COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 ST JANUARY 2025 CHARITY NUMBER: 310521 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS TO THE TRUSTEES OF COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM OLNEY BL'CKINGHAMSHIRE AS AT 31ST JANUARY 2025 I report on the unaudited accounts of the charity forthe year ended 31st January 2025 which are set out in pages 2 to 5. Respective responsibilities of trustses and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible forthe preparation ofthe accounts. The charity'5 trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Ad) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act., to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission {under section 145{5){b) of the Charities Act)., and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examIne￿$ ststement My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the a¢¢ounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me Cause to believe that in, any material respect-. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charrties Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records- or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements ¢on¢eming the fomi and content of a¢¢ounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have come drawn in thi ross no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should b8 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. YACA ett ance Acc ntants Limrted rtered C Accountants 40 Kimbolton Road Bedford MK40 2NR 27th February 2025 COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM STATEMENT OF ASSETS AS AT 31-'JANUARY 2025 Notss 2025 2024 FIXED ASSETS Land and Buildings Exhibits, Equipment, Fumiture Not Valued Not Valued Not Valued Not Valued CURRENT ASSETS Cash in Hand and Deposit COIF Investment Stock Prepayment {2) (3) 183,580.61 21,814.78 8,818.94 2,749.68 185,659.45 21,814.78 10,209.35 2,717.81 216,964.01 220,401.39 FINANCED BY:. Museum Fund Restoration and Improvement Fund 140,137.78 76,826.23 135,680.50 84,720.89 216,964.01 220,401.39 Trustees Trustees COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM ST YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025 RESTORATION A•4D IMPROVEME￿ FUND 2025 2024 RECEIPTS DonationslGrants National Heritage Grant 38.386.00 9.876.00 63,475.04 39,504.00 48,262.00 102,979.04 PAYMENTS National Heritage Sundry 58,486.90 109,804.93 56,156.66 56,156.66 168,291.83 (Deficit) for Year A¢cumulated Fund Brought Forward {7,894.66) 84,720.89 {65,312.79) 150.033.68 Accumulated Fund Carried Forvrard 76.826.23 84,720.89 COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM ST YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025 EUM FUND Notes 2025 2024 RECEIPTS Admissions Rents and Dividends Donations Other 29,231.25 17,511.77 7,418.23 8,533.11 29,806.48 14,551.46 6,548.55 7,802.53 62,694.36 58,709.02 Surplus on Saleable Goods (1) 6,156.57 10,456.60 68,850.93 69,165.62 PAYMENTS Salaries Printing, Postage and Consumables Advertising and Web Support ststionery Insurance Electricity Gas Water Cleaning Telephone Maintenance- Buildings Maintenan¢e- Exhibits, etc. Subscriplions Other Fees and Expenses - Training Finance Fees including Credit Card Cottage Vegetable Garden 30,353.61 888.27 1,965.96 199.77 3,267.73 3,726.96 3,508.42 629.58 1,323.18 1,025.60 11,884.57 637.78 1,629.53 2,097.81 920.56 23,472.60 2,159.62 1.519.72 588.66 4,039.15 3,231.13 2,281.00 386.47 1.324.86 817.14 6.319.38 1,419.49 1,993.89 819.95 2,169.00 2.182.29 334.32 64.393.65 54,724.35 Surplus for Year Accumulated Fund Brought Forward 4,457.28 135.680.50 14,441.27 121,239.23 Accumulated Fund Carried Forward 140,137.78 135,680.50 COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM ST YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025 NOTES TC THE ACCOUNTS 2025 2024 1) Saleable Goods Tradin Income for Year Less: Cost of Sales 12.670.19 6,513.62 14,625.23 4.168.63 6,156.57 10.456.60 2) Cash in Hand and on De osit House Manager's Floavlmprest COIF Deposit (Endowment Fund) Barclays Business Premium Account Barclays Current Account PayPal Account Bu¢kinghamshire Building Society Cambridge & Counties Bank 46.70 60,120.84 5.707.35 16,615.34 210.73 20,879.65 80,000.00 34.97 28.790.07 40,290.53 14,175.13 210.73 20,312.54 81,845.48 183,580.61 185,659.45 3) COIF Investment The value of this investment as at 31stJanuary 2025 was £33,159.53 (2024 £31,003.08). COWPER &NEwfo?4 MtiSEt7hf Chair ofTrustees Report 2025 It's been something of a mixed year at the museum. Attempts to gain a major National Lottery Heritage Fund grantfor a new Garden Room (with toilet, kitchen, education and exhibition space), and an Arts Council England MEnD grantfor buildingfabric improvements sadlyfailed. We are trying again with both. MEnD as we could easily spend £70k on renovations recommended by our latest Conservation Building survey. But our chances are still slim. The NLHF are now only renovating old buildings within their large project category. We have a much better chance for a new buildingwith a sub £250kgrant application so we are giving it a try. We also tried to get a Heritage England Blue Plaque last year as it was the first year it was extended outside of London. There were close to 500 applications so an old poet didn't make it this time, but we will be trying again this year. Visitor numbers were fairlyflat lastyear, weather being a big factor, but as I've mentioned before we are almost unique in the UK exceeding our pre-covid numbers. Our Historic Houses Association membership is paying off and numbers still seem to be creeping up. The downpours in Sept also highlighted old weaknesses in the fabric of the building. We do not wait for grants where health and safety or a threat to the building and collections is concerned if we have the cash. These have largely been fixed, although there is some window work to do to complete Cowper's kitchen. ut there were many positives and highlights. I'm just picking a few. We have added around 50 volunteers in the lastyear or so, with a total family now in excess of 170. Alongwith ourTrustees they take care of Finances, Admin, Marketing, Policies & Procedures, Front of House, Shop, Gardens, Buildings, Outreach. Community Partnerships, Collection Care, Events. Catering, Dancing, Archives, Library, Historical Research, Gallery & Fundraising. I feel the different areas in the museum are complementing each other more now. For example, Wayne Warren's exhibition spilled outside and Left us with a legacy of fun items around the garden that the guides can highlight. He's doing his stuff again around the Church as we speak. You can now see a Bank Underground sign nextto the Newton's tomb. We have our newly restored counterpane back on a new specially made bed with a fascinating audio-visual story and this tied in with the Gift of Stitch exhibition and a continuing relationship with the exhibitors such as the WestburyArts Group. I've noticed an increased interest in the Lace Room exhibition from visiting religious tours as an illustration of the arrival of non- conformist migrants in the area. Those tours are also noticeably better coordinated with the Church with Malcolm and Derek giving us a very useful linkage. And look out for the Church's 700 anniversary History Day on 5 July. Our gardeners will teluhave told their own stories but are complementing each other reallywell. And with increased and very visible plant sales are enhancingthe overallvisibility of the museum in thetown. th We have boosted our Festive Season offering by adding Christmas lighting and consolidating activities such as the already new candlelit tours with an added Christmas theme. And a Turn the Lights On Santa event to tie in to late night shopping, bringing in pre- school children and their parents. We can add a Jane Austen th elementthis time as it is her 250 birthday in December too. The Spooky Historywalkwas improved with the added illumination and had 70 turn up- and a new ghost as a bonus. This year MK City Council have funded a marquee again for a month th from 8 August to support and help us justifythe Garden Room bid. We will have musical events again, local historytalks, arts, crafts, gardening, wellbeing activities includingyoga, and other garden events such as our summer social. Localwellness business Nook By Nature will be running many of these. Our first Refreshments in the Courtyard have bought in about £1000 earmarked this year to subsidize our roof repairs. We've had visitors from all overthe world alreadythis year and will have a couple of dozen tour groups bythe end of the year. Thank you to Paula & Linda for reelingthose in for us. I doubt there is a more active museum around. We could not do what we do without our staff, volunteers and trustees, and I thank you for all your fantastic efforts.