## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date 01 April 2023 31 March 2024 **From** **To** ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Association for Suffolk Museums (AFSM) **Other names charity is known by** N/A **Registered charity number (if any)** 293950 **Charity's principal address** c/o Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House Russell Road Ipswich **Postcode** IP1 2BX **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Cllr TonyCooper|Chair|Upto 04/05/2023|East Suffolk Council| ||Cllr Julia Ewart||From 17/10/2023|East Suffolk Council| ||Kevin Sullivan|Treasurer||| ||Jayne Austin|Secretary||| ||Cllr BobbyBennett||Upto 06/02/2024|Suffolk CountyCouncil| ||Cllr Philip Faircloth-
Mutton||From 27/02/2024|Suffolk County Council| ||Cllr Mike Chester||Upto 04/05/2023|West Suffolk Council| ||Cllr Marilyn Sayer||From 17/10/2023|West Suffolk Council| ||Cllr John Nunn|||Babergh District Council| ||Cllr Carole Jones|Chair|From 17/10/2023|Ipswich Borough Council| ||Cllr Richard Meyer||Upto 04/05/2023|Mid Suffolk District Council| ||Cllr Ollie Walters||From 23/05/2023|Mid Suffolk District Council| ||Chris Turland||Upto 06/06/2023|| ||Emma Harpur||Upto 12/02/2024|| ||Lisa Harris|Vice Chair||| ||Joe Carr|||| ||Fraser Hale|Chair of Network||AFSM Network| ||Alexandra Fletcher||Upto 23/05/2023|| ||Mark Smith||From 06/06/2023|| ||Patricia Hardy||From 27/02/2023|| ||Carole Stephanie
Palmer||From 17/10/2023|| **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 1 **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** **Name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |Museum Projects|Lucy Maxwell|Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, IP1 2BX| |Museum Projects|Tom Beese|Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, IP1 2BX| |||| |||| ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** **Description of the charity’s trusts** Type of governing document - (eg. trust deed, constitution) > [Constitution ] How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company)[Association ] Trustee selection methods Local authority representatives are appointed by their respective local (eg. appointed by, elected by) authorities. All trustees are elected by the membership at the AGM. - (eg. trust, association, company) ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: - policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; - the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; - relationship with any related parties; - trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. AFSM is governed by a Management Committee that includes representatives from all Suffolk local authorities, one or two independent museums representatives from each of the five local authority districts in the county, and a representative from the AFSM Network. The Management Committee meets four times each year, including the AGM. A non-voting officer from each local authority and representative from SHARE Museums East are also invited to observe. All museums, individuals, or bodies or groups with museum interests in Suffolk are welcome to apply to the Management Committee for membership of AFSM and are admitted to at its discretion. There are three levels of membership with a sliding scale of membership fee. - Full Member – Accredited Museums - Member – Non-Accredited Museums - Associate Member – Individuals, bodies, or groups with museum interests The trustees seek the views of members in deciding which programmes to run through AFSM Network meetings which occur four times each year. These took place both in-person and online in 2023-24. The Network appoints its own Chair, which is its trustee representative. The work of the AFSM is facilitated by Suffolk County Council (SCC) **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 2 officers, with support from all other local authority officers. SCC’s Museum Lead is also the Secretary of the Association. The Suffolk Museum Development Officer (MDO) is funded by Arts Council England through SHARE Museums East and hosted by SCC with line management provided by SCC’s Museum Lead. AFSM also commissions freelance officers to support fixed term projects who report to the MDO and/or SCC’s Museum Lead. ## **Section C Objectives and activities** **Summary of the objects of the** The aim of the Association is to advance the education of the public in **charity set out in its** the County of Suffolk by the support and assistance of public museums **governing document** and art galleries and their development. ||**Objectives and activities**| |---|---| ||The aim of the Association is to advance the education of the public in
the County of Suffolk by the support and assistance of public museums
and art galleries and their development.| |**Summary of the main**
**activities undertaken for the**
**public benefit in relation to**
**these objects (include within**
**this section the statutory**
**declaration that trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit)**|The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity
Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have strived to ensure that
the Charity’s activities reflect this. For the public benefit, AFSMworked
with 60 museums and associate members with related interests to help
make Suffolk an attractive place to live, work and visit. The organisation
worked in four main areas:
**1. Provide support for museums in Suffolk**
The role of the Association is vital in supporting museums in Suffolk to
continue to recover from the impact of Covid-19 and manage the cost-of-
living crisis. AFSM listened carefully to the needs of its members to
inform its planning, its focus of projects, and to provide direct support
where it was needed.
**2. Act as a representative and advocate for museums in Suffolk**
AFSM worked closely with a range of stakeholders and external funders
in 2023-24 to ensure that funding and support was invested where it was
needed most. AFSM also collectively marketed the range of experiences
that its members offered to residents of and visitors to Suffolk.
**3. Attract and manage resources for the benefit of members**
The AFSM was directly awarded**£60,327**of external funding in 2023-24
to support a range of projects that meet its aims. The Association also
supported its members to secure external funding.
**4.** **Increase access and learning in museums for people in Suffolk**
AFSM delivered and supported a range of projects and programmes to
ensure that a more diverse range of people had the opportunity to
participate in, engage with, and visit museums.| **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 3 ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. The Trustees of AFSM partner with Arts Council England, SHARE Museums East, Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, Suffolk County Council, and West Suffolk Council and thank them for their continuing and valued support, without which the scale of activities carried out to meet its charitable objectives would be considerably reduced. AFSM wishes to acknowledge and thank Tom Beese and Lucy Maxwell for their knowledge, creativity, commitment, and hard work on behalf of the Association this year. Their work has had a real positive impact on its members and communities they serve. Volunteers also support the work of the Museum Development Officer to further the aims of the Charity. We warmly welcome new volunteers, including accompanied children who trial museum resources, young adults who are seeking work experience in the museum sector, and museum volunteers who help with communications. ## Section D Achievements and performance **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** ## **1. Provide support for museums in Suffolk** **1.1 AFSM Network** – All museum members are welcome to send representatives to the AFSM Network meetings that occur four times each year. The meetings took place in-person and online in 2023-24. They take place around the county to give members the opportunity to visit and learn from other museums. The Network appoints its own Chair, who is its representative on the AFSM Management Committee. AFSM wishes to thank Fraser Hale for carrying out this role in 2023-24. SCC’s Museum Lead and the Museum Project Officers share museum news and updates. A representative from each member museum present is also invited to share an update. A guest speaker will give a presentation or lead a training session on a topical subject. **1.2 AFSM Newsflash** – All AFSM member museums and associated contacts receive a weekly newsflash email with information about funding, projects, training, networking, job opportunities, and general information relevant to museums. Individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time. The newsflash mailing list has increased in the last year and is now distributed to a total of 241 contacts. **1.3 AFSM Newsletter** – The AFSM Newsletter is published four times each year via email. It contains articles submitted by member museums about projects, programmes, and special events. In 2023-24, there was a total of 47 museum news articles. **1.4 AFSM Website** – AFSM maintains a website with general information about the Association, a profile for each full member and member museum, a form where members can upload their events information, and case studies of projects run and supported by AFSM. Videos on the website are linked to an SCC Arts & Museums YouTube channel. A **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 4 Section D Achievements and erformance p digital copy of the Suffolk Museums leaflet can also be accessed via the website. **1.5 Social media** – AFSM maintains a Facebook and Twitter (now known as X) profile to promote events and activities taking place in Suffolk Museums. **1.6 AFSM Training** – AFSM offers free and subsidised training to all its members and works in partnership to promote and deliver the SHARE Museums East training programme. AfSM facilitated e-Hive Collections Management training for several museums. Representatives from **26** out of 36 Accredited museums attended SHARE training events and **11** museums participated in their Skills Needs Survey. **1.7 Lowestoft Museum Development –** AFSM worked with the volunteers at **Lowestoft Museum** to appoint Project Officers who are supporting the museum to deliver its Arts Council England Museums Estate and Development Fund (MEND) capital project. AFSM also supports the museum on the Project Management Board for this project. **2. Act as a representative and advocate for museums in Suffolk 2.1 MarketPlace –** AfSM is working as part of a Consortium that supports and challenges Babylon ARTS in its leadership and delivery of MarketPlace. This is the Creative People and Places (CPP) programme funded by Arts Council England in Fenland and the western area of West Suffolk (previously known as Forest Heath) up to March 2025. - MarketPlace aims to grow a sustainable arts infrastructure in Fenland and Forest Heath which supports and nurtures the growth of local audiences and participation in arts and cultural activity. In 2023-24, Marketplace has worked with: • Mildenhall & District Museum • National Horseracing Museum More information about MarketPlace can be found here. - **2.2 Cultural Connections Volunteering –** AFSM is on the Steering Group for the Cultural Connections Volunteering project. The project helps organisations in East Suffolk build up their volunteer numbers. They offer activation and accessibility grants to organisations to support this. AFSM has contacted museums on behalf of the Cultural Connections and several museums are now involved in project, including: • Aldeburgh Museum • Bawdsey Radar Museum • Beccles Museum • Bungay Museum • Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum • Saxmundham Museum • Woodbridge Museum **2.3 Lowestoft –** AFSM is represented on the Lowestoft Rising Local Cultural Education Partnership (LCEP) Steering Group. The LCEP aims to find innovative ways to highlight, develop and enhance the rich cultural opportunities available to all, aged 0-19, in Lowestoft. **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 5 Section D Achievements and erformance p **2.4 Annual Museum Survey** (AMS) – At time of writing, the 2023-24 Annual Museum Survey data is still being collected. A total of **32** out of **36** Accredited museums participated in the AMS of 2022-23. The AMS 2022-23 clearly demonstrates the impact of Suffolk Museums. Results were benchmarked against museums regionally and nationally. The Suffolk Locality Report shows that 52% of museums in Suffolk are run wholly by volunteers, compared to 37% in the East of England and 31% in England. The survey also shows that Suffolk Museums: - Welcomed **370,682** visitors - Opened to the public for **25,674** hours - Employed **147** staff ( **89** FTE) - Supported **1,406** volunteers - Delivered **178,580** volunteers hours valued at **£2.4m** - Welcomed **15,892** onsite education visits - Engaged **137** education providers - Included **17,944** children and young people in learning activities - Cared for over **1,000,000** objects The economic impact of visitors to Suffolk Museums was estimated to be at least **£6,267,000** in 2022-23. AFSM continues to support museums to rebuild their visitors and ensure they continue to be a vital part of a vibrant, mixed economy. **2.5 SHARE Museums East** – AFSM supported the delivery of the SHARE programme through the work of Lucy Maxwell, Museum Development Officer. SHARE awarded **£15,200** in direct grants to Suffolk museums in 2023-24. Grants supported several museums with audience development, collections care and supported recruitment and retention of volunteers. Several grants were made to Suffolk museums through the National Lottery Heritage Lottery-funded SHARE Environmentally Responsible Museums project. **2.6 Marketing** – AFSM Full Members and Members were offered the opportunity to pay a £20 supplement on their membership fee to have their profile included in the Suffolk Museums leaflet and website. The leaflet was redesigned and reissued in February 2024. A leaflet exchange was held for in Beccles in March 2024 and representatives of 15 museums attended. AFSM also supports a range of joint promotional and advertising campaigns to encourage more people to visit museums. In 2023-24 AFSM placed advertising features in Families Suffolk Magazine, Kingfisher Visitor Guides, and Ipswich 24 Magazine. East Anglian Daily Times also hosted a digital banner for Summer in Suffolk Museums on their website. **2.7 Suffolk Annual Public Health Report 2023** – AFSM submitted preexisting video material to Suffolk County Council to be part of a suite of films to support the Annual Public Health Report 2023, which focuses on the role the cultural sector has in supporting health and wellbeing, either directly or indirectly. AFSM also facilitated the filming of a museumspecific volunteering film that took place at the Food Museum, **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 6 Section D Achievements and erformance p Gainsborough’s House, The Long Shop Museum, Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum and West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village. The films can now be found on the Suffolk Arts & Museums YouTube channel. ## **3. Attract and manage resources for the benefit of its members** **3.1 External funding** – AFSM was directly awarded **£60,327** external funding in 2023-24 to support a range of projects that meet its aims. AFSM resources were also used as match funding to help its members and partner organisations attract external funding and deliver projects for the benefit of museums in Suffolk. **3.1.1 Local Authority Contributions** – All Suffolk local authorities sustained their contribution to the work of the Association for Suffolk Museums through core and project funding as follows: |Babergh District Council|£ 1,000| |---|---| |East Suffolk Council|£ 4,000| |Ipswich Borough Council|£ 2,000| |Mid Suffolk District Council|£ 1,500| |Suffolk County Council|£ 2,000| |West Suffolk Council|£ 2,000| Suffolk County Council also awarded AFSM **£39,500** towards projects that support museums in Lowestoft and match funding for development plans over the next three years. **3.1.2 Bluebell Fund** – AFSM was awarded a grant of **£2,000** from the Bluebell Fund, via the Suffolk Community Foundation, to support HAF programmes in Suffolk Museums. This grant enabled the Food Museum to hire an assistant chef for their full-booked Thrills and Grills programme. **3.2 Arts Council England** – Lucy Maxwell is employed as Museum Development Officer by Suffolk County Council, thanks to the **£33,000** grant from SHARE Museums East, including a **£2,000** contribution from AFSM. **3.3 AFSM Small Grants** – In 2023-24, AFSM awarded **9** small grants of up to **£200** to the following Suffolk museums to support them with a mix of collections care and audience engagement work: - Bawdsey Radar Museum - Beccles & District Museum - Food Museum - Haverhill & District Local History Museum - Little Hall Lavenham - The Long Shop Museum - Southwold Museum - Suffolk Archives - Suffolk Regiment Museum **3.4 Extra Time** – AFSM awarded **£5,000** match funding which helped Suffolk Artlink to secure a **£139,749** grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to enable intergenerational reminiscence work to be developed with the following museums: **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 7 Section D Achievements and erformance p - Halesworth Museum - Lowestoft Museum - Suffolk Archives - The Long Shop Museum **3.5 Warm Rooms** – The East of England Co-op Lunch Club/Warm Hub Fund awarded AFSM a grant of **£2,000** in December 2022 via the Suffolk Community Foundation. This was distributed in **£250** grants by AFSM to museums who provided hot drinks, biscuits and activities for communities using the museum spaces as warm rooms. In the winter of 2023-24 AFSM supported the following museums to deliver this programme: - National Horseracing Museum - • Sudbury Heritage Centre - Vintage Litter Museum **3.6 Lowestoft Town Hall -** Lowestoft Town Council secured £3.25m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for developing the Town Hall in Lowestoft. This was supported by a **£5,000** contribution from AFSM to support their new Heritage Engagement Manager, Kate Reeder for the next five years. Kate will support the five AFSM member museums in Lowestoft to engage with the Town Hall activity programme and showcase their collections in the heritage hub and gallery space when the capital works are complete. **4. Increase access and learning in museums for people in Suffolk** **4.1 Curious Minds** – AFSM is working in partnership with Suffolk Artlink, the Food Museum, NHS partners within the Ipswich & East Suffolk Alliance, and Suffolk Libraries to deliver a creative health programme. Following the pilot last year, the **Food Museum** supported a new artistled course in Eye for patients with complex needs, referred by NHS Personalised Care. This was well attended and had a positive impact for its participants. The project is currently delivering four 12-week programmes, led by Suffolk Artlink with funding support from Suffolk County Council. AFSM is supporting the Food Museum to provide curatorial staff support, enabling the lead artists and participants to engage with museum collections. The first programme started in October 2023 at Felixstowe Library. This created an opportunity to include **Felixstowe Museum** , enabling participants to engage with their local collections. It will continue into next year at **The Long Shop Museum** in Leiston. Together with our partners we are developing this programme to support reducing health inequalities for people living with hypertension, respiratory conditions, or multiple chronic conditions. A designated fund is held by AFSM to support work with more museums on this project and as match funding for a potential application for further funding. **4.2. Health and Wellbeing: Measuring our impact toolkit –** This toolkit was published the AFSM website here. It is designed to support the cultural sector in Suffolk to deliver and effectively measure health and wellbeing, equality, and economic recovery benefits. **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 8 Section D Achievements and erformance p **4.3 Holiday Activity and Food Programme** is a Department for Education funded programme that offers support to families who receive free school meals. The programme aims to offer high quality, enriching activity and nutritional, school standard food during the school holidays. AFSM was awarded **£1,134** by West Suffolk Council in March 2023 to support **Bury St Edmunds Guildhall** to join the HAF programme this year. The Guildhall offered family activities at Easter alongside a special exhibition. Summer HAF activities were delivered at the **Food Museum** , **The Red House** , and the **National Horseracing Museum** . There were 155 bookings at the **Food Museum** of which 78% were for children in receipt of Free School Meals. During the cookery sessions, participants learnt professional chef skills such as knife skills, preparing food, understanding flavour, health and safety in the kitchen and how to cook using a bread oven. In the morning the children prepared lunch for all the staff and participants and in the afternoon they baked an afternoon snack for everyone. **The Red House** delivered sessions to fifteen 13-16 year olds. In January 2024, Arts Awards Certificates were presented to the young people who took part in the summer 2023 HAF Arts Award week. The young people spent a week working with Natural Artist, Caroline Hyde-Brown as well as exploring The Red House and gardens to create natural dyes and artwork inspired by the site. The teenagers all worked towards a Bronze Arts Award during the week (GCSE equivalent). Three of the young people were presented with Arts Award Silver. These young people were keen to continue working with The Red House over the summer holidays to try to complete this higher-level qualification. This involved developing their own leadership project. All three developed family activity days and successfully passed their Silver Award. More information can be found on the Suffolk Museums website: https://suffolkmuseums.org/projects/haf-programme/. **4.4 Summer in Suffolk Museums –** Summer in Suffolk Museum is promotional initiative showcasing all the events, activities and workshops taking place in Suffolk Museums during the school holidays. It ran for the seventh time in 2023. The initiative was supported with dedicated social media coverage and print media throughout the summer period, which successfully trafficked considerable interest to the Suffolk Museums website. This year, **42** events at **15** museums were promoted under the banner of _Summer in Suffolk Museums_ on the AfSM website. Museums that took part included: - Aldeburgh Museum - • Bawdsey Radar • East Anglia Transport Museum • Food Museum • Gainsborough’s House • Ipswich Museum • Ipswich Transport Museum • Little Hall Lavenham **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 9 Section D Achievements and erformance p - Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum - • National Horseracing Museum • Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum • Suffolk Archives • Sudbury Heritage Centre - • The Long Shop Museum - • The Red House **4.5 Suffolk Museums Inspire, Learn & Engage (SMILE) –** The SMILE Network aims to enable best practice in education, learning and engagement in Suffolk Museums by working collaboratively and sharing knowledge locally, regionally, and nationally. Membership is open to all learning leads from the Association for Suffolk Museums member museums. Meetings take place on a quarterly basis at varied locations. The network supports the development and delivery of AFSM education, learning and engagement projects. Three online meetings and one in-person SMILE Network meeting took place this year. Network members achieved the network’s annual objective of observing a learning activity being delivered in May at **The Red House** in Aldeburgh. Two new museums joined SMILE Network in 2023: Little Hall Lavenham and Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. SMILE Network helped to facilitate Holiday Activity and Food Programme and created the opportunity for **Little Hall** to build on its engagement with local schools by working in partnership with **Gainsborough’s House** . **4.6 Power of Stories** – Following the success of Power of Stories last year, AFSM wanted to show the opportunities for telling more diverse histories in Suffolk museums. For the 2023 AGM, Corinne Fowler, Professor of Colonialism and Heritage, Museum Studies, University of Leicester recorded a video presentation titled _‘Country Walks through Colonial Britain…and what all this has to do with Suffolk’._ The Enclosure Walk that she took around Bungay was the example of how museums could add another interesting and often surprising layer of interpretation to their local history. In October 2023, Professor Corinne Fowler and researcher Kate Bernstock viewed documents at Suffolk, and Corinne presented practical research tips at the AFSM Network meeting in October. There was a good response from the museums present. From this visit, we have lists of relevant collections held by Suffolk Archives, and a database of enslavers with links to Suffolk who received compensation when the enslaved people were emancipated. We are positive that museums are interested in this area of work, and we are actively seeking funding opportunities to support training and new interpretation. **4.7 Extra Time** – Extra Time is a creative intergenerational project about grassroots football in Suffolk led by Suffolk Artlink and supported by AFSM. Creative sessions are led by artists in community settings, care homes and schools. Participants explore documents from Suffolk Archives and objects from museums, whilst sharing and celebrating their own personal experiences of the sport. They create unique artworks, **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 10 Section D Achievements and erformance p vibrant interpretations of archive collections, and develop a broader understanding of Suffolk’s rich footballing heritage. The first year of activity has been based in Lowestoft. **Laxfield Museum** lent some recently acquired boots, a photograph, and a cup to use as part of a reminiscence session held at Britten Court in Lowestoft. Next year, activity will take place in Halesworth and Leiston, with support from **Halesworth Museum** and **The Long Shop Museum** . More information about ongoing activity can be found here. ## **Section E Financial review** The Trustees continue to consider relevant guidance, including that **Brief statement of the** provided by the Charity Commission in CC19 "Charity Reserves: Building **charity’s policy on reserves** Resilience". The continuing review examines potential risks and assesses these risks against costs to determine an appropriate and prudent level of reserves, together with an appropriate management framework. AFSM does not currently have a reserves policy. This is an action that will be carried forward into 2024-25 and should reflect the paragraph above. **Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information) Going Concern** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: Total funds on 31 March 2024 stand at £95,336. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and • the charity’s principal expenditure for 12 months from the date of authorising these financial sources of funds (including statements and consider the charity will still have sufficient access to any fundraising); cash resources to operate in that period. The trustees therefore have a • how expenditure has reasonable expectation that the charity can continue in operation for the supported the key objectives next 12 months and it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements of the charity; on a going concern basis. • investment policy and objectives including any **Funds** ethical investment policy adopted. Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for specific purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for specific purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 11 ## **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Jayne Austin Kevin Sullivan **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)**[Secretary ] Treasurer **Date** 5 June 2024 **AFSM – Trustees’ Annual Report** **5 June 2024** 12 Associatron for Suffolk Museums Charity No. 293950 Trustees, Report and Unaudited Accounts 31 March 2024 Association for Suffolk Mu5eum5 Contents Pages Trustees, Annual Report Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial Activities 2to3 Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts 7t012 Detailed Statement of Financial AttlVTtie5 13to14 Page I Association for Suffglk Museums Trustees Annual Report The trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Charity No. 293950 PrlncSpal Offlce clo Suffolk County Council Endeavour House Ipswich Trustees The following trustees served during the year.. l.E. Austin B. Bennett IRe5igned 6 February 20241 l. Carr M. Chester A.M. Cooper l. Ewart (Resigned 4 May 20231 (Resigned 4 May 20231 P. Faircloth-mutton A. Fletcher F. Hale P. Hardy E.F. Harpur L. Harris (Resigned 23 May 20231 (Resigned 12 February 20241 C. Jones R. Meyer J.M. Nunn C.S. Palmer M. Sayer M. Smith K. Sullivan (Resigned 4 May 20231 C. Turland O. Walters IResigned 6 June 20231 Key Management PÈrsonnel Chair C Jones Secretary Treasurer J Austin K Sullivan Accountants Account-wryte Limited 5 Schneider Business Park Felixstowe Suffolk IPII 3SS Page 2 AssocSation for Suffolk Museums Trustee5 Annual Report Bankers CAF Bank statÈmÈnt of trustees, responsibillties in relation to the financial statements The charTty trustees are responsible for preparTng a trustees, annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoynting Practice). The trustees are responsible for keeping prc)per accounting records that disc105e with rea50nabl8 accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities IAccouTrts and Reportsl Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of fraud and other irregularities. A fully detailed Annual Statement has been supplled in a separate document and filed alongside these accounts. The Annual Statement covers the Structure, governance and management of the charity along with its objectives and activities and its achievements and performance covering the period of these accounts. Sigfied on behalf of the charity's trustees K. Sullivan Trustee 27 January 2025 Page 3 Association for Suffolk Museums Independent Examiners Report Independent Examiner'5 Report to thè trusteès of Association for Suffolk Museums I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of A550ciation for Suffolk Museums for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirement5 of the Charitie5 Act 20111'the Att'l. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryin8 Out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matter5 have come to my attention in connection with the examinatiori giving rne cause to believe that in any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as reqLtired by section 130 of the Art,. or the financial statements do riot accord with those records,. or the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements Set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statement5 give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. Daw n50n FMAAT Ac ount-wryte Limited 5 Schneider Business Park Felixstowe Suffolk IPII 3SS 27 Januèry 2025 Page 4 A550ciation for Suffolk Museums Statement of Finafttial Artivities for the yèar ended 31 Marth 2024 Unrestrirted funds Restricted fund5 Total funds Total funds 2024 2024 2023 2024 Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Ch3rit3ble activities Investrnent5 4,546 23,961 1,467 4,546 62,406 1,467 3,995 40,840 497 38,445 Total 29,974 38.445 68,419 45,332 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 14,269 4.811 47,571 61,840 4.811 98,514 1,914 Other Total 19,080 47.571 66,651 100,428 Net gains on investments Net incomellexpenditurel Transfers between funds 10,894 19.1261 1,768 155,0961 11831 183 Net incomè/lexpenditurel before other gains/llosses1 10.711 18.9431 1,768 155.0961 Othergains and losses Net movement in funds 10,711 18,9431 1.768 155,0961 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 38.725 54.443 93,168 148.264 Total funds carried forward 49,436 45.500 94,936 93,168 Page 5 Association for Suffolk Museums Balance Sheet at 31 March 2024 Charity No. 293950 2024 2023 Current a55ets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 25,075 71,394 96,469 11,5331 1,815 97,019 98,834 15,6661 93,168 Creditors.. Arnount f311ing due within one year io Net current asséts 94,936 Total assets less current liabilities 94,936 93,168 Net asset5 excluding pÈnsion asset or liablllty 94,936 93,168 Total net assets 94,936 93,168 The funds of the chartty Restricted funds Restricted income funds li 45,500 45,500 54.443 54,443 Unrestricted funds General funds li 28,674 20.762 21,352 17,373 Designated funds 49,436 38,725 ReseNes li Total funds 94,936 93.168 Approved by the trustees on 27 January 2025 And signed on their behalf bv.. C. Jones Trustee 27 January 2025 Page 6 Associatlon for Suffolk Museums Note5 to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 l Accounting policies Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic if Ireland IFRS 1021 issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Charities Act 2011. Change in basis of accounting or to prevlous accounts There has been no change to the 3ccouriting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since 13St year and no changes have been made to account5 for previous years. Fund accounting Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity. These are unre5trirted funds earmarked by the trustee5 for particular purposes. These are av3i18ble for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal. Deslgnated funds Restricted funds Incomè Recognition of income Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities ISOFAI when the charitv becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive. the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliabilitv. Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is expenditure reported gross in the SOFA. Donètlons and Voluntary incorne received by way of Erants, donation5 and gifts is included in the the SOFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income. Investment income This is included Tn the accounts when receivable. legacies Page 7 Assotiation for Suffolk Museums Notes to the Accounts Expenditure Recognition of expenditure Expenditure is recognised on an accrua15 basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, ènd is reported as part of the expenditure to which it re13te5. Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising raising funds trading costs and investment management Costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of it5 activities and charitable activities services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs. All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basi5 plu5 an atcrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid. These include those costs associated with meetlng the constitutional and statutory requirement5 of the Charity, Including any auditlindependent examination fee5, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs. These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity. Grènts payable Governance c05t5 Other expenditure Taxation The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. Trade and other debtor5 Trade and other debtor5 are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalent5 comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management. Trade and other creditors Short term creditors are measured at the transactiori priee. Other creditors and provisions are recogni5ed where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably resLilt in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estirnated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement arnount after allowing for any trade discount5 due. 2 Income from donation5 and legacie5 Unrèstritted Total Total 2024 2023 Mernbership 4.546 4,546 4.546 4,546 3,995 3.995 Page 8 Assotlatlon for Suffolk Museums Notes to the Accounts 3 Income from choritable artivitres Unrestricted Rèstricted Total Total 2024 2023 Project Funds 23,961 23.961 38,445 38,445 62,406 62,406 40,840 40,840 4 Income from Investments Unrèstrirted Total Total 2024 2023 Bank Interest 1,467 1,467 1.467 1,467 497 497 5 Expenditure on charitable artivities Unrestricted Restrlcted Total Total 2024 2023 Expenditure trn cht7rituble ocrivities 13.3 409 47.571 60,871 409 96,435 1,579 Grants made Governance Gosts Independent Examination 560 560 500 14,269 47,571 61.840 98,514 6 Analysis of grants Grants to Institutions Activity or progr3mme Total Total 2024 2023 AfSMGrant Programme 409 409 1.579 1,579 409 409 Grant fundin8 of activities Artivity or programme Total Total 2024 2023 AfSMGrant Programme 409 409 1,579 1,579 409 409 Page 9 Association for Suffolk Museum5 Notes to the Account5 7 Other expenditure Unrestrlcted Total Total 2024 2023 Leaflet Costs 2,980 1,771 60 2,980 750 Subscriptions Bank Charges 1,771 60 1,092 72 4,811 4,811 1,914 8 stsff costs No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 9 Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors 25.075 25,075 1.815 1,815 10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Trade creditors Other creditors 1,333 200 3,916 1,750 5,666 1,533 Page 10 Association for Suffolk Museum5 Notes to the Accounts 11 Movement in funds Incomlng resources At31 Re50urce5 expended Gr055 transfers (including At l Aprll other 2023 gainsllossesl March 2024 Restricted funds: Restricted income funds: Suffolk Museum Partnership Lowestoft Museum Development Creative Heritage Wellbeing Museum Development Programrne Power of Stories Curiou5 Minds Warm Rooms Holiday & Foc*d ProEramme 945 19451 10,500 15,0001 125,0001 5,500 25,000 25,000 25.000 12,693 15.000 1,750 112.8761 183 15.000 11,7501 12,0001 2,000 Totul 54.443 38,445 147,5711 183 45.500 Unrestricted funds: General funds 21,352 13,474 15.9691 11831 28,674 Designated funds: Museum Projects Ski115 Programme SMILE 14.500 18.1111 6.389 2,500 3,355 6,518 2,500 3,355 11,518 Rekindling Memories Lowestoft Museum Development 15,0001 2,000 2,000 Total 17,373 16,500 113,1111 20,762 Total lunds 93,168 68,419 166.6511 94,936 Purposes and restriction5 in relation to the funds.. Restricted funds.. Suffolk Museum Partnership Lowe5toft Museum Development Creative Heritage Wellbeing Museum Development Programme Power of Stories Curious Minds Warrn Roorns Page 11 Association for Suffolk Museums Notes to the Accounts Holiday & Ftsod Programme DesTgnated funds.. Museum Projects Skills Programme SMILE Rekindling Memories Lowestoft Museurn Development 12 Analysrs of net assets between funds Unrestrlcted funds Restrlcted funds Total Net current assets 47,436 47,436 47,500 47,500 94,936 94,936 13 Reeonclllatlon of net debt At31 At l April 2023 March Cash flows 2024 Cash and cash equivalents 97,019 97,019 125,6251 125,6251 71,394 71.394 Net debt 97,019 125,6251 71,394 Page 12 Association for Suffolk Museums Detailed Statement of Financlal Artivlties for the year ended 31 Matth 2024 Unrestricte d funds Restrirted funds 2024 Total funds 2024 Total funds 2024 2023 Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Membership 4,546 4,546 4,546 4,546 3,995 3,995 Charitable activities Project Fund5 23,961 23,961 38.445 38,445 62,406 62,406 40,840 40,840 Investments Bank Interest 1,467 1,467 1,467 1,467 497 497 Total income and endowments 29,974 38,445 68,419 45,332 Expenditure on.. Charitable attivities 13,300 409 47.571 60,871 409 96,435 1,579 98,014 Grants made 13.709 47.571 61,280 Governance costs Independent Examination 560 560 500 560 560 500 Total of expendlture on charitable activities 14,269 47,571 61,840 98.514 Other expenditure Leaflet Costs Subscription5 Bank Charges 2,980 1,771 60 2,980 1,771 60 750 1,092 72 4,811 4,811 4,811 4.811 1.914 1,914 Total of expenditure of othèr cost5 Total expenditure 19.080 47.571 66,651 100,428 Net gains on investments Net incomellexpenditurel Transfers between fund5 10,894 19.1261 1,768 155,0961 11831 183 Net incomellexpenditurel before other gainslllosse51 Other Gains 10.711 18.9431 1,768 155.0961 Net movement in funds 10.711 18,9431 1,768 155.0961 Page 13 Assotiation for Suffolk Museums Detailed Statement of Financial Activities Reconclliation of funds.. Total funds brou8ht forward 38.725 54,443 93,168 148,264 Total funds carrled forward 49,436 45,500 94,936 93.168 Page 14 A55ociation for Suffolk Museums Independent Examiners Report Independent Examiner's Report to the trusteÈs of Assotiatlon for Suffolk Museums I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Association for Suffolk Museums for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basls of report A5 the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have tompleted my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to rny attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. the accounting records wère not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or the financièl statements do not accord with those records.. or the financial statements do not cornply with the applicable requirement5 concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charitie5 (Accounts and Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financi31 statements give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have corne 3cross no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention shc*uld be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. Daw Jo son FMAAT Ac ount-wryte Limited 5 Schneider Business Park Felixstowe Suffolk IPII 3SS 27 January 2025 Page 4