The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust Also known as The Dick Nunn Trust
Registered Charity No. 1199655
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited accounts for 1[st] August 2022 – 31[st] July 2023
Registered Address 13, Tilkey Road Coggeshall Colchester CO6 1PG
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The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Period 1[st] August 2022 – 31[st] July 2023
| Reference and Administrative Details | Page 3 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | Page 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities and Financial Position | Page 7 |
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The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust
Reference and Administrative Details Period Ending 31[st] July 2023
Trustees Mr T Disley Mrs M Disley Mr T Fenton Mrs M Lambert Mr J Prideaux Principal Address 13 Tilkey Road Coggeshall Colchester Essex CO6 1PG Registered Charity Number 1199655
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The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust
Report of the Trustees For the Period 1[st] August 2022 – 31st July 2023
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 1[st] August 2022 – 31[st] July 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provision of Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Objectives and Activities
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The preservation and protection of the building known as Dick Nunn’s smithy in Swan Yard, Coggeshall, Essex for the benefit of the public as a building of social, historical and architectural interest and importance.
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To maintain a museum in the smithy to educate the public in a unique aspect of the town’s social and cultural history in the life and concerns of blacksmith and campaigner Henry ‘Dick’ Nunn.
Significant Activities
Solicitors for both parties (the Trustees and the vendor) were appointed in early 2023 but the legal process of transferring the smithy to the trust has seen considerable delays and setbacks and had not been completed by the end of the reporting year. As a result the charity is still very much in a holding position, the trustees having decided that fundraising to restore the smithy will only begin if and when the smithy is in the legal ownership of the Trust.
In these circumstances, and order to fund both sets of solicitors, the trustees have themselves committed funds to cover the anticipated costs. These are in the form of loans to the Trust on an interest-free basis that will be repaid once and if the smithy is in the ownership of the Trust and sufficient funds have been raised. If for any reason the smithy is not transferred to our ownership and the Trust is consequently wound up, these loans will become donations and will not then be repaid.
A ‘Fundraising Strategy Document’ has been prepared in readiness for fundraising to begin following legal transfer.
The Trustees are grateful for the professional services of architect George Courtauld who has drawn up provisional plans for the restoration of the smithy. Further work on this is currently on hold until the legal situation is resolved.
A website has been created and a domain name purchased; dicknunn.co.uk which is hosted by a local business ‘wecreatedigital’ on very advantageous terms. The website is ready to go live if and when legal matters are concluded.
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The Trust has joined ‘Museums Essex’ in order that their advice and training opportunities will ensure that the Trust’s museum activities are professionally informed.
The year saw the first steps towards the restoration of some of the many blacksmith’s tools that we have in store. This involves wire brushing followed by the electrolysis process for rust removal and stabilisation with microcrystaline wax.
Remarkably, a chimneypot of exactly the right size, shape and colour as the original has been donated and in time will be put back onto the smithy chimney stack as part of the restoration of the roof.
The Trust’s main activities for the year were the open days held in association with the nationally organised ‘Heritage Open Days’ organisation. The response again was amazing and we were busy the whole time with almost 200 people visiting. As well as from Coggeshall and the area around, people came from all over the country including Cornwall, Hertfordshire, Birmingham, the Wirral, Rochdale and from the USA, Canada and two different couples from Australia. There were also some great comments - here are a few examples, 'Extraordinary story and what an amazing man Dick Nunn was. Thank you for preserving the history of our village.’ 'What a wonderful place – and a fantastic character. We could all learn something from the Victorians!’ 'Amazing to see! So original! – I’d seen pictures but the reality is even better, thanks for opening it up and telling me all about the history.’ 'We bought our three children to see Dick Nunn’s Smithy on the open day. They have been inspired by Dick Nunn’s story and we really appreciate the Trust’s intention of maintaining the smithy for generations to come. Thank you.’
Financial Review
Financial Position
On 1[st] August 2022 the balance of our account was £987 and as of 31[st] July 2023 the closing balance was £1,305.
Although no fundraising activities have taken place a number of small donations have been received from various activities totalling £528.
Reserves Policy
The reserves policy is to maintain sufficient funds to cover on-going commitments and at a level that considers external and inflationary pressures.
Future Plans
Our plans are to fulfil the Trust’s objectives; to take possession of the smithy and raise funds in order to restore and conserve it and create a museum. It is the Trust’s intention that the smithy is seen as very much part of the local community, is involved in community events and relevant to people of all ages.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The Dick Nunn Trust is controlled by its governing document, Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whom only voting members are its charity trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of New Trustees
In accordance with the governing document: Appointment of charity trustees
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1 Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
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2 In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Information for new charity trustees
The charity trustees will make available to each new charity trustee, on or before his or her first appointment:
a) a copy of the current version of this constitution; and
b) a copy of the CIO’s latest Trustees’ Annual Report and statement of accounts.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24[th] April 2024 Signed on its behalf by Thomas J H Fenton, Trustee
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The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust
Statement of Financial Activities For the Period 1[st] August 2022 – 31[st] July 2023
| Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ Income Donations 0 1,515 Expenditure Charitable Activities General Expenditure (2,500) (114) Net (Expenditure)/Income Reconciliation of funds Total Funds bought Forward 0 0 Total Funds Carried Forward (2,500) 1,401 |
Total Funds £ 1,515 |
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| 1,515 (2,614) |
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| (1,099) 0 (1,099) |
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The Dick Nunn Smithy Preservation Trust
Statement of Financial Position At 31st July 2023
| Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 0 96 Current Assets Cash at Bank 0 1,305 Net Current Assets 0 1,305 Long term Creditors Amounts falling due in more than one year (2,500)* 0 Net Assets/( Liabilities) (2,500) 1,401 Funds Restricted Funds 31stJuly 2023 Unrestricted Funds 31stJuly 2023 Total Funds |
31 stJuly 2023 Total Funds £ 96 1,305 |
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| 1,305 (2,500) |
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| (1,099) (2,500) 1,401 |
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| (1,099) |
- Signage for the smithy opening days.
**This loan is convertible into donations if for any reason the smithy is not transferred to our ownership and the Trust is consequently wound up.
The financial Statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 24[th] May 2024 And were signed on its behalf by Thomas J H Fenton, Trustee
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