised in furtherance of commercial activities resulting in a cross charge of
£654,000 {2023.' £693,000). The profit after taxation for the year was £1,178,000 (2023..
£724,000), with a distribution of £1,178,000 Gift Aid lo the Museum (2023.. £724,000).
Page 20

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
School Visits
London ended the year with a total of 44,057 learners (against a target of 31,000), split
between 37,396 formal learners (students in education) and 6,661 informal learners. Of the
37,396 formal learners, 92 % of Ihese visiled the Museum, 4 % took part in online workshops,
and 40/0 engaged as part of outreach activities.
As in previous years, satisfaction with the learning offer was high. In London, the teacher
feedback percentage raling the workshops as 'good' or 'excellent' was as follows. Booking
Process
1000/0, Curriculum relevance
99Q/o, Suitability for age group - 970A,' Pupils,
enjoyment of the workshop - 95 %, Level of Interactivity - 95 % , The facilitator - 980/0, Location
of the session (onsite) - 980kn', Ease of use of the technology {online) - 100 % , Reliability of the
technology lonlinel - 100°A', The overall learning experience- 97 %.
The Midlands ended the year with a total of 44,909 learners (against a target of 36,0001 split
between 29,239 formal learners {studenls in education} and 15,670 informal learners. Of the
29,329 formal learners, 87Q/o Vlslted the Museum, 10 /0 took part in online sessions (workshops
and special events), and 3 % engaged as part of outreach sessions. 55 schools and 1,800
learners participated online. Online numbers were high this year owing to the Key Stage 2 and
3 Glider Challenges which {with the prohibitive cost of coach hire for some schools) proved
popular in their online fomat.
Satisfaction levels continued to be high with teacher feedback percentage rating the following
as 'good' or 'excellent': Booking process- 94 % , Facilities - 990/0, Overall Learning Experien
100 %, Staff - 98 % , Expectations met- 960/0. 990/0 of respondents would book a retum visit.
Visitor Satisfaction
The suNeys show that both sites continue to achieve very high 'Enjoyment', 'Value for Money,
and 'Net promoter score, ratings that remain above the industry average. We are also happy
to report that both our London and Midlands sites received full accreditation under Visit
England's Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme, with London improving its overall
quality score to 89 % and our Midlands site to 940h from the previous year. As a result, our
Midlands site has been recommended for a Gold by the site's assessor, and we are currently
awaiting confirmation of the outcome.
Social Media Interaction
Total visits to the Museum's main website were recorded at 7.8 million visits (2023.. 5.4 million)
with a total of 2.1 million users visiting the website. This growth has been driven in part by the
strategy of running an always on digital marketing campaign that targets families at key
moments of their leisure planning. Also, as this website is used primarily as a planning tool for
visits, this increase also explains the increase in people returning to the Museum following
Covid-19, with both on-line and physical visitors now ex￿edIng numbers pre-pandemic.
Page 21

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�������� 



ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The quinquennial revaluation of both the freehold (London) and leasehold {Cosford and
Staffordl properties comprising the RAF Museum Estate took place in the prior year. For 202>
24, an annual revaluation adjustment of £1,373,000 upwards (2023.. £17,095,000) has been
made in the year-end accounts using Ihe annual indices provided by MOD lo comply with
Modified Historic Cost Accounting IMHCA) legislation per HM Treasury guidelines.
Afterlransfers be￿een funds and adjustment for recognised gains or losses on revaluation of
rixed assets, the net movement of funds for the year was an increase of £3,623,00012023'.
£17,748,000} and total funds carried forward as at 31 March 2024 amounted to £140,402,000
(2023. £136,779,000).
Grant in Aid Funding
Despite the challenges of recent years, the Museum is fortunate to be in a relatively stable
financial position, because we are c.700/0 funded through Government Grant in Aid, and partly
because we have a reserves policy in place to mitigate risk and build available funds for
delivery of Strategy 2030.
The MOD-funded National Museums (including the RAF Museum) were not eligible to a¢￿$S
the Government's £1.57BN Culture Recovery Fund, announced in the early stages of the
Covid-19 pandemic, which acknowledged the social and economic benefits that flow from
museums, and their importance as a major boost to national resilience, morale and pride, and
champions of inclusion, innovation and excellence. However, the Museum is extremely grateful
that the RAF as our MOD sponsor department, was able lo confirm a recovery allocation of
£1.56M in early March 2021 and £700k in March 2022. This enabled the Museum to mitigate
the negative financial impact of the pandemic in order to achieve operational breakeven for
2020-21 (£250k), 2021-221£355k), 2022-231£290kl and to budget for breakeven in 2023-24
(£106k). This recovery allocation has now been fully ulilised.
Within this context, the 2023-24 Public Body Review recommended that 'the department and
museums should consider building museum financial reserves for future resilience against
financial shock events such as a pandemic,. Air Command have therefore allocated an
additional £2M in year to establish a Resilience Resetve Fund to protect the RAF Museum
from a future financial shock (which could include, but is not limited to, unavoidable closure,
irreparable infrastructure failure, major cyber-attack) and provide funds for critical 'invest to
save projects, that further support the Museum's resilien￿.
The RAF Museum has not had aC￿sS to planned capital funds through the MOD for some
years, although we are fortunate that additional Grant in Aid capital allocations made within
the financial year (for the past three years) have supported us to continue to deliver essential
capital project works necessary to maintain and develop our sites for the long term. There has
been recognition from Government of the need for significant investment in UK museums,
infrastructure
national, regional and local with allocations made lo the DCMS National
Museums to address issues identified, plus the launch of the MEND fund to support regional
museums, but the long-tem need of the MOD-funded service museums has not been
addressed. We continue to workwith oursponsorto explore opportunities to indude a planned
capital allocation through the spending review in the same way as the DCMS-funded National
Museums.
Page 23

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Balance Sheet
The value ofthe group nel assets as at 31 March 2024 is £140,402,000 (2023.. £136,779,000).
The value of freehold and leasehold property represents 70 % of the Museum's net assets at
£98,756,000 (2023.. £98,033,000)., and the value of heritage assets lover the capitalisation
threshold and a¢￿SSioned since 1 April 20011 represents 160h of the Museum's net assets at
£22,199,00012023.' £21,627,000) {Note 7a). The Museum Group holds a cash at bank and in
hand balance as at 31 March 2024 of £14,320,000 12023. £12,289,000), with the increase
primarily due to the establishment of the Resilience Reserve Fund.
Trading Company
Any non-charitable activities are undertaken by RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Museum, with all profits gifi-aided to the parent charity. The trading company
generated total turnover of £4,636,00012023.' £5,057,000) (Note 4b}, with associated costs of
sales and overheads of£3,468,000 (2023.. £4,337,000}. During the year, a number of Museum
staff and other resources were utilised in furtherance of those activities resulting in a cross
charge of £654,000 {2023= 693,000). This resulted in a net profit in the subsidiary of £1,178,000
(2023.. £724,000} (Note 9).
Resernes Policy and Funds
During the year, and with reference to guidance from the Charity Commission, and further to
review and recommendation by the Audit and Risk Committee and Finan￿ and Resources
Committee (combined from 1 April 2024 as the Audit, Risk and ReSoUr￿S Committee), the
Trustees have confirmed that as at 31 March 2024 the organisation continues to hold
unrestricted and undesignated free reserves (that is funds not tied up in fixed assets or
designated or restricted funds) sufficient to cover months of budgeted operational
expenditure in order to enable financial stability and act as a safeguard against volatile and
unprediclable income streams and unforeseen expenditure or liabililies. Any remaining
operational net surplus {i.e., after transfers to I from the fixed asset fund and maintaining free
reserves of two months of planned operational expenditure) is transferred to the Strategy 2030
Designated Fund.
The Strategy 2030 Designated Fund is used to support delivery of the Museum's current key
strategic priorities as detailed in the strategic plan Strategy 2030 including.. planning for future
capital development al both sites,. ensuring the sustainability of the eslale,. recording of
contemporary stories of RAF men and women., and development of the Museum's collection
through new acquisitions.
The RAF Museum Midlands Designated Fund holdsfunds earmarked to support the Museum's
priority £27M RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme as part ofthe Cosford Master
Plan and Strategy 2030 ambition. In addition, the RAF Museum Midlands Match Designated
Fund was approved by Trustees to ringfence the Museum's commitment of funding to t
invested in the Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme.
In line with the Museum's reserve policy, unrestricted surplus funds of £1,631,000 have been
transferred to the Museum's Strategy 2030 Designated Fund. The closing balance held in
designated funds at 31 March 2024 is £7,093,00012023.' £5,528,000).
Page 24

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The Finance and Resources Committee monitors the levels of reseNes at the Museum on a
quartetly basis as part of their review of the Managemenl Accounts. The Board of Trustees
reviews the reserves policy when circumstances change and at least annually.
Payment of Creditors
The Museum's policy, in accordan￿ with the Government-wide standard on the payment of
creditors, is to settle all undisputed bills within 30 days or in accordance with the supplier's
terms of business. The Museum's actual payment performance during the year was an
average of 41 days (2023.. 36 days).
Investment Policy
The Trustees continually monitor levels of all the Charity's funds. Available fund5 are currently
invested in a variety of term deposits to maximise the level of return bul with minimum risk.
The amounts and terms of the investments are based on the Trustees, opinion of the
immediate and future needs of the Museum and the Chair of the Finance and Resources
Committee reviewed the principal deposits during 2023-24.
Environmental Policy and Sustainability Report
The Museum has committed to address the climate emergency through our operation and with
our audiences. We have established a Sustainability Group to engage with our team and
ensure environmental principles are always at the forefront of our thinking. We will operate in
an environmentally sustainable way, applying the principles of sustainable development for the
benefit of current and future generations.
The Museum's Sustainability Commitment agrees four areas of focus..
Reduce our operational impact- committing to carbon net zero by 2030 and reducing
the negative effects of our activities
Develop a resilient and diverse estate - prepare for the changing climate and support
diverse and rich ecology
Enable our people - provide the knowledge, tools and support to help us achieve and
exceed our commitments
Share and engage with our audiences - share the Museum's and RAF'S sustainable
journey, advocate awareness and action.
Key points of the commitment are..
Operate as carbon net zero by 2030
Commit to sustainable development for the RAF Midlands Development Programme
Reduce our consumption of non-renewable fuels and water across the Estate
Establish an environmental management system (EMSI in line with ISO 14001
Communicate and inform audiences and our staff on climate change
Provide resilient and biodiverse landscapes.
The Museum already has a number of initiatives in place which underpin Ihe creation of a more
sustainable and environmentally friendly organisation. These include energy conservation
measures, a comprehensive recycling programme and new building construction which is
consistent with reducing the Museum's carbon footprint. The Sustainability Group has
Page 25

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
established our Sustainability Baseline (Scope 1 and 2) for each site and is developing a
Sustainability Pathway to enable us to progress these initiatives and achieve our commitments.
The Museum measures performance againsl Ihe Greening Government Commitments (GGCI
framework for 2021- 2025, as summarised below against the baseline year 2017-18.
2017-18
Baseline
2023-24
Actual
Headline Target
baseline
Notes
Scope 3 information is not
available for 2017-18 and is
incomplete for 202>24. The
figures shown represent
scope 1 and 2 emissions
only. Reported emissions
are provided by energy
suppliers.
Food waste information is
incomplete and has been
excluded. We are working
to include this in future
years.
London 66 %,' Midlands 57Q/o
Working towards net
zero by 2050 (reduction
of 300A overall and 100/0
direct emissions)
1,584
tonnes
C02
1,372
tonnes
C02
13%
reduction
Reduce the overall
amount of waste
generated by 150
123
tonnes
65
tonnes
reduction
Increase the proportion
of waste which is
recycled to at least
700/0 of overall waste
9pp
below
target
32/0
61%
Reduce water
consumption by 80/0
Not
available
London only, data for other
sites and 2017-18 not
available.
7,529 m3
NIA
The following figures represent the Museum's best estimate of the impact of our activities on
the environment at a local and global level through the resources it consumes, the waste it
produces, its work patterns and the products it buys.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Non-
Scope 1
financial
Scope 2
indicators
(tonnes
C02}
Energy
consumption
Ilhousand
kWh}
2023-24
1,196
177
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
1,072
308
608
546
513
457
Not currently available
2017-18
758
826
Scope 3
Gas
Electricity
5,410
2,525
7,935
5,786
2,637
8,423
1,684
2,420
3,309
1,962
4,117
2,350
Total
4,104
5,271
6,467
Total energy
ost
889
628
463
403
414
Page 26

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Financial
indicators
Cost of
business
i£oooi
travel
Emissions include gas burned onsite and fuel for vehicles owned by the Museum. We
continue to make progress on emission reductions, with the replacement of aged assets,
including lighting repla￿MentS and careful control of plant. However, in line with our
Sustainability Commitment and developing Pathway, we target to lower our operational
emissions through investment in low carbon plant and careful controls and timings.
261
204
127
31
186
The Museum has infrequent travel by air and information on travel is not routinely captured.,
air travel is treated as exceptional travel by default with lower carbon options preferred and
a commitment made not to travel by air within the UK mainland. The Museum has switched
to a ￿ntralIsed travel booking system and we are beginning to collect data on the amount
of usage, type of travel (car hireltrain) etc and the purpose of the journey, with the aim of
reporting on this in 2024-25. The Museum uses videoconferencing and collaboration
systems, and Museum staff are encouraged to challenge whether in-person meetings at
other siles are necessary and whether the meeting could instead be conducted online
instead. However, the Museum remains conscious of the positive benefits creatively and for
personal wellbeing to our teams coming together in person, which is reflected in ils hybrid
working guidan￿.
Waste management
Non-
Residual
financial
waste
indicators
{incinerated
Ilonnes)
for energy)
Recycled
Total waste
recycled
Total disposal
cost
2023-24
2022-23
2017-18
25
18
83
40
65
61
50
68
72
40
123
32
Financial
indicators
i£oooi
The Museum operates a zero to landfill policy, with residual wasle used as waste lo energy.
While overall recycling has improved on the 2017-18 baseline a waste management plan is
in place to support further improvements. The Museum has a catering offer at its London
and Midlands sites as a commercial operation and we continue to work with our contract
catering partners to reduce food wastage.
33
36
NIA
Paper use
Non-financial indicator (A4
reams)
The Museum records paper use within the offices from 2019-20. Reductions have been
achieved with the installation of print-on-demand network printers and mandatory double-
sided printing as the default. The paper used in advertising, packaging and other areas is
not recorded and has been excluded from the above figures.
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
440
432
495
309
626
Page 27

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Water consumption
Non-
financial
indicators
Im'l
Financial
indicators
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
Total water
consumption
7529
2775
2559
11623
NIA
Total water
cost
17
12
i£oooi
The Museum's London site is metered, however, historic information on water use is not
available. Figures provided from 2020-21 are based on eslimaled usage provided by the
supplier and relate to the Museum's London site only, as the other sites are leasehold
consumption information is not available. Reduction in water use is undertaken on an
opportunity basis such as using low water use taps and controlled urinal flushing. In addition,
water use on landscape management is limited. The large consumption (and consequent
costl in both 2020-21 and 2023-24 is due to major leaks at the London site.
Sustainable procurement
The Museum's existing contracts do not contain specific requirements for supply chain
reporting on sustainability as slandard, although elements of sustainabilily and social value
are evaluated in the procurement tender prO￿ss, particularly for major projects. The
Museum's procurement policies will be further updated to reflect our commitment to
sustainable procurement in 2024-25.
Nature recovery and biodiversity action planning
The Museum's estate has limited potential lo improve overall biodiversity. However, in line
with our Sustainability Commitment we manage and develop our estate to improve and
sustain ecology. The Museum's estate contains areas of public grassland, managed planting
and more wild areas as well as small copses of trees. The London site contains a swale that
serves as an important sile for wildlife in addition lo providing a sustainable surface water
run-off. a corner of our London site is purposely left wild, with minimal interventions following
a landscape review in 2020 which identified it as an important habitat and source of food for
local wildlife. The Museum's Midlands site contains grassed banks which have minimal
intervention and trees which link into the nearby woodland,. improvements lo the landscape
are planned as part as our Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development
Programme with additional trees and planting.
Climate Change Adaption
The Museum inlends to undertake a Climate Change Risk Assessment in 2024-25 to inform
a longer-term Climate Change Adaption Strategy and Plan as part of our internal
Sustainability Commitment and Pathway.
Reducing environmental impacts from Infomiation Communication Technology
{ICT) and digital
The Museum5 IT department is reviewing the targets of the ICT and digital services strategy
2020-25 however, in the interim, il has made significant progress in the removal of redundant
and inefficient IT legacy assets and actively seeks to reuse assets where appropriate. The
Page 28

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
IT department has begun a project of server virtualisation to reduce the number of physical
servers required. Physical servers used for testing purposes are switched off when not in
use. The rollout of video conferencing facilities in 2021-22 has supported colleagues to work
from home as well as reducing business travel between sites.
Auditors
The accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The fee for the audit of the
Group 2023-24 accounts was £52,30012023.' £50,175). This includes the NAO fee of £41,000
and Hillier Hopkins fee of £11,300 for the audit of RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd (RAFMEL).
So far as I, as Accounting Officer of the Museum, and as we, as its Trustees, are aware..
al there is no relevant audit information of which the Museum's auditors are unaware., and
bl we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken to make ourselves aware of
any relevant audit infomiation and to establish that the Museum's auditors are aware
of that information.
ACM Sir Stephen Hillier GCB CBE DFC
Chair
Margaret Appleton MBE
Chief Executive Officer and
Accounting Officer
on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Royal Air Force Museum
22 July 2024
22 July 2024
Page 29

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT
Corporate Governance Report
This report sets out the arrangements for the governance of the Museum, including the Board
and Committee structure for the Trustees. It specifically shows how the organisation identifies
and manages key risks and provides the assurance from Ihe Chair of the Board of Truslees
and Accounting Officer.
Trustees have complied with their duty in seclion 11 of Ihe Charities Act 2011 to have due
regard lo guidance published by Ihe Charity Commission. Truslees are also mindful of the
Commission's guidance on public benefit.
Page 30

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Chief Executive OffiCe￿S report and governance statement
The Governance Framework
The Royal Air Force Museum is incorporated by Royal Charter with company number
RC000922 and is a charity registered with the Charity Commission (registration number
1197541), governed in accordance with the Charter and Bye-laws. On 1 April 2022, all assets,
activities and resources were transferred from an unincorporated charity Iregistralion number
2447081 of the same name and address which was governed in accordance with a Deed of
Trust dated 4th June 2007 to deliver the same charitable objects.
The Museum is an accredited National Museum and non-departmental public body INDPBI
obliged to comply with HM Treasury financial reporting requirements set out in the Financial
Reporting Manual and the guidance contained in Managing Public Money. There is a
Framework Document in place which defines the arrangements between the Museum and its
sponsor department, the Ministry of Defence, relating to the receipt of Grant in Aid and the
conditions for its expenditure alongside a Partnering Agreement between the RAF and the
Museum. The Partnering Agreement and Framework Document relevant to the 2023-24
financial year is effective from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027.
The Trustees and the Committee Structure
The RAF Museum is governed by a Board ofTrustees chaired by Air Chiefmarshal Sir Stephen
Hillier GCB CBE DFC, who succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford GCB CBE DL in
March 2022. The Charities Act 2011 requires the Trustees to exercise proper stewardship over
the Museum and to take care of its collections.
The Chief Executive Officer ofthe Museum, Margaret Appleton MBE, is the Accounting Officer
responsible to Parliament forthe day-to-day management ofthe Museum as set out in Chapter
3 of Managing Public Money.
Trustees are appointed by the Secretary of Stale for Defence in accordance with the provisions
of the public appointments process set out in the Office of the Commissioner of Public
Appointments Code of Practice. From 1 April 2022, under the new Charter and Bye-laws,
appointment terms are of three years and Trustees can be re-appointed for a second term of
equivalent length. The number of Nominated Trustees can be between seven and fifteen,
which aligns with Governance best practi￿, while retaining flexibility to manage both planned
and unfofeseen resignations. The Board of Trustees may also appoint up to three additional
Co-opted Trustees by majority approval to serve on the Board and both co-opted Trustees and
other individuals may serve on specific sub-committees to supplement the experience of Board
members.
The Trustees receive induction training with the Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership
team (SLT) and are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Museum's priorities through
work in sul>committees where they are supported by the Museum's executive, and by
attending and hosting Museum events and receptions. A Trustee Development Framework is
in place and all Trustees are asked to complete a mandatory selection of relevant online
courses including Safeguarding Children, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Bullying and
Harassment for Managers and Unconscious Bias for Managers. Trustees are made aware of
governance courses such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Page 31

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
(ICAEW) online Trustee Training course, developed with the Charity Commission, which
provides an overview of charity trustees, legal and financial responsibilities and their strategic
and operational considerations. In addition, Board development sessions are now scheduled
twice a year ahead of each Board meeting.
A Trustee skills audit was completed in 2020-21 led by the Nominations and Governan
Committee {NGCI. The Museum also commissioned an external facilitator lo lead a Board
effectiveness review (the previous external review was held in 2017-181. The review completed
in early 2020-21 highlighting no significant COn￿rnS and an away day, originally postponed
due to Covid, was held to review its recommendations in De￿mber 2021. The Nomination
and Governance Committee has continued lo monitor follow up priorities, and review Board
structure, processes and perfO￿an￿ and a proposal was accepted by the Board (effective
April 2024) to combine the Audit and Risk Committee with Finance and Resource5 Committee
(to theAudit, Risk and Resources Committee), and Staffing and Remuneration Committee with
Nominations and Governance Committee (to the People and Governance Committee} to
furtherstreamline the governance structure. A further independently-led review ofthe Museum
and its two service museum partners, the National Museum ofthe Royal Navy and the National
Army Museum was carried out under the Cabinet offi￿,$ Public Bodies Reviews Programme
in 2022-24. This considered the governance, accountability and efficiency ofthe museums and
concluded that they are effective in fulfilling their purpose. The Museum is now following up
the review recommendations with its sponsor body and museum partners.
During the year, the Museum recruited two new co-opted Trustees in order to better represent
and serve the population of the UK in terms of breadth of skills and cultural diversity.
The Board of Trustees Sub-committees
The Board of Trustees have established a number of sub-committees for specific purposes
and to ensure the effective conduct of business. The Board of Truslees is responsible for
appointing to the sub-committees from within its membership and all sub-committee actions
are taken on behalf of the Trustees as a whole, with recommendations made to the Board as
appropriate.
For 2023-24 these sub-committees comprise Audit and Risk {providing assuran￿ on issues
of risk, control and governance)., Finance and Resources (responsible for financial control,
governance and investment), Major Projects and Programmes (responsible for major capital
and programme development),. Staffing and Remuneration {providing assurance that the
Museum's HR strategy, policies and procedures are appropriate and effectivel,. and a
Nominations and Governance Committee (keeping under review the leadership needs of the
Museum - both trustee and executive
are effective). The Museum also has a Research
Advisory Board, chaired by Sebastian Cox OBE, Head ofthe Air Historical Branch oflhe Royal
Air Force and an Ethics Advisory Board comprising Trustees and Senior Leadership Team
members.
The terms of reference of each of these sub-committees have been approved by the full Board.
The table overleaf shows the number of meetings and attendan￿. The Board nomially meets
On￿ a quarter, and these scheduled meetings are summarised in the table. Minutes of all
Board and Su￿coMmittee meetings are maintsined. Trustees complete a declaration of
Page 32

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
interests each year with an agenda prompt at each Committee and Board meeting regarding
any possible conflicts of interest or loyalty.
Truslee attendance is shown as the number of meelings altended in relation to the number of
meetings held whilst each individual was a member of the relevant committee. The Chair of
Trustees also chairs the Nominations and Governan￿ Committee and may attend other
committees across the year.
The Museum has two subsidiary companies, RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd and RAF Museum
Investments Ltd, although the decisions taken by these companies remain primarily their
responsibility, summaries of activity are reported through the Board.
The following individuals served as Trustees during 2023-24..
Board of Trustees
Attendance
Air Chief
Marshal Sir
stephen
Chair of
Board
Chair NGC
11-Ocl-21
314
112
212
John Banks
2&Jul-21
Chair FRC
414
414
414
Josh Chana
5-Oct-23
313
113
Chair SRC
Ilerm ended
19-Mar-24
Dr Carol Cole
23-Mar-15
414
212
212
David
Cooper
23-Jul-21
414
414
Dr Rodney
Eastwood
Chair ARC
(term ended
19-Mar-24
Chair
RAFMEL
Board
23-Mar-15
414
313
212
Jonathan
Field
23-Jul-21
414
212
414
Matthew
Gilpin
23-Jul-21
414
313
212
Page 33

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Hemma
Gooljar
Waseem
Mahmood
Oct-23
313
23-Jul-21
414
314
Julie
McGarvey
Air Marshal
Peter
Ruddock
17-May-16
414
414
414
23-Jul-21
414
414
Nick Sanders
7-July-16
Chair MPPC
414
414
The Board Chair is not a formal member of this committee but invited to take part l observe
as they wish.
Truslees who are members of RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd are shown above. There are
five additional non-executive directors.
Register of Interests
A register of Trustees, interests is maintained. Trustees are required to declare any interest,
pecuniary or otheNise, in any matter being considered by the Board. Related Parties are
disclosed in Note 17 of the Financial Statements.
The Board of Trustees, Performance
The Board has supported the organisation to successfully deliver its strategic objectives as
outlined in the approved over-arching ten-year Strategy 2030 and Business Plan 202>24.
Reports from each sutr*committee are circulated to all Trustees with routine papers for the
quartetly meetings of the full Board and Su￿coMmittee Chairs highlighting any matters of
particular interest or concern for the attention of the full Board.
There is a wide range of infomiation and data (financial and otherwise} routinely available to
Trustees, including detailed management accounts quarterly to the Finance and Resources
Committee and summary management accounts quarterly to the full Board, which the Board
considers to be adequate management information.
Personal Data Loss
An incident is defined as a loss, unauthorised disclosure or insecure disposal. Protected
personal data is information that links an identifiable living person with information about them
which, if related, would put the individual at significant risk of harm or distress., the definition
includes sources of information that because of the nature of the individuals or the nature,
Sour￿ or extent of the infomation, is treated as protected personal data by the Museum.
There have been no such losses during 2023-24.
Intemal Auditors
The Museum's intemal auditors are RSM Risk Assurance Services LLP (appointed in
November 2019}, who work to the Public Sector Internal Audrt Standards and provide an
independent opinion for the financial year 2023-24 {contract year five) on the matters subject
to review through the annual internal audit programme. The work programme is signed off by
Page 34

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
the Trustees, Audit and Risk Committee and the report of the internal auditors is received by
that same sub-committee. The tender and appointment of RSM Risk Assurance Services LLP
(RSMI was made as a joint initialive with our partner SeNice Museums- the National Army
Museum and National Museum of the Royal Navy - to foster the sharing of best practice and
economies of scale, including a shared thematic review to be agreed upon by all parties.
As part ofthis plan RSM have carried out several reviews for the RAF Museum this past year,
including safeguarding., cyber risk", recruitment, retention and succession planning., financial
controls around car-parking., a follow-up report on identified management actions from prior
year audit reviews, and one shared Service Museums thematic review looking at visitor
experien￿.
The intemal auditors provide an annual independent opinion, based upon the audit programme
and limited to the work performed, on the overall adequacy and effectiveness ofthe Museum's
risk management, control and governance processes. The internal audit opinion for 2023-24
is one of moderate assurance, stating that some improvements are required to enhance the
adequacy and effectiveness of the framework of governan￿, risk management and control.
To inform the governan￿ opinion for 202>24, the internal auditors have taken into
consideration the g0Veman￿ related elements within each of the assignment reviews
undertaken as part ofthe 2023-24 intemal audit plan. To inform the risk management opinion
for 2023-24, the internal auditors have considered the risk mitigation procedures within each
of the assignmenl reviews undertaken. In addition, their governance and risk management
opinion was informed by attendance at meetings of the Audit and Risk Committee throughout
the year. The results of the internal audit assignment reviews have been taken into
consideration in determining the internal control opinion for 2023-24. Of the five assurance
assignments, it was concluded that the Board could take reasonable assurance in four areas
and partial assurance in the other.
The Audit, Risk and Resour￿5 Committee accepted the opinion and findings of the internal
auditors. Progress against recommendations and risk status will continue to be monitored by
the Committee as part of the internal audit follow up review process. RSM'S five year contract
is now complete and during 2023-24 the three Service Museums undertook a further joint
tender process, appointing Azets to provide intemal audit services for the next three to five
financial years from 2024-25.
Exlemal Auditors
The external auditor of the Museum is the Comptroller and Auditor General with the audit
conducted by the National Audit Office. The external auditor of its trading subsidiary, Royal Air
Force Museum Enterprises Ltd, is Hillier Hopkins LLP. The accounts are consolidated.
Risk Management
The Museum's internal control system is designed to manage risk to a reasonable level, rather
than eradicate all risk of failure. Therefore, il can only provide reasonable and not absolute
assurance of effectiveness. In managing risk, we identify the opportunities and risks in
achieving our strategic objectives, evaluate the likelihood of those risks being realised, the
impact should they be realised and the controls in pla￿ to manage them efficiently and
Page 35

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
effectively. The Museum's approach to risk management and the process for implementation
are documented in a Corporate Risk Management Strategy (reviewed and updated in 2021-
22).
The strategy is supported by our Strategic Risk Register, which groups our highest priority risk
areas into key strategic risks which is reviewed regularly by the senior leadership team. The
Audit and Risk Committee review strategic risks at each meeting and the Board review
annually. Each department holds a detailed operational risk register and updates them
regularly with input from their teams, with departmental risks reported to group directors and
all new risks or residual risks that have been increased noted. Project and programme risks
are included in status reports to the executive Programme Board. Any Departmental or
Programme risks rated redlhigh when mitigated are summarised in a Corporate Risk Register
which is reviewed quarterly by the senior leadership team and at each meeting by the Audit
and Risk Committee.
Risk management overall is viewed as a dynamic process which actively seeks to incorporate
good practice. It is responsive and current and is managed through regular review of both
internal developments and external factors
the political, social, economic, demographic,
technological, environmental and legal developments that may Influen￿ our exposure to risks
or opportunities. As an NDPB the Museum has a low-risk appetite in relation to compliance,
regulation and to our key strategic risks. In areas where we aim to be relevant and influential,
we are prepared to take calculated risks. Risk appetite has been set by the Trustees and is
reviewed annually for appropriateness by the senior leadership team and Audil and Risk
Committee. The senior leadership team monitor whether our overall risk profile is
commensurate with our risk appetite on an ongoing basis. The key risks identified, and the
actions taken to dale are set out below.
The strategic risk of financial instability due to macro-economic factors is substantially
mitigated by confirmed annual Grant in Aid, alongside the Museum's proven agility to flex
variable and project costs. Nevertheless, a high proportion of planned Museum spend is
ne￿$Sary to support effective operations and lor drive visitor numbers l income, and cost
reductions may impact detrimentally on Museum outcomes and impact even where activities
are not immediately essential. Identified risks for the financial year ahead include the negative
impact of lowerthan targeted visitor numbers on self-generaled income. We have factored the
temporary closure of Colindale station into our London numbers, but delays to the reopening
of the station or lack of suitable altemative transport options could reduce visitors further,
although early indications are that the impact is manageable. Sector challenges to retention
and recruitment in response to cost-of-living pressures is mitigated by an acknowledged pride
in working for the Museum and a clear commitment to investing in our staff team and the
development of a dynamic, diverse and collaborative culture. Failure to raise income to agreed
revenue and campaign fundraising targets would delay delivery of agreed projects and
programmes such as the ambitious Inspiring Everyone.. RAF Museum Midlands Development
Programme. Although there will be morale I reputational risk if the latter target is not reached,
subslantial progress has already been made, and work will not commence until funds are fully
in place so the Museum is not at risk financially.
Page 36

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The RAF Museum's Strategy 2030 outlines a robust financial model into the future, with
operational savings continued to be identified and our resourcing model stream-lined,
fundraising and trading activity to be increased and diversified, and programmes developed
that attracl funding support, to enable significant investment and development at both siles.
There is and will continue to be continued pressure on Government funding and competition
for funding from donors and trusts and foundations.
The Collections Review supports both care of the collection and development and delivery of
our programming. An important strand of this review is delivery of digitisation of the collections,
opening access to audiences while ensuring collection care is maintained. This will require
considerable investment which is the reason for the risk of 'failure to adequately care for
collections, remaining at a medium level assessment.
As WTth the risk of financial instability, the risks from major incidents of any nature can only be
mitigated to a certain degree, but the creation of the Museum's Resilience Reserve Fund with
support from our sponsor body is a substantial mitigation. Museum plans include phased
capital investment in infrastructure and continued assuran￿ of effective processes in place.
Further to considerable progress thus far, one of the key strategic priorities for the Museum
and a focus for the next financial year is to continue to invest in building the strong and
sustainable basic foundations required to fully achieve the future vision.
Assurance Statement by the Audit, Risk and Resources Committee
The Audit, Risk and Resources Committee are reasonably confident that the reliability,
integrity, quality and comprehensiveness of the aSsUran￿S provided by the RAF Museum's
internal and external auditors, and by management, are presently sufficient to support the
Board and Accounting Officer in their decision making and in the fulfilment of their
accountability obligations. Internal controls are monitored during the year by the RAF
Museum's executive leam and independent internal audit review and findings reported to the
Audit, Risk and Resources Committee. The Audit, Risk and Resources Committee will
ontinue to draw to the Board's and Accounting Officerfs attention any matters of concern.
Page 37

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�������� 



ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Remuneration and Staff Report
In accordance with the Financial Reporting Manual the RAF Museum has prepared this report
containing ￿rtain information about directors, remuneration. 'Directors' is interpreted to mean
persons in senior positions having authority or responsibility for directing or controlling the
major activities of the Museum. The figures in the remuneration and staff report are subject to
audit. The total number of employees whose emoluments for the year exceeded £60,000 is
given in note 6, together with information on staff numbers and costs.
None of the directors were members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme {PCSPSI
and the Museum did not fund any Civil Service pension contributions for them in 202>24. The
Museum, under the auto-enrolment scheme (NESTI made employer's contribution to the
directors, pension at the rate of 5 % of their salary. Perfomiance bonuses paid to directors are
non-contractual. All employees, including directors, received £100 shopping vouchers as a
thank you for their commitment and perfomance during 2023-24, which are included as
benefits in kind in the table below. All of the directors have contracts of employment carrying
a period of notice of three months.
Perform
ance-
related
pay and
bonuses
Single figure of
total
remuneration
Salary
Benefits
in kind
Pension
Benefits
TOTAL
TOTAL
2023-24
{2022-23)
2023-24
{2022-23)
2023-24
(2022-23)
Nearest
£100
2023-24
12022-241
2023-24
2022-23
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Margaret
Appleton MBE
CEO
115-120
1110-115)
1>51_)
100 {100)
115-120
110-115
Marguerite
Jenkin
Director of
Finance and
Resources
95-100
{90-951
1>5 (_)
100 {100)
95-100
90-95
Barry Smith
Director of
Visitor and
Commercial
Development
Karen Whitting
Director of
Content and
Programmes
95-100
{90-951
1>5 (_)
100 {100)
95-100
90-95
95-100
{90-951
1>5 (_)
100 (100)
95-100
90-95
Page 39

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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
25th percentile
remuneration
Median
remuneration
75th percentile
remuneration
2024
2023
/0 change
£23,325
£22,216
4.99 %
£28,849
£28,437
1.45/0
£35,330
£33,351
5.93/0
The Board of Trustees comprised eleven members at 31 March 2024, including one ccpopted
Trustee, none of whom were full time employees of the Museum and they were reimbursed
with £5,925 in expenses (2023.. £4,737). Ten Trustees claimed expenses 12023.. Eighll.
Expenses claimed comprise reasonable travel, subsistence and accommodation as required
to meet Trustee responsibilities in accordan￿ with the Museum's Travel and Subsisten
Policy.
Sickness absence (not subject to audit)
The Royal Air Force Museum employed 20212023.. 200) members of staff as at 31 March
2024. In addition, the trading subsidiary employed 3612023.. 421 members of staff at 31 March
2024. Periods of sickness absence are recorded in full days. The average number of days of
sickness absence was 5.5 days per person {2023.' 2.25). Long term absences have been
excluded.
Pension Costs and Benefits
The Museum's accounting policy in relation to Pensions is provided at Note 1 to the Financial
Statements. From May 2014 the Museum has automatically enrolled all employees into a
National Employment Savings Trust INESTI pension scheme unless the employees choose
to opt out. The NEST pension scheme is a defined contribution pension scheme that was
created as part of the government's workplace pensions reform underthe Pensions Act 2008.
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Museum and the Museum is
unable to identify our share of the liability, employer's contributions are charged to the
statement of Financial Activities as they occur.
Pension benefits for a small number of longer serving staff are provided through the Civil
Service Pension Scheme (CSPS), comprising the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
(PCSPS) and alpha. The CSPS is an unfunded muhi-employer defined benefit scheme but the
RAF Museum is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities. A full
actuarial valuation was carried out as at 31 March 2020 (signed 2021 }. Details can be found
on the CSPS website here..
htt s.1￿.C1VI1Se￿I
nsionscheme.o
.uklaboul-us/scheme-valuationsl.
For 2023-24 employer's contributions of £88,768 were payable12023.' £86,758) through the
CSPS. The applicable rates for the CSPS are shown below=
Gross Salary
Rate %
£77,001 and over
30.3
£45,501- £77,000
27.9
£23,001- £45,500
27.1
Up to £23,000
26.6
Page41

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
The contribution rates reflect benefits as they are accrued, not when costs are actually
incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme. Pension benefits are provided through
the Civil SeNice pension arrangements in pla￿ prior to 30th July 2007, with the unfunded cost
of benefits met by monies voted by Parliament each year. Any members affected by the Public
Service Pensions Remedy were reported in the 2015 scheme for the period between 1 April
2015 and 31 March 2022 in 2022-23, but are reported in the legacy scheme for the
same period in 202&24. Further details about the Civil Service pension arrangements can be
found at the website.. w￿.cIvIlserV1Ce.
ov.ukj
ensions.
Reporting of civil Se￿iCe and other compensation schemes- exit packages
(Comparative data for the prior financial year is shown in brackelsl
Number of
compulsory
redundancies
Total number of
exit packages by
cost band
Exit packagè cost band
Number of other
departures agreed
£10000
10 00￿25 000
25 OOlk£S0 000
50 001￿£75 000
otal number of exit
acka
es
otal resource cosu £
£17,633
£17,633
Redundancy and other departure costs are, where appropriate, paid in accordan￿ with the
provisions of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, a statutory scheme made under the
Superannuation Act 1972. Exit costs are accounted for in full in the year of departure. Vvhere
the department has agreed early retirements, the additional costs are met by the department.
111-health retirement costs are met by pension scheme and are not included in the table.
Trade Union Facility Time (not subject to audit)
Table 1
Full-time equivalent
2023-24
2022-23
Number of employees who were relevant union officials
during the relevant period
Table 2
Numbor of employees
2023-24
2022-23
Percentage of time
Table 3
Figures
2023-24
2022-23
Total cost of facility time
Total pay bill
Per￿ntage of the total pay bill spent on facility time
233
6,894,000
452
6,118,000
Page 42

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Table 4
Percent
2023-24
2022-23
Time spent on paid trade union activities as a percentage
of total paid facility time
other Staff Costs
Further details relating to the Museum's other staff costs can be found in Note 6 to the financial
statements.
Volunteers (not subject to audit)
The support of our volunteers is vital to our Museum activities, with a diverse range of people
generously giving their lime to work alongside our paid staff team in a wide variety of areas,
from front-of-house roles interacting with our visitors, to behind-the-scenes work caring for our
collection in person or researching funding opportunities online. They contribute their skills,
time and enthusiasm, connect with a diverse range of people as part of the RAF Museum
family, and help us create meaningful experiences for them as individuals and for our
audien￿$ at our London or Midlands sites, or remotely by supporting projects such as RAF
Stories. During 2023-24, 386 individuals worked with the Museum in volunteer roles
contributing a total of 19,814 hours12023'. 9,5431.
Page 43

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Parliamentary accountability and audit report
All expenditure is regular and has been applied as intended by donors and the Museum's
sponsor body. There are no conlingent liabilities, gifts, fees, charges or losses and special
payments requiring further disclosure that have not been reported elsewhere in these financial
statements. This paragraph is subject to audit.
Expenditure trend over the past five financial years is shown below..
Long term expenditure trend
20,000,000
19,000,000
18,000,000
17,000,000
16.000,000
15.000,000
14,000,000
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Expenditure reduced in 2021>21 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with some
projects paused, sites closed to the public and staff placed on furlough, and a corresponding
decline in trading costs. In 2021-22 spending returned to pre-pandemic levels as both sites
reopened during the year, with the Museum's recovery stabilising in the financial year 2022-
23, the first full year of trading activity post-pandemic. The financial year 2023-24 has seen the
Museum's expenditure at a similar level to prior year. Staff costs have increased over and
above the increase in the Museum's grant in aid (which has declined over the period in real
temisl, and resources have been carefully managed to meet the target of operational
breakeven.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 1 July 2024 and signed 22 July 2024 on its behalf
by:
ACM Sir Stephen Hillier GCB CBE DFC
Chair
Margaret Appleton MBE
Chief Executive Officer and
Accounting Officer
on beha￿ ofthe Board of Trustees
Royal Air Force Museum
Page 44

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## **�������������������** 

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���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� _����������������������������_ ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ 

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�������� 



ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, I have concluded that the Royal Air Force Museum and its
Group's use of the going concem basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial
statements is appropriate.
Based on the work I have performed, I have not identified any material uncertainties relating
to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Royal
Air Force Museum and ils Group's ability to continue as a going concem for a period of at least
twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
My responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and Accounting Officer
with respect lo going concern are described in the relevanl seclions of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, but does not
include the financial statements nor my auditor's report thereafter. The Board of Trustees and
Accounting Officer are responsible for the other information.
My opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other infomiation and, except to the
extent othe￿iSe explicitly stated in my report, I do not express any form of assurance
conclusion thereon.
My responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other
information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or my knowledge obtained
in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If l identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, l am required to
determine whether this gives rise to a material misslatement in the financial stalements
themselves. If, based on the work I have performed, I conclude that there is a material
misstatement of this other information, l am required to report that fact.
I have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinion on other matters
In my opinion the part of the Remuneration and Staff Report to be audited has been properly
prepared in accordance with HM Treasury's Government Financial Reporting Manual.
In my opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit..
the parts of the Accountability Report subject to audit have been properfy prepared in
accordan￿ with HM Treasury's Government Financial Reporting Manual.,
the information given in the Perfomiance and Accountability Reports for the financial
year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements and is in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.
Page 46

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Matters on which I report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Royal Air Force Museum and its Group
and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, I have not identified material
misstatements in the Performance and Accountability Reports.
I have nothing to report in respect of the following matters which I report to you if, in my opinion..
Adequale accounting records have nol been kepi by the Royal Air Force Museum
and its Group or returns adequate for my audit have not been received from branches
not visited by my staff., or
I have not received all of the information and explanations I require for my audit., or
the financial statements and the parts of the Accountability Report, subject to audit
are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns., or
certain disclosures of remuneration specified by HM Treasury's Government
Financial Reporting Manual have not been made or parts ofthe Remuneration Report
to be audited is not in agreement with the accounting records and retums., or
the Governance Statement does not reflect compliance with HM Treasury's guidance
Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and Accounting Officer for the financial
statements
As explained more fully in the Statement ofthe Board ofTrustees' and Chief Executive Officer's
Responsibilities, the Board of Trustees and the Accounting Officer is responsible for..
maintaining proper accounting records.,
providing the C&AG with access to all information of which management is aware that
is relevant to the preparation of the financial statements such as records,
documentation and other matters.,
providing the C&AG with additional infomation and explanations needed for his audit-
providing the C&AG with unrestricted access to persons within the Royal Air Force
Museum and its Group from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit
evidence.,
ensuring such internal controls are in place as deemed necessary to enable the
preparation of financial statement to be free from material misstatement, whether due
to fraud or error.,
preparing group financial statements, which give a true and fair view, in accordan
with Charities Act 2011.,
preparing the Annual Report, which includes the Remuneration and Staff Report and
Governance Statement, in accordan￿ with HM Treasury's Government Financial
Reporting Manual., and
assessing the Royal Air Force Museum and ils Group's ability to continue as a going
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the
going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Trustees and the Accounting
Officer either intends to liquidate the entrty or to cease operations, or has no realistic
allernative but to do so.
Page 47

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial ststements
My responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance
with section 151 of the Charities Act 2011.
My objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as
whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a
report that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not
a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance wilh ISAS (UK) will always detect a material
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting non<ompliance with
laws and regulations including fraud
I design procedures in line with my responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material
misstatements in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud. The
exlent lo which my procedures are capable of detecting non-compliance wilh laws and
regulations, including fraud is detailed below.
Identifying and assessing potential risks related to non<ompliance with laws and
regulations, including fraud
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of non-compliance with
laws and regulations, including fraud, l=
considered the nature of the sector, control environment and operational performan
including the design of the Royal Air Force Museum and its Group's accounting
policies.
inquired of management, Royal Air Force Museum's head of internal audit and those
harged with governance, including obtaining and reviewing supporting
documentation relating to the Royal Air Force Museum and its Group's policies and
prO￿dureS on..
identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations.,
detecting and responding to the risks of fraud., and
the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-
compliance with laws and regulations including the Royal Air Force Museum
and its Group's controls relating to the Royal Air Force Museum's compliance
with Ihe Charities Act 2011.,
inquired of management, the Royal Air Force Museum's head of internal audit and
those charged with governance whether..
they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and
regulations.,
they had knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud.,
discussed with the engagement team including significant component audit teams
regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any
potential indicators of fraud
Page 48

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�������� 



ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted Re*ictsd Total Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Funds
Fund$ Funds
Funds
Funds Funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Notss
Income from
Donatlons and legacles
Grant in aid
Grants and donations
10,657
574
2,734 13,391
2,417 2,991
10,346
368
3,750 14,096
602
970
Charitable activities
162
162
142
142
other trading activities
Trading income
Fundraising ekents
spOns￿ShIps
4b
4,447
4,447
4,305
4,305
74
74
120
120
Share of RAF100 Appeal gain
4b
Investments
417
87
504
160
42
202
other
39
39
13
Totsl income
16,296
5,312 21,608
15,335
4,519 19,854
Expenditure on
Fundraising
Trading
CharilatAe acliiAlies
760
3,361
14,127
760
3,361
1,110 15,237
661
3,159
14,610
695
3,159
737 15,347
4b
Totsl expenditure
18,248
1,110 19,358
18,430
771 19,201
Net incomellexpenditurel
11,9521
4,202 2,250
13,0951
3,748
653
Transfers between Mnds
14
2,043
12,0431
655
16551
Othor recogni*d gains and
losses
Gainsl(lossesl on r￿luatIOn
of fixed assets
7a
1,373
1,373
17,095
17,095
Net movement in funds
2,159 3,623
14,655
3,093 17,748
Reconciliation of funds
Total fijnds brought forward al
1 April 2023
Totsl funds carrled forward
at 31 March 2024
125,120
11,659 136,779
110,465
8,566 119,031
126,584
13,818 140,402
125,120
11,659 136,779
All of the Groups actiiilies are classed as continuing. All recognised gains and losses are included abo￿.
The notes on pages &f to 74 fO￿j part of these financial slatemenls.
Page 51

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024
Notes
Group
2024
Group Charity
2023
2024
Charity
2023
£000
£000
£000
Flxed assets
Tangible assets
Heritage Assets
Inleslments
Totsl Flxed As8ets
7a
7b
103.49) 103,616 103,490
22,199
21,627
22,199
100
125 689 125 243 125789
103,616
21,627
100
125 343
Current assets
Stock
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
298
247
1,270
12,289
2,718
13,442
2,320
11,097
10
14.320
Totsl Current Assets
Liabilities
Creditors.. Amounts falling due within one year
11
1.520
2,230
1,517
1,941
NEf CURRENT ASSErs
14.743
11,576
14,643
11,476
Creditors.. Amounts falling due after more than
one year
11
40
40
ASs￿sILlABILITlEs
140,402 136,779 140,402
136,779
The funds ofthe charity
Unrestricted funds
Restricted fvnds
14
14
126.$84 125,120 126.514
13.818
11,659
13.888
125,050
11,729
140.402 136,779 140,402
136,779
The notes on pag&s 54 10 74 fom? part of these financisl statements.
ApproKed by the Board of Trustees on 1 July 2024 and signed 22 July 2024 on its behalf by..
Air Chief Ma￿￿al Sir Stephen Hilli&r GC8 CBE DFC
Chair
on behaw of Trustees
Ms MApplelon
Chief ExeCLrt1￿ Officer and Accounting (lfficer
Royal Air Force Musem
Page 52

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2024
Reconciliation of net incoming resources to net cash flow from operatiro aclimties
Notes
2024
£000
2023
£000
Net Incoming Re￿￿ree8
2,250
653
Interest recei¥8ble
Depreciation of tangible assets
IPro)Ityloss on dispos81 of assets
Donated Assets
Ilncreasel I decrease in stocks
Ilncreasel I decrease in debtors
(Decrease) l increase in creditors
{5041
3,548
124
12021
3,635
398
1861
121
16541
460
7a
1511
{3751
{3851
11
Net cash provided by operating activities
4.607
4,202
Cash flows from investing activities
Bank interest reCeI￿d
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
504
13,0801
202
12,2801
7a
Net cash used in investing activities
2,576
2,078
Change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash eqUi￿lentS al 1 April 2023
10,165
Cash and cath equivalentsat 31 March 2024
14,320
12,289
The notes on pages 54 to T4 fom7 part of these financial statements.
Page 53

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting
The financial slalements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting
standards, under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of fixed assets.
The financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting
and Reporting by Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102} and wilh the Government Financial
Reporting Manual.
Basis of consolidation
Consolidated financial statements have been prepared for Ihe year ended 31 March 2024 in
respect of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises
Ltd and The Royal Air Force Museum Investments Limited, using the acquisition method of
accounting. Intra group transactions and profits are eliminated fully on consolidation.
The Royal Air Force Museum Investments Limited was formed to hold the real property assets
of the charity on behalf of the Trustees. In March 2005, the Cosford and Stafford leasehold
property was transferred lo this company from the charity, followed by the London (Hendonl
freehold property in January 2008. However, while the legal ownership remains with the
company, in substance the RAF Museum retains the risks and rewards associated with these
assets. In accordance with FRS 102 the RAF Museum has recognised these assets in the
balance sheet.
Going concern
The Trustees have presented the accounts on a going concern basis. This assumes that the
Museum is able to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future and that current
and future funding will be adequate for the charity's needs. We have considered a period of
twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements in accordance with
accounting conventions.
In coming to their conclusion, the Trustees have considered monthly forecast levels of income
and expenditure and underlying assumptions. The over-riding assumption is that the funding
from the MOD continues at a similar level for the foreseeable future having carefully considered
the forecasts and assumptions the Trustees are content to present the accounts on this basis.
Income
Grant in Aid is recognised in the year to which it relates. Grants and donations are recognised
On￿ the Museum can demonstrate that SORP 2019 recognition criteria of measurement,
entitlement and probability have been met. Donations in the fomi of legacies are recognised
when it is probable that the legacy will be received and its value can be measured reliably.
Earned income is accounted for as rt is receivable. Donations in kind are recognised at their
fair value, with an equivalent charge made to resources expended. Sponsorships are
recognised in line with the sponsorship period. Gains and losses on investments are
recognised in the period in which they arise. Income from commercial activities, including Gift
Aid from the trading company, is included in the year in which the related goods or services
are provided.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Expenditure
Resources expended are included in the slatement of financial activities on an accruals basis,
inclusive of any irrecoverable VAT. Expendilure is classified in the Statement of Financial
Activities under the principal categories of raising funds and charitable activities.
Resources expended comprise direct expenditure including direct staff costs attributable lo the
activity. Vvhere costs cannot be directly attribLrted, they are allocated to activities according to
the method described in note 5.
Termination payments
Termination payments are payable when employment is teminated before the normal
retirement date or end of employment contract. In line with the FReM, they are recognised
when the employment ends.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds (including designated funds) are donations or other incoming resources
received or generated for the charity's general purposes. The general fund comprises the
accumulated surpluses of unrestricted incoming resources, which are available for use in
furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. The fixed asset fund represents the value
of the charity's fixed assets. The revaluation reserve represents the increase in value of the
charity's assets through either indexation of professional revaluation.
Designated funds are a particular fom of unrestricted funds consisting of amounts which have
been allocated or designated for specific purposes by the Trustees. The use of designated
funds remains at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure
which meets these criteria is identified to the fund, together with a fair allocation of overhead
osts.
Tangible fixed assets
The charity s tangible fixed assets are capitalised at cost on acquisition and revalued annually
using the most appropriate indi￿$ calculated by Defence Economics and Valuation Offi
Agency for the relevant class of asset. Fixed assets with a cost of less than £2,500 are not
capitalised. Any gains or losses on revaluation are reported as unrealised until an asset is
disposed. The freehold and leasehold properties comprising the RAF Museum estate are
independently valued every five years. The most recent such valuation was undertaken as at
31 March 2023. Further detail is provided in Note 7a. On 1 April 2016 the Museum took
ownership of assets held by Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Ltd. The Museum levies a
charge on RAFMEL for the use of these assets. Depreciation is provided straight line at rates
calculated to write off the value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows..
Page 55

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Freehold buildings 5 to 75 years (structure, fit-out, and mechanical and electrical services)
Leasehold property over the lease term
Permanenl exhibitions 5 to 10 years
Fixtures, filtings and equipment 3 to 5 years
Plant and machinery 5 years
Simulators 15 years
Motor vehicles 4 years
Assets in the course of construction are not depreciated or revalued until brought into use.
Impaim7ent
The RAF Museum assesses whether there is any indication of impaiment for all fixed assets
at the balance sheet date. A fixed asset is considered to be impaired if the recoverable amount
of the asset has fallen below its carrying amount on the balance sheet, as a result of damage,
deterioration poor performan￿ or external factors affecting its value.
If any indication of impairment exists, the Museum shall estimate the recoverable amount of
the asset, determined as the higher of its fair value less costs to sell the asset and its value in
use. The method of estimation used shall be that deemed most suitable for the type of asset.
Vvhere there is objective evidence that an impairrnent loss exists, an impairment charge will
be made to the Revaluation Reserve to reduce the carrying value ofthe asset to the estimated
recoverable amount. Where there are no historical revaluations in a revaluation reserve,
impairment losses are charged through the Statement of Financial Activities.
Exhibition costs
Long term exhibition equipment is capitalised as a fixed asset under fixtures and fittings.
Temporary exhibition costs are written off as resources expended in the year they are incurred.
Heritage assets
The Museum has approved policies for Collections Development and our management of
Heritage Assets. Our key collections policies and further information on the acquisition,
safeguarding and disposal of Heritage Assets can be found on the RAF Museum Website,
following the link..
htt s'.Ilw￿.r3fmuSeUm.or
.uklresearGhldefaultla
uisitions-and4is
osalsl
Any other collections-related policies can be made available on request.
The Museum has been consistently reviewing and recording all the heritage assets on its
database for several years now and the collection can be divided between the accessioned
collection (objects that have been formally acquired and accepted into the Permanent
Collection), and the un-accessioned collection Ilong-term deposited objects which have yet to
be assigned a status, catalogued, or passed through the Collections Review process). Un-
accessioned objects, the majority of which are aircraft technical drawings and library objects,
represent two thirds ofthe accumulated objects held by the Museum.
Heritage assets valued over the capitalisation threshold which have been accessioned into the
collection on or after 1 April 2001 have been capitalised but not revalued or depreciated.
Heritage assets are accounted for as a distinct category of fixed assel with indefinite life and
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
are therefore not depreciated. If available, valuation is based on acquisition costs increased
by restoration costs (if applicable). The Museum's response to the introduction of FRS 30
effective 1 April 2010 was to deploy internal resources to the task of valuation in respect of
those assets acquired before 1 April 2001, and which represent a materially significant part of
the aC￿SSiOned collection. Given the diverse nature of the collection, the unique nature of
some items and also taking into account changing market conditions, the resulting valuations
represent indicative estimates. The valuations of the most significant items acquired pre-2001
were added to the total value of heritage assets as at 31 March 2011. The heritage assets will
not be re-valued in future periods., however, impairment reviews will be carried OLrt by the
Museum on a needs basis if any changes have been noted by our Collections team during
their assessments.
For donated assets, in most cases valuations are based on internal estimates determined by
the relevant curator's experience and judgement, as an accurate figure is very difficult lo
establish. In some cases (e.g. a significant painting), a dealer may be sometimes consulted
for advice.
Investments
Investments held as fixed assets are staled at cost less provision for permanent diminution in
value. Those held as current assets are stated at their market value. Term deposits of less
than one year are classified as investments within current assets.
Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, with the carrying
amount measured as the Museum's initial investment plus its share of the joint venture's profit
or loss.
Dividends are recognised on the Statement of Financial Activities when received. The
distribution received from the Museum's partnership in the RAF100 joint venture has been
accounted for using the equity method in accordance with FRS 102.
Leased assets and obligations
Assets held under finance leases, where the lease terms give rights approximating to
ownership, are capitalised with an equivalent liability recognised under creditors due within
one and after one year as appropriate. Rentals payable under operating leases are charged
to resources expended as they are incurred.
stock
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Specific provision is made for
obsolete and slow-moving items.
Financial instmments
The Museum's financial assets and liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, short lemi
investments, trade debtors, trade creditors and accrued expenses. The fair value of these
items approximates their carrying value due to their short-term value. Unless otherwise noled,
the Museum is not exposed to significant interest, foreign exchange or credit nsks arising from
these instruments.
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24
Pensions
From May 2014 the Museum has automatically enrolled all employees into a National
Employment Savings Trust {NESTI pension scheme unless the employees choose to opt out.
The NEST pension scheme is a defined contribution pension scheme Ihat was created as part
of the government's workplace pensions reform under the Pensions Act 2008. The assets of
the scheme are held separately from those of the Museum and the Museum is unable to
identify its share of the liability. Employer's contributions are charged to the Statement of
Financial Activities as they occur.
Pension benefits for a small number of longer serving staff are provided through the Civil
Service pension arrangements, which provide benefits based on final pensionable pay.
Employer's contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they occur.
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the chanty and the Museum is
unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities. A full actuarial valuation is
carried out periodically. Details can be found in the resource accounts for these schemes,
which are published and laid before the House of Commons.
Page 58

**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **2. TAXATION** 

All of the charity's income is applied for charitable purposes and therefore the charity is exempt from Corporation Tax. The Corporation Tax liability of the trading subsidiary for the year ended 31 March 2024 was £nil (2023: £nil). 

## **3. GRANTS AND DONATIONS** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||Unrestricted|Restricted||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Funds**|**Funds Total Funds**||Funds|Funds Total Funds||
||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|2023|2023|2023|
||**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|£000|£000|£000|
|Donated Heritage Assets|**-**|**-**|**-**|-|86|86|
|Bomber Command Association|**-**||**-**|-|80|80|
|STAAR Programme|**-**|**122**|**122**|-|136|136|
|RAFMAF|**-**|**78**|**78**|-|244|244|
|Legacies|**251**|**-**|**251**|73|-|73|
|John Mars donation|**-**|**1,144**|**1,144**|-|-|-|
|National Heritage Memorial Fund||**470**|**470**||||
|National Lottery Heritage Fund|**-**|**396**|**396**|-|-|-|
|Swire Foundation|**-**|**25**|**25**|-|-|-|
|Other - Individual Donations|**323**|**182**|**505**|295|56|351|
||**574**|**2,417**|**2,991**|368|602|970|



## **4a. INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS** 

The investment of £100,000 (2023: £100,000),represents the charity's interest in 100% of the issued share capital and retained loss of Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Limited (company number 1511481) which is incorporated in England and Wales and operates souvenir shops, car parking and other trading activities at Hendon and Cosford. The company's aggregate capital and reserves were as follows: 

## **Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Limited** 

|The assets and liabilities of the subsidiary were:<br>Current assets<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within one year<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Profit/(Loss) retained in subsidiary<br>At 31 March 2024|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>**£000**<br>**£000**<br>**1,487**<br>2,068<br>**(1,387)**<br>(1,968)<br>**100**<br>100<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**100**<br>100<br>**-**<br>**100**<br>100|
|---|---|



Page 59 



**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

A summary of the Company's trading results is shown overleaf. Audited accounts will be filed with the Registrar of Companies. 

The remaining £2 represents the charity's interest on 100% of the issued share capital of The Royal Air Force Investments Limited (company number 4026995), which is incorporated in England and Wales and holds the real property assets of the charity for administrative purposes. 

The Directors of RAF Museum Enterprises Limited, having considered monthly forecast levels of income and expenditure and the underlying assumptions, have assessed that the subsidiary is a going concern and the Trustees are content, therefore, that the investment in the subsidiary retains its value. 

## **4b. INCOME FROM SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS** 

## **Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Limited** 

|**Turnover and other income**<br>Cost of sales, administrative expenses and taxation.<br>Interest receivable<br>**Net Profit/(Loss)**<br>Gift Aid to RAF Museum<br>**Surplus/(Deficit) in subsidiary**|**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**4,636**<br>5,057<br>**(3,468)**<br>(4,337)<br>**1,168**<br>720<br>**10**<br>4<br>**1,178**<br>724<br>**(1,178)**<br>(724)<br>**-**|
|---|---|



The turnover and cost of sales include £108k (2023: £752k) received from the Musem and £27k (2023: £1,178k) paid to the Museum under exhibition production agreements . These amounts have been eliminated in the consolidated results. 

## **5. Resources expended** 

As required by the charity SORP, expenditure is analysed between that directly attributable to activities and support costs. These support costs are allocated to activities based on the criteria outlined below. 

|Fundraising<br>Trading<br>Charitable activities<br>Other|Direct<br>Support<br>**Total**<br>costs<br>costs Depreciation<br>**2024**<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>629<br>129<br>2<br>**760**<br>3,361<br>-<br>-<br>**3,361**<br>9,230<br>3,110<br>2,897<br>**15,237**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>13,220<br>3,239<br>2,899<br>**19,358**|
|---|---|



Page 60 



**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Charitable Total Allocation<br>Fundraising Trading Activities Other 2024 method<br>£000 £000 £000 £000 £000<br>Finance 19 - 261 - 280 Expenditure<br>IT 40 - 794 - 834 Number of staff<br>HR 18 - 353 - 371 Number of staff<br>Estates - - 257 - 257 Floor space<br>Administration 52 - 706 - 758 Expenditure<br>Governance - - 739 - 739 Expenditure<br>129 - 3,110 - 3,239<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The National Audit Office audit fee of £41,000 (2023: £39,850) is included within governance costs. Charitable activites costs includes a one-off rebate of £845,000 further to a successsful challenge to the 2017 business rates valuation for the period 2017 to 2023 

Prior year analysis 

|Fundraising||Direct<br>Support<br>costs<br>costs <br>£000<br>£000<br>582<br>110|**Total**<br> Depreciation<br>**2023**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>3<br>**695**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Trading||3,159<br>-|-<br>**3,159**|
|Charitable activities||8,879<br>3,027|3,441<br>**15,347**|
|||12,620<br>3,137|3,444<br>**19,201**|
|Finance|Charitable<br>Fundraising<br>Trading<br>Activities<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>15<br>-<br>232|**Total**<br>Other<br>**2023**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>-<br>**247**|**Allocation**<br>**method**<br>Expenditure|
|IT|39<br>-<br>766|-<br>**805**|Number of staff|
|HR|19<br>-<br>368|-<br>**387**|Number of staff|
|Estates|-<br>-<br>226|-<br>**226**|Floor space|
|Administration|37<br>-<br>583|-<br>**620**|Expenditure|
|Governance|-<br>-<br>852|-<br>**852**|Expenditure|
||110<br>-<br>3,027|-<br>**3,137**||



## **6. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS** 

|Salaries and wages<br>Temporary agency staff<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs|**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**5,932**<br>5,212<br>**-**<br>12<br>**600**<br>566<br>**362**<br>328<br>**6,894**<br>6,118|
|---|---|



The above costs exclude the trading subsidiary. 

The average number of employees in the Museum during the year was 203 (2023: 202). FTE equivalent was 181 (2023: 180). 

Employees whose emoluments amounted to over £60,000. 

||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|
|£60,001 - £80,000|**4**|-|
|£80,001 - £90,000|-|3|
|£90,001 - £100,000|**3**|1|
|£100,001 - £110,000|-|-|
|£110,001 - £120,000|**1**|-|



Page 61 



## **ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **7a. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - GROUP AND CHARITY** 

|At 1 April 2023<br>Additions<br>Transfers<br>Disposals<br>Revaluations<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Depreciation<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Charged in the<br>year<br>Disposals<br>Revaluations<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Net Book Value<br>At 31 March 2024<br>At 1 April 2023|Freehold<br>property<br>Leasehold<br>Property<br>Permanent<br>Exhibitions<br>Fixtures,<br>Fittings &<br>Equipment<br>Plant,<br>Machinery<br>&<br>Vehicles<br>Assets<br>under<br>Construction<br>Heritage<br>Assets<br>Total<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>**81,676**<br>**16,358**<br>**6,367**<br>**3,398**<br>**773**<br>**1,556**<br>**21,627**<br>**131,755**<br>70<br>29<br>468<br>364<br>-<br>1,118<br>696<br>2,745<br>1812<br>0<br>862<br>-<br>-<br>(2,674)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(124)<br>(124)<br>700<br>474<br>298<br>35<br>16<br>-<br>-<br>1,523|
|---|---|
||**84,258**<br>**16,861**<br>**7,995**<br>**3,797**<br>**789**<br>**-**<br>**22,199**<br>**135,899**|
||**-**<br>**-**<br>**3,252**<br>**2,646**<br>**614**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**6,512**<br>1,551<br>812<br>753<br>403<br>29<br>-<br>-<br>3,548<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>135<br>11<br>4<br>-<br>-<br>150|
||**1,551**<br>**812**<br>**4,140**<br>**3,060**<br>**647**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**10,210**|
|||
||**82,707**<br>**16,049**<br>**3,855**<br>**737**<br>**142**<br>**-**<br>**22,199**<br>**125,689**|
|||
||**81,676**<br>**16,358**<br>**3,115**<br>**752**<br>**159**<br>**1,556**<br>**21,627**<br>**125,243**|



## **7b. HERITAGE ASSETS** 

The number of Heritage Assets which the Museum acquires through donations means that the total book value of Heritage Assets is a mixture of cost (for purchased exhibits) and valuation at the point of donation (for donated exhibits), and includes a historic valuation of a materially significant part of the collection. Heritage assets which have been accessioned into the collection on or after 1 April 2001 are not revalued, as such information cannot be obtained at a cost commensurate with the benefit to the users of the accounts and to the Museum. At 31 March 2024 the book value comprised: 

|Heritage Assets recorded at cost<br>Heritage Assets recorded at valuation<br>Total book value of Heritage Assets<br>A summary of the nature and scope of the collection is as follows<br>Aircraft and Aircraft Parts<br>Medals and Commemorative items<br>Artwork<br>Archives<br>Vehicles and Marine Craft<br>Models<br>Other<br>Total|**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**3,485**<br>2,789<br>**18,714**<br>18,838|
|---|---|
||**22,199**<br>21,627|
||**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**17,354**<br>17,478<br>**2,341**<br>1,645<br>**1,067**<br>1,067<br>**889**<br>889<br>**319**<br>319<br>**84**<br>84<br>**145**<br>145|
||**22,199**<br>**21,627**|



Page 62 



## **ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **Summary of Heritage Asset Acquisitions and Disposals over the last five years** 

|Book Value Brought Forward<br>Add Acquisitions<br>Purchased at cost<br>Donated at valuation<br>Total Acquisitions<br>Revaluations<br>Disposals<br>**Book Value Carried Forward**<br>**8.**<br>**STOCK**<br>Goods for resale<br>**9.**<br>**DEBTORS**<br>Trade debtors<br>Amounts due from subsidiary undertaking<br>Other debtors<br>Prepayments and accrued income<br>Gift Aid from the subsidiary<br>**10. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**<br>Commercial bank accounts<br>Cash in hand|**31.03.20**<br>**31.03.21**<br>**31.03.22**<br>**31.03.23**<br>**31.03.24**<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>21,625<br>21,785<br>21,790<br>21,846<br>21,627<br>160<br>-<br>16<br>90<br>696<br>-<br>5<br>40<br>86<br>160<br>5<br>56<br>176<br>696<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(395)<br>(124)<br>**21,785**<br>**21,790**<br>**21,846**<br>**21,627**<br>**22,199**<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**298**<br>247<br>**-**<br>-<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**82**<br>72<br>**28**<br>26<br>**-**<br>-<br>**-**<br>930<br>**1,173**<br>892<br>**1,166**<br>380<br>**390**<br>306<br>**321**<br>235<br>-<br>**1,203**<br>749<br>**1,645**<br>1,270<br>**2,718**<br>2,320<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**14,309**<br>12,277<br>**13,440**<br>11,094<br>**11**<br>12<br>**2**<br>3<br>**14,320**<br>12,289<br>**13,442**<br>11,097<br>**Charity**<br>**Charity**<br>**Charity**<br>**Group**<br>**Group**<br>**Group**|
|---|---|



Page 63 



## **ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **11. CREDITORS** 

|**11. CREDITORS**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Group**||**Charity**||
||**2024**|2023|**2024**|2023|
||**£000**|£000|**£000**|£000|
|**Amounts falling due within one year**|||||
|Trade creditors|**642**|1,180|**562**|1,059|
|Taxation and social security|**244**|143|**141**|130|
|Amounts due to subsidiary undertaking|**-**|-|**273**|-|
|Other creditors|**73**|33|**67**|33|
|Accruals and deferred income|**561**|874|**474**|719|
||**1,520**|2,230|**1,517**|1,941|
|**Amounts falling after more than one year**<br>Accruals and deferred income|**30**|40|**30**|40|
||**30**|40|**30**|40|
|**12. RECONCILIATION OF GROUP NET CASH FLOW TO**<br>Increase/(decrease) in cash in period<br>Cash inflow from investment dividends|**MOVEMENT IN GROUP NET**||**CASH FUNDS**<br>**2024**<br>**£000**<br>**2,031**<br>**-**|2023<br>£000<br>2,124<br>-|
|Change in net funds resulting from cash flow|||**2,031**|2,124|
|Change in market value of liquid resources (Realised Profit)<br>**Net funds at 1 April 2023**|||**-**<br>**12,289**|-<br>10,165|
|**Net funds at 31 March 2024**|||**14,320**|12,289|
|**13. ANALYSIS OF GROUP NET FUNDS**|||||



|Cash at bank and in hand (See note 11)|1 April 2023<br>**Cashflow**<br>**31 March**<br>**2024**<br>£000<br>**£000**<br>**£000**<br>12,289<br>**2,031**<br>**14,320**<br>12,289<br>**2,031**<br>**14,320**|
|---|---|



Page 64 



**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **14. STATEMENT OF GROUP FUNDS** 

## **Analysis of group net assets between funds** 

|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**<br>|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|funds|funds|2023|
|||**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|£000|£000|£000|
|Tangible fixed assets||**117,228**|**8,461**|**125,689**|117,478|7,765|125,243|
|Investments in joint ventures||**-**|**-**|**-**|-|-|-|
|Cash at bank and in hand||**8,963**|**5,357**|**14,320**|8,395|3,894|12,289|
|Other net current assets||**393**|**30**|**423**|(753)|40|(713)|
|Net non current assets||**-**|**(30)**|**(30)**|-|(40)|(40)|
|Total assets less liabilities||**126,584**|**13,818**|**140,402**|125,120|11,659|136,779|
|||||||||
|Net assets||**126,584**|**13,818**|**140,402**|125,120|11,659|136,779|
|**Analysis of funds**||2023|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Revaluation**|**Transfers**|**2024**|
|||£000|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|
|**Restricted funds**||||||||
|Fixed assets||7,765|**-**|**-**|**-**|**696**|**8,461**|
|RAF Centenary Programme||992|**96**|**(19)**|**-**|**(9)**|**1,060**|
|RAF Museum Midlands||641|**1,681**|**(758)**|**-**|**-**|**1,564**|
|Watchtower||64|**1**|**(65)**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|STAAR||49|**126**|**(142)**|**-**|**-**|**33**|
|Hidden Heroes||95|**2**|**(10)**|**-**|**(32)**|**55**|
|RAFMAF Learning Fund||55|**1**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**56**|
|RAF Museum Resilience Rese||**-**|**2,000**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**2,000**|
|Restricted Grant in Aid||1,911|**777**|**(116)**|**-**|**(2,002)**|**570**|
|Other||87|**628**|**-**|**-**|**(696)**|**19**|
|**Total Restricted Funds**||**11,659**|**5,312**|**(1,110)**|**-**|**(2,043)**|**13,818**|
|||2023|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Revaluation**|**Transfers**|**2024**|
|||£000|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|**£000**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||||||
|Fixed assets||52,861|**-**|**(3,667)**|**-**|**2,043**|**51,237**|
|Revaluation reserve||64,617|**-**|**-**|**1,373**|**-**|**65,990**|
|General||2,114|**16,296**|**(14,513)**|**-**|**(1,631)**|**2,266**|
|**Designated funds**||||||||
|Strategy 2030 Fund||4|**-**|**(68)**|**-**|**1,631**|**1,567**|
|RAF Museum Midlands||4,424|**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**4,424**|
|RAF Museum Midlands Match||1,100|**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**1,100**|
|**Total Unrestricted Funds**||**125,120**|**16,296**|**(18,248)**|**1,373**|**2,043**|**126,584**|
|||||||||
|**Total Funds**||**136,779**|**21,608**|**(19,358)**|**1,373**|**0**|**140,402**|



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## **ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **Restricted funds** 

Restricted income funds consist of a number of funds where the donors have specified the uses to which they may be put. 

_Fixed Assets_ - a significant proportion of these funds represents the capitalised value of restricted and inalienable fixed assets. This also includes the restricted element of the heritage assets. 

_RAF Centenary Programme_ - various grants and donations towards delivery of activities and capital works designed to connect people to the RAF story, and reimagine the London and Midlands sites. 

_RAF Museum Midlands - a_ ll donations and grants received to support the programme of activities and capital works at the Midlands site have been grouped together as a single fund supporting the Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme. This includes the following funds disclosed separately in previous years based on funding source rather than programme of activity - Cosford Air Show, Cosford Large Model Aircraft Association and Cosford Sprinklers funds. 

_Watchtower_ - funds from St George Property Developers to cover the running costs of the Grahame White Factory (London Hangar 2). 

_STAAR_ - a grant from Northrup Grumman to fund the Summer Time Advanced Aeronautics Residential (STAAR) STEM programme. 

_Hidden Heroes_ - funds received from the Chelsea Foundation (prior to the Ukraine crisis; Trustees agreed to decline any further donations) to highlight the diversity of RAF stories. 

_RAFMAF Learning Fund_ - grants from RAF Museum American Foundation to support Access and Learning activities. 

_Restricted Resilence Reserve Fund_ - to protect the RAF Museum from a future financial shock (which could include, but is not limited to, unavoidable closure, irreparable infrastructure failure, major cyber-attack) and provide funds for critical ‘invest to save projects’ that further support the Museum’s resilience. 

_Restricted Grant in Aid_ - grants from the Ministry of Defence to fund specific capital work and recovery from the Covid pandemic. 

_Other Restricted Funds_ - movement in year relates to the Arthur Scarf VC donation campaign. The Museum also has several small restricted funds for use on specific short-term projects most of which complete within the space of twelve months. 

## **Unrestricted funds** 

_Fixed Asset_ s - a significant proportion of these funds represents the capitalised value of inalienable fixed assets, including unrestricted heritage assets. 

_General Funds_ - these are funds not associated with fixed assets that are expendable at the discretion of Trustees. 

## **Unrestricted designated funds** 

These are funds that Trustees have set aside for a specific purpose. 

_Strategy 2030 Fund_ - supports delivery of the Museum’s key strategic priorities in the future including planning for future capital development at both sites; ensuring the sustainability of the estate; focus on the recording of contemporary stories of RAF men and women; and development of the Museum's collection through new acquisitions. 

_RAF Museum Midlands Fund and the RAF Museum Midlands Match Fund_ - supports the Inspiring Everyone: Midlands Development Programme. This programme of engagement activities and capital investment will continue our focus on immersive RAF storytelling and support our ambition to encourage reflection and debate across our spaces and programmes, including delivery of a new Collections Hub, Exhibition and Learning Centre. 

## **Transfers** 

Generally, transfers between funds represent the capitalisation of fixed assets. 

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**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **15. COMMITMENTS** 

|**Operating lease commitments due:**<br>**Plant and machinery:**<br>within one year<br>in the second to fifth years<br>**Land and Buildings:**<br>within one year<br>in the second to fifth years<br>after five years|**2024**<br>2023<br>**£000**<br>£000<br>**10**<br>32<br>**5**<br>21<br>**530**<br>530<br>**1,565**<br>1,750<br>**3,452**<br>3,797<br>**5,562**<br>6,130<br>**Group or charity**|
|---|---|



The Museum paid £563k under operating lease arrangements in the year to 31 March 2024 (2023: £562k). 

## **Capital Commitments** 

As at 31 March 2024, the Museum had a £90k final payment outstanding related to the £1.8M glazing contract at the London site (2023 £1.25M). This project was fully funded by restricted Grant in Aid. 

## **16. RELATED PARTIES** 

Related parties with which the Museum had transactions during the year or balances at the year end were as follows: 

## _Royal Air Force Museum Enterprises Ltd_ 

The relationship of the Museum to the company is disclosed in Note 4. The balance of £0 due from the company at the year end (2023: £930k) in relation to production agreements and overhead charges and the balance of £1,203k Gift Aid payable (2023: £749k) are disclosed in Note 9. The balance of £273k due to the company at the year end (2023:£0) is disclosed in Note 12. 

## _The Royal Air Force Museum Investments Limited_ 

The company was formed to hold, on behalf of the Trustees, the real property assets of the charity and thus minimise the administrative burden whenever a change in Trustees takes place. The leasehold property was transferred to this company from the charity in March 2005 and the freehold property in January 2008. 

## _Ministry of Defence_ 

The Royal Air Force Museum is a Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (the MOD). The MOD is regarded as the related party. Grant in Aid funding from the MOD is separately disclosed in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

The Trustees’ involvement with RAF Museum Enterprises Ltd and RAF Museum Investments Ltd is disclosed in the Governance statement on page 33. 

## **17. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES** 

There were no contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2024 (2023: Nil). 

## **18. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS** 

The annual report and financial statements were authorised for issue by the Accounting Officer on the date that the audit certificate was signed by the Comptroller and Auditor General. 

There were no other post balance sheet events. 

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## **ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

## **19. SINGLE ENTITY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

|**Unrestricted Restricted**<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**£000**<br>**£000**<br>**£000**<br>**Income from**<br>**Donations and legacies**<br>Grant in aid<br>**10,657**<br>**2,734**<br>**13,391**<br>Grants and donations<br>**574**<br>**2,417**<br>**2,991**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>**162**<br>**-**<br>**162**<br>**Other trading activities**<br>Fundraising events<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>Sponsorships<br>**-**<br>**74**<br>**74**<br>Share of RAF100 Appeal gain<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Investments**<br>**407**<br>**87**<br>**494**<br>**Other**<br>**1,782**<br>**-**<br>**1,782**<br>**Total income**<br>**13,582**<br>**5,312**<br>**18,894**<br>**Expenditure on**<br>Fundraising<br>**771**<br>**-**<br>**771**<br>Charitable activities<br>**14,763**<br>**1,110**<br>**15,873**<br>Other<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Total expenditure**<br>**15,534**<br>**1,110**<br>**16,644**<br>**Net gains/(losses) on**<br>**investments**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Net income/(expenditure)**<br>**(1,952)**<br>**4,202**<br>**2,250**<br>Transfers between funds<br>**2,043**<br>**(2,043)**<br>**-**<br>**Other recognised gains and losses**<br>Gains/(losses) on revaluation of<br>fixed assets<br>**1,373**<br>**-**<br>**1,373**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>**1,464**<br>**2,159**<br>**3,623**<br>**Reconciliation of funds**<br>Total funds brought forward at<br>1 April 2023<br>**125,050**<br>**11,729**<br>**136,779**<br>**Total funds carried forward at**<br>**31 March 2024**<br>**126,514**<br>**13,888**<br>**140,402**|Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>Total<br>Funds<br>Funds<br>Funds<br>2023<br>2023<br>2023<br>£000<br>£000<br>£000<br>10,346<br>3,750<br>14,096<br>368<br>602<br>970<br>142<br>-<br>142<br>5<br>-<br>5<br>-<br>120<br>120<br>-<br>1<br>1<br>160<br>42<br>202<br>1,849<br>4<br>1,853<br>12,870<br>4,519<br>17,389<br>672<br>34<br>706<br>15,293<br>737<br>16,030<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>15,965<br>771<br>16,736<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(3,095)<br>3,748<br>653<br>655<br>(655)<br>-<br>17,095<br>-<br>17,095<br>14,655<br>3,093<br>17,748<br>110,395<br>8,636<br>119,031<br>125,050<br>11,729<br>136,779|
|---|---|



All of the Museum's activities are classed as continuing. All recognised gains and losses are included above. 

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**ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM ACCOUNT 2023-24** 

ISBN:978-1-915287-45-8 

