2021-12-31-accounts

ROMNEY MARSH WARTIME COLLECTION ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Another year has passed and it began still under Covid 19 lockdown rules. Fortunately for the Museum we still qualified for financial support. Adhering to the Covid Social Distancing rules has also meant we have been able to take advantage of the continued enforced closure and have made leaps and bounds on improving the fabric and displays of the Museum this year. We have lost a few members as well, but in a couple of cases this has undoubtedly been a blessing in disguise!

During the year and putting some of our Grant Funding to good use it was decided after another attempted break-in late in 2020 to upgrade our security. A complete new up to date alarm and camera system was installed increasing the number of cameras and alarmed areas. Having been vastly improved and made fit for purpose by Matt, Heather and family, and the electrical crew, Chris and Tom, our revamped Cafe’ was a prime candidate for this. The windows have also had grills fitted as another safety feature. Outside improvements include the Radar fence and the ‘Dig for Victory’ garden. Many thanks to Dave & Malcolm for their efforts! The replacement of the rotten wooden fencing along the road with new metal fencing has also been completed, mainly in the rain, much gratitude to Chris! This was possible due to a grant, from Brenzett Council. Internally much has been done to improve the displays; there has been some rearranging and more work effort towards our themed rooms. The WLA and Army rooms have been completely spruced up, all the cabinets in the former replaced by frames and many new items in the latter including one of the two Motorcycles we now have at the Museum. Many thanks go to Martin and Jed for all their hard work. Thanks to Dave, Tom and John we even have our first interactive item, our functioning Lancaster Gun turret! Some more of our Grant funding has been put towards a refuse collection contract which should help reduce our reliance on hiring skips! Another nod to the 21[st] century is the decision to get a card payment system and Wi-Fi on site. This also is as a result of the Covid social distancing rules. We held a ‘practice’ weekend at the end of June and the Cafe’ was very well received, as were the improvements to the Museum. Being closed for so long allowed the repainting of all the floors which served to really ‘frame’ the improvements carried out! Thanks to Dave we also have on display a WLA tractor, though the newly painted floor in the Ripley Wing suffered somewhat!

The Covid lockdown ended in June and we reopened on the 3[rd] of July. People were obviously making the most of being able to go out again as we had one of our best months for visitors in many a year! We had various club visits during the year all of which were well attended. The Cafe’ held a 1940s themed ‘Hen Party’ which was also a great success and greatly appreciated by all attendees. Matt organised a Re-enactment weekend in October which despite Mother nature’s best efforts was also very well attended and a great success.

Even though the Museum opened late this year we still had very successful four months and together with the Covid Grants received, have at year’s end, left us in a better financial situation than we could have ever imagined! Our slightly depleted volunteer numbers hasn’t had a negative impact, on the contrary now we are all of a like mind and the Museum has undoubtedly benefitted from this positive attitude! Bring on 2022!

Mark Britnell

Chairman

ROMNEY MARSH WARTIME COLLECTION Registered Charity number: 297552 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2021

	2021	2020
Receipts
Admissions	5822	0
Donations	1258	113
Friends	265	350
Gift Aid	0	637
Grants	17382	12668
Camping	937	0
Shop	3685	98
Café	4479	0
Sundry	90	400
Legacies	0	1240
Event	1213	0
	35131	15506
Payments
Shop	1105	628
Café	2214	0
Electricity	1812	1314
Rates and water	18	74
Insurance	271	271
Telephone and broadband	169	249
Internet	144	135
Repairs and maintenance	5206	7402
Capital expenditure	3867	5260
Exhibits and display	389	141
Christmas meal	172	0
Credit card sharges	106	0
Event	930	638
Sundry	748	249
	17151	16361
Surplus/Defcit	17980	-855
Balance 1st January 2021	11978	12833
Balance 31stDecember 2021	29958	11978
Represented by
Bank balance	29838	11858
Cash foats	120	120
	£29,958	£11,978

Keith H Pavey FCA Treasurer

Independent examiners report to the trustees of The Romney Marsh Wartime Collection

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Romney Marsh Wartime Collection Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] December 2021

Responsibilities and basis

As the trustees of the trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (The Act)

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts 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 145(5) b of the Act

Independent Examiners Statement

I have completed my examination .I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act

2. the accounts do not comply with those records or

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) regulations 2008 other than any requirements that the accounts 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 this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Signed

Name Martin Palmer Date