**SOLDIERS OF SHROPSHIRE MUSEUM Registration Number 294260** **Annual Accounts, Trustees Report and Independent Examiners Review** **For the year to 31[st] March 2021** **Shrewsbury Castle, Castle St, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 2AT** **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2021** ## **Registration number 294260** The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. Trustees acting at the date of these accounts are: Acton, Francis Stackhouse (Col) Chambers, Guy Philip (Lt Col) Coulon, Marius Dale (Col - retd) Downes, Teri (Lt Col) Evans, Timothy Michael (Col – retd) Hamilton-Russell, Mark John Gustavus (Maj - retd) Jones, Richard Eric (Lt Col - retd) Salwey, Humphrey (Maj -retd) Sartain, Rex Philip (Lt Col - retd) Whitaker, Charles (Maj – retd) ## **Financial Review** The museums income from its activities for the year to 31[st] March 2021 decreased when compared to the previous year, down from last year’s £66,175 to this year’s £62,455, given the times we are in though this isn’t as bad as it could have been. There were declines across the board in the recorded income, the shop sales declined markedly, by £4,899 from last year’s £6,633 to this year’s £1,734 this though isn’t entirely unexpected given the effects of the pandemic, there was also a significant drop in the wages grant from £33,019 in 2020 to £13,622 in 2021 however as this grant is to support the payroll then with the museum being closed it would only be natural that the grant would be reduced. The income from the Shropshire Soldiers Appeal also saw a significant but anticipated fall of £5,454, (representing an approximate 33% decrease on the previous year). The appeal was considered ‘closed’ during this period. Fortunately, the museum has been the recipient of grant funding beyond the wages support which totalled £30,235, this has allowed the museum to record a smaller reduced income than would otherwise have been achieved. Costs for the museum decreased compared to the previous period from £99,993 of the previous year to £71,792 of the current year, the significant decreases related to wages which in total decreased by £14,473 (see SCC grant above) most costs were down to some degree whilst the expenditure relating to Soldiers of Shropshire declined by £19,167 compared to the year 2020 – with the appeal closed, any outstanding monies were allocated to the agreed costs. Once the costs have been set against the income from activities there was a loss of £9,336, this is an improvement on last year’s decline of £33,818 but a loss all the same. However, the overall financial health of the museum has improved due to the Ruffers investment increasing in value by £85,451. This has enabled the reserves of the museum to grow from last year’s £489,148 to this year’s £565,263 an increase of some 15%. The liquid reserves (bank & cash) have declined by £17,711; this was heavily due to funds being transferred from the 35 day account into the Ruffers fund, all in all the current reserves situation sees the museum sitting on accessible funds of £565,263 (ignoring the illiquidity of stock £9,800). In Shop sales Curatorial research Interest in 35 day account COWD Grants received Wages gTrntfrom SCC F riends of SRM ￿en-1jer5hlp Shropshire Soldier5 SRM trail Events Legacies and donations Tolal income 1.734.10 6,633.15 297.00 247.00 58.08 X361.32 30.234.90 0.00 13,621.63 33,018.72 1,865.00 2,225.00 10.035.00 15,488.98 1.751.65 298.00 6,151.02 f417￿84 445.00 4,165.00 6145&71 nditu Purchases Stock ￿lte off CuTrtots salary and Nl Warder5' pay HMRC Pension contiibutions Paynio fees Treasurer & secretsry eyr6es E>penS￿5 u￿ry costs Wor1dpay fees Paypal fees Consultsnt Music Licence f P rinting, postsge and ststionery 5ubscripb.ons Insurance Repai￿ and renewals F riends fijnd - eynses Shropshire Soldiers- e￿endI￿ 494.73 6,125.00 23,082.92 20.368.18 7.783.24 1.669.92 318.00 2.111.16 534.91 825.50 23,608.76 32.687.67 9,550.41 1,530.76 354.00 0.00 3,135.33 812.19 311.47 1,986.00 360.00 102.75 271.92 120.32 6.37 213.99 306.80 2,850.00 2,834.32 O.IXJ a 135.47 262.06 987.98 3.438.09 22,604.72 Totsl eXpeN1￿[? 79Z 99,gJZg) Income netof cosls Moverrent on investr￿nt 85.451.32 15.192.68 Inc￿￿ in fuNis thriNJ the year .W625.38 FIXED ASSETS InveStr￿nt 505,858 405,9)7 CURRENT ASSETS Trading Stocks 35 day account Current account linc FrieThJ5 Fund) S￿P Float 15.925 50.379 16,888 50 83.241 25.437 24.118 50 59.405 565.263 489.148 NET ASSETS 565.263 489.148 FUNDS OF THE CHARrrY Brought fomprd L%]kirKes BroLW3htfoTh%erd baLa￿e5 Ir￿￿aSe in year R￿enES 466,818 22.330 76.115 565,263 542.567 22.696 565.263 466.818 22.330 489.148 Fri8Yts Fuij Balance bfvl 470,451 Custrrfjial Research Legacieslt)orotions Soldiers of Shropshi Ex￿5 l Deftf( of IrKorre over e>¥￿1 InvestsrentAssetGair Friervjs, FurKI rmvervpnt 297 4.165 6.597 -20,395 85.451 247 6.151 -7.116 -33,1 15,193 76,115 -18.625 FrierKls' FLr¥J -2.396 470,451 542,567 REPRESENTED BY Inv￿trrents CurrenlAssets Cash at Bank- cUnpntacc￿jnt Cash at Bank- 35 day accourt Frie￿Is. FLrKI 505.858 405,907 15,975 16.888 1,379 -18.697 24.118 25.437 -22. 542.567 470.451 ## **Chairman’s Statement:** Since our last annual report, the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum has met with further success given our re-branding and how the museum has faced the challenges in presenting our collection: and this despite the changing shape of the pandemic and evershifting Government Guidance. Given the pace of change and the way our museum has grown, almost uniquely given stories from other museums, there have been real developments. Richard Gough, the Director, with his staff have continued to innovate, build on our previous successes whilst understanding how we might plan for the museum re-opening and planning for the future. We have also attracted grants from local and government schemes including the prospective employment of our first “kickstarter”. The aim of this scheme is to deliver funding for employers offering new jobs for 16-24 year olds and which we hope there is real value to both the museum and the individual. There are a number of potential projects to capture stories from soldiers of Shropshire – a key focus for the museum. This includes a webinar on a Shropshire family’s story of three brothers in India and Burma during the Second World War, a documentary film on Bosnia 25 years on and a project on the Korean conflict. There are other community initiates and applications which we hope may benefit our long-term strategy such as Shrewsbury’s Big Town Plan and Shropshire’s Cultural Strategy. And finally, my thanks to all our Trustees, Friends and supporters for their effort and time over the last year. It is hugely appreciated, and our continued success is testament to all their efforts, and that of our wonderful staff, in ensuring the future of the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum. ## **Director’s Report:** The Coronavirus Pandemic restrictions meant that for the period between April 2020 and April 2021 the Museum was open for just 16 weeks – yet maintained more than 85% of pre-pandemic visitor numbers. Predictably, fundraising event targets during this period were missed, although in-person cash donations were up by over 200%. Retail trading was on a par with previous years, and the Trust enjoyed the support from Local Government Discretionary Grants totalling nearly £10000. The Museum capitalised on the new online working habits by holding our popular Lecture Series online via Zoom, attracting an international audience and bringing new visitors to our website. Whilst unable to open, full use was made of the ‘Job Retention Scheme’ where the Director was furloughed up to the approaching reopening date. The combined savings from this together with the grant income (and two legacy gifts) kept the Museum reserves stable and enabled us to consider a range of project grant ideas for 2021 and beyond. These ideas include a ‘Bosnia 25 years on’ film; Social Enterprise Academy/National Lottery Sustainability Project (“Steps to Sustainability”) and employing a Museum Collections Assistant via the Kickstart Scheme. We also began a series of projects that looked more closely at our collections and planned to secure funding for one of them - focussing specifically on the Korean conflict of the 1950s. An access audit of our Digital platforms was carried out, as well as an Environmental audit looking at the feasibility of replacing Compact Fluorescent Light units in the display cases with LED units. All things considered, the Museum grew in strength and bolstered its reserves during the first full year of the Pandemic, and we re-opened with a positive attitude and renewed drive. ## **Soldiers of Shropshire background information and activity.** **Our Vision:** To share the evolutionary story of the British Army through the exploits, campaigns and sacrifices of the Shropshire Regiments, and the impression they leave on our way of life today. To keep inspiring our audiences with stories from present day Soldiers of Shropshire. **Our Mission:** To keep the histories of the Shropshire Regiments alive through our collections, displays and archives, and to maintain their links to the Modern Army in Shropshire. To display these stories, from 1755 to today, in a single museum, accessible and relevant to all of our communities. ## **Our Trust’s Objects:** To incorporate the traditions and history of all the Shropshire Regiments (The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), The Shropshire Yeomanry, The Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery, and the Shropshire Volunteer and Militia units) into a single museum (the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum). The museum Trust will collect, document, conserve, exhibit and interpret items relevant to the history of the Shropshire Regiments represented by the remaining Constituent Regimental Museum Trusts as well as the current and future Shropshire based Regiments and successor Regiments (Queen’s Own Mercian Yeomanry/Royal Yeomanry, Light Infantry/The Rifles) to include a regularly updated display of items illustrating the order of battle, tactics, weapons/equipment and deployments – at home and abroad of all our Shropshire Soldiers. ## **Background** **About our regiments:** The Museum is host to a journey through nearly 300 years of British Army Evolution, seen through the eyes, campaigns and sacrifices of Shropshire Soldiers. The Museum displays the significant collections of the Shropshire Regiments (The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), The Shropshire Yeomanry, The Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery, and the Shropshire Volunteer and Militia units) between 1755 and 1968, including the formation of the Light Infantry & Rifles Regiments, and the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron, now D (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry. Visitors can discover the stories of Shropshire Soldiers in war and at peace, at home and abroad, from their formation to the present day. **Our Location:** Shropshire is a County of varied verdant landscapes, wetlands, and rugged hills spread across the Welsh Marches between the urban sprawl of Birmingham and the wild Welsh border, and between Chester and Hereford to the north and south. With a sparse local population, the county relies heavily on tourism, and with points of interest such as the Severn Valley Railway, Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and RAF Museum Cosford, visitors are spoilt for choice. Shrewsbury is almost central to the county and is its most cosmopolitan and populous town. And within the County Town, the Museum’s home is in the idyllic Shrewsbury Castle. **Museum History and structure:** The castle is owned and managed by Shropshire Council and the Museum Trust enjoys a tenancy free from rent or fees, and with wages for our team of Front of House Warders paid for by the Council via a recharge. The Trust has a lease, as set out in the Governing Documents, that expires in 2027, and for which we are seeking an extension. The Trust lost its MOD Grant (£30k/annum) in 2017 and with it a full-time museum assistant post. Following years of neglect, in 1924 the Castle was purchased by Shropshire Horticultural Society and given as a gift to the Borough. The Great Hall was cleared of its interior partitions and smaller rooms and was used as the borough Council Chamber into the 1970’s. In 1985, the castle became the home of the Shropshire Regimental Museum with a renewing lease that is set to expire in 2027. In 1992, the castle and museum were fire-bombed by the Provisional IRA, causing considerable damage to the main hall but thankfully very minimal damage to the Collections – relatively speaking. HRH Princess Alexandra re-opened the Museum on 2nd May 1995, and the Trust began to build the collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum. In September 2019, the Museum changed its name to the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum to better reflect the Army’s heritage in the County from the point the regiments lost their county name. **Our Activities and Operations:** The museum attracts around 25000 visitors a year (Pre-pandemic) of which close to 60% pay an entry fee (which is paid to the Council). Serving and veteran Shropshire Soldiers qualify for free entry as do under 5s. Entry fees: £4.50 adult, £3.50 concession, and £2 Children. The majority of visitors come from Shrewsbury and the wider Shropshire area (including Telford), with Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, and London next in the list. In 2020, with an agreed Fundraising Strategy in place, the Trust embarked on a campaign to secure the future lease of the Museum with Shropshire Council that would see a further 30 years tenancy and enable access to higher levels of capital funding than could be realised with the current lease expiry date of June 2027. Plans are being drawn up to radically redisplay the Museum’s Collections and to provide a focal point for archival research and to bolster the stories behind the objects – notably the 3500 medals and their C1000 recipients: Projects like this can only happen following successful grant bids in an already febrile funding landscape. Recent fundraising supported the re-launch as the ‘Soldiers of Shropshire Museum’ in 2018, along with a new website, new branding and re-vamped retail offer. In 2019, we embarked on a ground-breaking learning programme, supported by Arts Council England. Immersive Learning is a simulated environment that encourages use of drama, music, and physical movement to support the more traditional museum learning tools and crosses curriculum topics to include maths, science, and art as well as history. In partnership with the Education team at Shropshire Council Museum’s Service, we plan to deliver high quality, unforgettable museum learning experiences to KS2/upper KS2 pupils on the themes of heroism, remembrance, and loss. The museum supports a number of events in the castle grounds but has limited resources to run our own other than exhibitions of military vehicles, or partnerships with the local regiments. Inside the museum, space is limited but visitor interest with the broadest range of temporary exhibitions and displays. **Our Collections:** The collection comprises 13,000 plus items comprising a wide selection of uniforms, weapons, militaria, flags and over 3500 medals (including three of the Shropshire Regiments’ nine Victoria Crosses) from participation in campaigns from 1755 to the present. We are proud that over 90% of our unique items are on public display, with a small onsite store set aside for surplus collection items and those being prepared for display. We are one of the UK’s most complete regimental collections. The Museum received full accreditation from the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) in 2008, was reaccredited by Arts Council England in 2014 and is due for return again in June 2021 (deferred from June 2020 due to the Covid Pandemic). **Income:** Our primary income sources derive from our Investment fund via agreed dividend payments drawn quarterly. Our Investment Policy 2020 details how this fund is managed and how decisions are taken on its future, as well as how limit our exposure to undue risk to the investment. Regular donations from Patrons total nearly £11,000 per annum and the remainder of our annual costs (Insurance, Salaries. HMRC/NI contributions and cost of running the Charity) are sought from in-person donations, a small retail operation (stocking memorabilia, military books, and curios relating to the collections) Gift Aid Claims, and fees collected for soldier/family research. ## **Recent Projects undertaken with fundraising support:** - Re-branding and new website - Upgrade of till and stocktaking software in the shop (EPOS) - IT upgrade from old, outdated computers and software to a modern system, with the ability for remote working. - A brand new learning programme for schools: (although on hold for Covid) the programme is on course for re-start as soon as restrictions allow - Volunteer-led collection audit. ## **Future planned projects that need financial support:** - Medal redisplay: We plan to relocate our collection of over 3500 into bespoke cabinets for a more impactful display of the recipients’ valour and service. Taking up almost half of the ground floor’s wall-space, the display will include touchscreens at regular locations giving audiences access to the Medal recipients’ biographical, regimental, and historic information, building a picture of the human behind the medals. - Soldier ‘pods’: Using collection items already held, as well as those incoming from individuals, we will display personal histories and items alongside the regimental ones, building pictures of the actual soldiers, living or dead, and giving an insight into the evolving nature of soldiering at a very personal level. The ability to drive such resonance with our soldiers and audience is a key tool in increasing the level of relevance and empathy within our museum experience. - Regimental timelines: Long, convoluted histories stretching like ribbons through a context rich timeline and including many of our significant collection items – will tell a clear and recognisable story of our regiments, and their endeavours, from their beginning to today. A section demystifying the Army’s language and jargon, as well as highlighting its many civil duties, will further serve to strengthen the links between our - audience and their Army, as well as providing a lens through which to interpret other items form our collections. - Main Hall: We plan to open up our entire main hall for thematic display (see below), regimental and corporate dinners, prizegiving and book launches, temporary exhibitions and school projects – being able to host these events gives a dual benefit to the museum – greater public engagement with broader programming, and much needed revenue streams through hires and events. - Thematic displays: Our aim is to further develop thematic displays that together illustrate the evolution of the British Army and explore stories behind the soldiers of Shropshire. Whether it’s in their uniforms, weapons, regalia or traditions, we have such rich collections that almost any theme can be presented as an evolutionary thread to be explored in detail as well as holistically. Being able to use our collections and displays in this way will make for a much more flexible space that will allow for far greater enterprise and audience engagement. - Accessible Archive and light-storage access: Our main tower and mezzanine areas will be turned into spaces for reference, study and research. Smaller, more numerous collection items (buttons, badges, etc.) can be re-displayed in accessible drawer storage, alongside our comprehensive document archive, and commonly requested ‘deep store’ items carefully packed. This will hugely reduce the burden on prime display space in the main hall, as well as on the limited space in deep storage. A bank of research computers will link to our collections database, with the opportunity for volunteers and academics to work alongside one another on refreshing and complementing our already rich collections. These developments cannot happen without significant funding, be that capital grants from national grant-givers, or substantial supporter based fundraising – either way, we are reliant on an extension to our lease with Shropshire Council – which remains our key development priority. For more information on our future projects, please email info@soldiersofshropshire.co.uk ## **These accounts and trustees report are approved by the trustees and are signed on their behalf by The Chairman, Lt Col (Retd) Rex Sartain** Signed by Dated **SOLDIERS OF SHROPSHIRE MUSEUM Registration Number 294260** **Annual Accounts, Trustees Report and Independent Examiners Review** **For the year to 31[st] March 2021** **Shrewsbury Castle, Castle St, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 2AT** **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2021** ## **Registration number 294260** The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. Trustees acting at the date of these accounts are: Acton, Francis Stackhouse (Col) Chambers, Guy Philip (Lt Col) Coulon, Marius Dale (Col - retd) Downes, Teri (Lt Col) Evans, Timothy Michael (Col – retd) Hamilton-Russell, Mark John Gustavus (Maj - retd) Jones, Richard Eric (Lt Col - retd) Salwey, Humphrey (Maj -retd) Sartain, Rex Philip (Lt Col - retd) Whitaker, Charles (Maj – retd) ## **Financial Review** The museums income from its activities for the year to 31[st] March 2021 decreased when compared to the previous year, down from last year’s £66,175 to this year’s £62,455, given the times we are in though this isn’t as bad as it could have been. There were declines across the board in the recorded income, the shop sales declined markedly, by £4,899 from last year’s £6,633 to this year’s £1,734 this though isn’t entirely unexpected given the effects of the pandemic, there was also a significant drop in the wages grant from £33,019 in 2020 to £13,622 in 2021 however as this grant is to support the payroll then with the museum being closed it would only be natural that the grant would be reduced. The income from the Shropshire Soldiers Appeal also saw a significant but anticipated fall of £5,454, (representing an approximate 33% decrease on the previous year). The appeal was considered ‘closed’ during this period. Fortunately, the museum has been the recipient of grant funding beyond the wages support which totalled £30,235, this has allowed the museum to record a smaller reduced income than would otherwise have been achieved. Costs for the museum decreased compared to the previous period from £99,993 of the previous year to £71,792 of the current year, the significant decreases related to wages which in total decreased by £14,473 (see SCC grant above) most costs were down to some degree whilst the expenditure relating to Soldiers of Shropshire declined by £19,167 compared to the year 2020 – with the appeal closed, any outstanding monies were allocated to the agreed costs. Once the costs have been set against the income from activities there was a loss of £9,336, this is an improvement on last year’s decline of £33,818 but a loss all the same. However, the overall financial health of the museum has improved due to the Ruffers investment increasing in value by £85,451. This has enabled the reserves of the museum to grow from last year’s £489,148 to this year’s £565,263 an increase of some 15%. The liquid reserves (bank & cash) have declined by £17,711; this was heavily due to funds being transferred from the 35 day account into the Ruffers fund, all in all the current reserves situation sees the museum sitting on accessible funds of £565,263 (ignoring the illiquidity of stock £9,800). In Shop sales Curatorial research Interest in 35 day account COWD Grants received Wages gTrntfrom SCC F riends of SRM ￿en-1jer5hlp Shropshire Soldier5 SRM trail Events Legacies and donations Tolal income 1.734.10 6,633.15 297.00 247.00 58.08 X361.32 30.234.90 0.00 13,621.63 33,018.72 1,865.00 2,225.00 10.035.00 15,488.98 1.751.65 298.00 6,151.02 f417￿84 445.00 4,165.00 6145&71 nditu Purchases Stock ￿lte off CuTrtots salary and Nl Warder5' pay HMRC Pension contiibutions Paynio fees Treasurer & secretsry eyr6es E>penS￿5 u￿ry costs Wor1dpay fees Paypal fees Consultsnt Music Licence f P rinting, postsge and ststionery 5ubscripb.ons Insurance Repai￿ and renewals F riends fijnd - eynses Shropshire Soldiers- e￿endI￿ 494.73 6,125.00 23,082.92 20.368.18 7.783.24 1.669.92 318.00 2.111.16 534.91 825.50 23,608.76 32.687.67 9,550.41 1,530.76 354.00 0.00 3,135.33 812.19 311.47 1,986.00 360.00 102.75 271.92 120.32 6.37 213.99 306.80 2,850.00 2,834.32 O.IXJ a 135.47 262.06 987.98 3.438.09 22,604.72 Totsl eXpeN1￿[? 79Z 99,gJZg) Income netof cosls Moverrent on investr￿nt 85.451.32 15.192.68 Inc￿￿ in fuNis thriNJ the year .W625.38 FIXED ASSETS InveStr￿nt 505,858 405,9)7 CURRENT ASSETS Trading Stocks 35 day account Current account linc FrieThJ5 Fund) S￿P Float 15.925 50.379 16,888 50 83.241 25.437 24.118 50 59.405 565.263 489.148 NET ASSETS 565.263 489.148 FUNDS OF THE CHARrrY Brought fomprd L%]kirKes BroLW3htfoTh%erd baLa￿e5 Ir￿￿aSe in year R￿enES 466,818 22.330 76.115 565,263 542.567 22.696 565.263 466.818 22.330 489.148 Fri8Yts Fuij Balance bfvl 470,451 Custrrfjial Research Legacieslt)orotions Soldiers of Shropshi Ex￿5 l Deftf( of IrKorre over e>¥￿1 InvestsrentAssetGair Friervjs, FurKI rmvervpnt 297 4.165 6.597 -20,395 85.451 247 6.151 -7.116 -33,1 15,193 76,115 -18.625 FrierKls' FLr¥J -2.396 470,451 542,567 REPRESENTED BY Inv￿trrents CurrenlAssets Cash at Bank- cUnpntacc￿jnt Cash at Bank- 35 day accourt Frie￿Is. FLrKI 505.858 405,907 15,975 16.888 1,379 -18.697 24.118 25.437 -22. 542.567 470.451 ## **Chairman’s Statement:** Since our last annual report, the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum has met with further success given our re-branding and how the museum has faced the challenges in presenting our collection: and this despite the changing shape of the pandemic and evershifting Government Guidance. Given the pace of change and the way our museum has grown, almost uniquely given stories from other museums, there have been real developments. Richard Gough, the Director, with his staff have continued to innovate, build on our previous successes whilst understanding how we might plan for the museum re-opening and planning for the future. We have also attracted grants from local and government schemes including the prospective employment of our first “kickstarter”. The aim of this scheme is to deliver funding for employers offering new jobs for 16-24 year olds and which we hope there is real value to both the museum and the individual. There are a number of potential projects to capture stories from soldiers of Shropshire – a key focus for the museum. This includes a webinar on a Shropshire family’s story of three brothers in India and Burma during the Second World War, a documentary film on Bosnia 25 years on and a project on the Korean conflict. There are other community initiates and applications which we hope may benefit our long-term strategy such as Shrewsbury’s Big Town Plan and Shropshire’s Cultural Strategy. And finally, my thanks to all our Trustees, Friends and supporters for their effort and time over the last year. It is hugely appreciated, and our continued success is testament to all their efforts, and that of our wonderful staff, in ensuring the future of the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum. ## **Director’s Report:** The Coronavirus Pandemic restrictions meant that for the period between April 2020 and April 2021 the Museum was open for just 16 weeks – yet maintained more than 85% of pre-pandemic visitor numbers. Predictably, fundraising event targets during this period were missed, although in-person cash donations were up by over 200%. Retail trading was on a par with previous years, and the Trust enjoyed the support from Local Government Discretionary Grants totalling nearly £10000. The Museum capitalised on the new online working habits by holding our popular Lecture Series online via Zoom, attracting an international audience and bringing new visitors to our website. Whilst unable to open, full use was made of the ‘Job Retention Scheme’ where the Director was furloughed up to the approaching reopening date. The combined savings from this together with the grant income (and two legacy gifts) kept the Museum reserves stable and enabled us to consider a range of project grant ideas for 2021 and beyond. These ideas include a ‘Bosnia 25 years on’ film; Social Enterprise Academy/National Lottery Sustainability Project (“Steps to Sustainability”) and employing a Museum Collections Assistant via the Kickstart Scheme. We also began a series of projects that looked more closely at our collections and planned to secure funding for one of them - focussing specifically on the Korean conflict of the 1950s. An access audit of our Digital platforms was carried out, as well as an Environmental audit looking at the feasibility of replacing Compact Fluorescent Light units in the display cases with LED units. All things considered, the Museum grew in strength and bolstered its reserves during the first full year of the Pandemic, and we re-opened with a positive attitude and renewed drive. ## **Soldiers of Shropshire background information and activity.** **Our Vision:** To share the evolutionary story of the British Army through the exploits, campaigns and sacrifices of the Shropshire Regiments, and the impression they leave on our way of life today. To keep inspiring our audiences with stories from present day Soldiers of Shropshire. **Our Mission:** To keep the histories of the Shropshire Regiments alive through our collections, displays and archives, and to maintain their links to the Modern Army in Shropshire. To display these stories, from 1755 to today, in a single museum, accessible and relevant to all of our communities. ## **Our Trust’s Objects:** To incorporate the traditions and history of all the Shropshire Regiments (The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), The Shropshire Yeomanry, The Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery, and the Shropshire Volunteer and Militia units) into a single museum (the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum). The museum Trust will collect, document, conserve, exhibit and interpret items relevant to the history of the Shropshire Regiments represented by the remaining Constituent Regimental Museum Trusts as well as the current and future Shropshire based Regiments and successor Regiments (Queen’s Own Mercian Yeomanry/Royal Yeomanry, Light Infantry/The Rifles) to include a regularly updated display of items illustrating the order of battle, tactics, weapons/equipment and deployments – at home and abroad of all our Shropshire Soldiers. ## **Background** **About our regiments:** The Museum is host to a journey through nearly 300 years of British Army Evolution, seen through the eyes, campaigns and sacrifices of Shropshire Soldiers. The Museum displays the significant collections of the Shropshire Regiments (The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), The Shropshire Yeomanry, The Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery, and the Shropshire Volunteer and Militia units) between 1755 and 1968, including the formation of the Light Infantry & Rifles Regiments, and the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron, now D (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry. Visitors can discover the stories of Shropshire Soldiers in war and at peace, at home and abroad, from their formation to the present day. **Our Location:** Shropshire is a County of varied verdant landscapes, wetlands, and rugged hills spread across the Welsh Marches between the urban sprawl of Birmingham and the wild Welsh border, and between Chester and Hereford to the north and south. With a sparse local population, the county relies heavily on tourism, and with points of interest such as the Severn Valley Railway, Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and RAF Museum Cosford, visitors are spoilt for choice. Shrewsbury is almost central to the county and is its most cosmopolitan and populous town. And within the County Town, the Museum’s home is in the idyllic Shrewsbury Castle. **Museum History and structure:** The castle is owned and managed by Shropshire Council and the Museum Trust enjoys a tenancy free from rent or fees, and with wages for our team of Front of House Warders paid for by the Council via a recharge. The Trust has a lease, as set out in the Governing Documents, that expires in 2027, and for which we are seeking an extension. The Trust lost its MOD Grant (£30k/annum) in 2017 and with it a full-time museum assistant post. Following years of neglect, in 1924 the Castle was purchased by Shropshire Horticultural Society and given as a gift to the Borough. The Great Hall was cleared of its interior partitions and smaller rooms and was used as the borough Council Chamber into the 1970’s. In 1985, the castle became the home of the Shropshire Regimental Museum with a renewing lease that is set to expire in 2027. In 1992, the castle and museum were fire-bombed by the Provisional IRA, causing considerable damage to the main hall but thankfully very minimal damage to the Collections – relatively speaking. HRH Princess Alexandra re-opened the Museum on 2nd May 1995, and the Trust began to build the collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum. In September 2019, the Museum changed its name to the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum to better reflect the Army’s heritage in the County from the point the regiments lost their county name. **Our Activities and Operations:** The museum attracts around 25000 visitors a year (Pre-pandemic) of which close to 60% pay an entry fee (which is paid to the Council). Serving and veteran Shropshire Soldiers qualify for free entry as do under 5s. Entry fees: £4.50 adult, £3.50 concession, and £2 Children. The majority of visitors come from Shrewsbury and the wider Shropshire area (including Telford), with Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, and London next in the list. In 2020, with an agreed Fundraising Strategy in place, the Trust embarked on a campaign to secure the future lease of the Museum with Shropshire Council that would see a further 30 years tenancy and enable access to higher levels of capital funding than could be realised with the current lease expiry date of June 2027. Plans are being drawn up to radically redisplay the Museum’s Collections and to provide a focal point for archival research and to bolster the stories behind the objects – notably the 3500 medals and their C1000 recipients: Projects like this can only happen following successful grant bids in an already febrile funding landscape. Recent fundraising supported the re-launch as the ‘Soldiers of Shropshire Museum’ in 2018, along with a new website, new branding and re-vamped retail offer. In 2019, we embarked on a ground-breaking learning programme, supported by Arts Council England. Immersive Learning is a simulated environment that encourages use of drama, music, and physical movement to support the more traditional museum learning tools and crosses curriculum topics to include maths, science, and art as well as history. In partnership with the Education team at Shropshire Council Museum’s Service, we plan to deliver high quality, unforgettable museum learning experiences to KS2/upper KS2 pupils on the themes of heroism, remembrance, and loss. The museum supports a number of events in the castle grounds but has limited resources to run our own other than exhibitions of military vehicles, or partnerships with the local regiments. Inside the museum, space is limited but visitor interest with the broadest range of temporary exhibitions and displays. **Our Collections:** The collection comprises 13,000 plus items comprising a wide selection of uniforms, weapons, militaria, flags and over 3500 medals (including three of the Shropshire Regiments’ nine Victoria Crosses) from participation in campaigns from 1755 to the present. We are proud that over 90% of our unique items are on public display, with a small onsite store set aside for surplus collection items and those being prepared for display. We are one of the UK’s most complete regimental collections. The Museum received full accreditation from the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) in 2008, was reaccredited by Arts Council England in 2014 and is due for return again in June 2021 (deferred from June 2020 due to the Covid Pandemic). **Income:** Our primary income sources derive from our Investment fund via agreed dividend payments drawn quarterly. Our Investment Policy 2020 details how this fund is managed and how decisions are taken on its future, as well as how limit our exposure to undue risk to the investment. Regular donations from Patrons total nearly £11,000 per annum and the remainder of our annual costs (Insurance, Salaries. HMRC/NI contributions and cost of running the Charity) are sought from in-person donations, a small retail operation (stocking memorabilia, military books, and curios relating to the collections) Gift Aid Claims, and fees collected for soldier/family research. ## **Recent Projects undertaken with fundraising support:** - Re-branding and new website - Upgrade of till and stocktaking software in the shop (EPOS) - IT upgrade from old, outdated computers and software to a modern system, with the ability for remote working. - A brand new learning programme for schools: (although on hold for Covid) the programme is on course for re-start as soon as restrictions allow - Volunteer-led collection audit. ## **Future planned projects that need financial support:** - Medal redisplay: We plan to relocate our collection of over 3500 into bespoke cabinets for a more impactful display of the recipients’ valour and service. Taking up almost half of the ground floor’s wall-space, the display will include touchscreens at regular locations giving audiences access to the Medal recipients’ biographical, regimental, and historic information, building a picture of the human behind the medals. - Soldier ‘pods’: Using collection items already held, as well as those incoming from individuals, we will display personal histories and items alongside the regimental ones, building pictures of the actual soldiers, living or dead, and giving an insight into the evolving nature of soldiering at a very personal level. The ability to drive such resonance with our soldiers and audience is a key tool in increasing the level of relevance and empathy within our museum experience. - Regimental timelines: Long, convoluted histories stretching like ribbons through a context rich timeline and including many of our significant collection items – will tell a clear and recognisable story of our regiments, and their endeavours, from their beginning to today. A section demystifying the Army’s language and jargon, as well as highlighting its many civil duties, will further serve to strengthen the links between our - audience and their Army, as well as providing a lens through which to interpret other items form our collections. - Main Hall: We plan to open up our entire main hall for thematic display (see below), regimental and corporate dinners, prizegiving and book launches, temporary exhibitions and school projects – being able to host these events gives a dual benefit to the museum – greater public engagement with broader programming, and much needed revenue streams through hires and events. - Thematic displays: Our aim is to further develop thematic displays that together illustrate the evolution of the British Army and explore stories behind the soldiers of Shropshire. Whether it’s in their uniforms, weapons, regalia or traditions, we have such rich collections that almost any theme can be presented as an evolutionary thread to be explored in detail as well as holistically. Being able to use our collections and displays in this way will make for a much more flexible space that will allow for far greater enterprise and audience engagement. - Accessible Archive and light-storage access: Our main tower and mezzanine areas will be turned into spaces for reference, study and research. Smaller, more numerous collection items (buttons, badges, etc.) can be re-displayed in accessible drawer storage, alongside our comprehensive document archive, and commonly requested ‘deep store’ items carefully packed. This will hugely reduce the burden on prime display space in the main hall, as well as on the limited space in deep storage. A bank of research computers will link to our collections database, with the opportunity for volunteers and academics to work alongside one another on refreshing and complementing our already rich collections. These developments cannot happen without significant funding, be that capital grants from national grant-givers, or substantial supporter based fundraising – either way, we are reliant on an extension to our lease with Shropshire Council – which remains our key development priority. For more information on our future projects, please email info@soldiersofshropshire.co.uk ## **These accounts and trustees report are approved by the trustees and are signed on their behalf by The Chairman, Lt Col (Retd) Rex Sartain** Signed by Dated ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENTAL MUSEUM** I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are set out on the following pages. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. ## It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - state whether matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - 1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and - • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or - 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Christopher Jones FCCA CTA Integrity Partnership Chartered Certified Accountants Sigma House Hadley Park East Telford TF1 6QJ - 26[TH] January 2022