Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period
From: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 Charity name: NORTH WEST MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT LIMITED
Charity registration number: 513262
Company number: 01657828
Objectives and activities
| SORP reference | ||
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| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The North West Museum of Transport Limited was founded in 1982 to establish and maintain for the education and benefit of the public of Merseyside, the North West of England and North Wales, an operating transport museum, the North West Museum of Road Transport. The Charity aims to do this by promoting the permanent preservation of road transport vehicles and related items of actual or potential historic or scientific importance or educational value, and to encourage and promote public interest and public education in the same. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The principal activities and objectives are to operate a transport museum to conserve and preserve historic road transport vehicles and related items of interest, mainly from the North West of England, for the benefit, education and information of the public. It has carried out this activity in its current premises since 1986. The museum is open to the public at weekends, and other times by arrangement. The Charity will acquire, restore, conserve and display vehicles and artefacts associated with its aims in a manner that portrays their places in road transport history, and work to conserve the fabric and integrity of the original. The Charity will continue to promote interest in historic road transport for the benefit of the public by encouraging the public to visit the museum, and by providing educational displays. It will also do this by taking historic vehicles and related artefacts to suitable events and schools etc. for the benefit of |
| those who may not visit the museum itself. The Charity will continue to encourage anyone with an interest in its aims to be involved and participate in its activities. It will act in a professional manner to safeguard and further its aims and the assets that are in the Charity’s care. By encouraging the involvement of volunteers in its activities, several of whom have retired from the motor industry and have experience and skills in the construction and maintenance of road transport vehicles, the Charity provides a focus for the retention of these skills and an educational opportunity for these skills to be passed on to future generations. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
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SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 The Charity does not make grants.
Policy on social investment Para 1.38 Does not apply.
including program related
investment
Contribution made by Para 1.38 The activities of the Charity are carried out
volunteers almost entirely by a small number of
volunteer members, drawn from the wider
membership of the Charity. There are about
20 active volunteers who work on a rota
basis to open the museum to the public, and
also to cater for educational visits by schools
and adult groups. Others are also involved
with vehicle maintenance and restoration,
archive conservation and outreach, using
relevant skills and passing these on to
others for their training and education.
Other
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Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The North West Museum of Road Transport is housed in the former St. Helens Corporation bus depot in St. Helens town centre, which is a very accessible and appropriate setting. The building has been in continuous use for road transport purposes for over 100 years and retains many of its original features. The Charity has about 40 historic road vehicles in its care, mainly buses from the North West but also lorries, cars, motorcycles and pedal cycles. There is also a large quantity of road transport archive material from the region and elsewhere. The display collection also includes privately-owned historic road vehicles that are relevant to the area or of local interest. An accommodation fee is charged for these. The Museum is open to the public on Sundays from February to late December each year. Visitor numbers have been maintained during the reporting year at about 5000 and it is the intention to increase this number through additional opening days and greater publicity. Group visits have been resumed following lifting of COVID restrictions, and many primary schoolchildren have taken part in tours of the museum’s exhibits by our volunteer staff. Special visits by adult groups have also taken place. We aim for the museum to appeal to all ages. Family groups of parents and grandparents with younger and older children make up a large proportion of our visitors. The items on display are selected to be of educational value and interesting for visitors. Further progress on the review and cataloguing of the transport-related material in the Charity’s archive collection. The display of some of these items has been refreshed to provide new interest and information for visitors. Some repairs and renewals were made to the Museum building during this period, as the Charity is responsible the maintenance of the premises under its lease from St Helens Council. The public benefits from the Charity’s activities by: Providing a focus for skills retention and teaching to a new generation; Being a centre for the retention of |
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local transport history and relating this to present and future generations for educational purposes;
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Giving the opportunity to experience and gain a better understanding of a part of life in a bygone era.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Charity has continued to achieve its objectives as outlined above. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Charity has raised sufficient funds during the year to achieve the objectives of operating a transport museum for the education and benefit of the public and continuing to conserve and restore its historic assets. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Does not apply. |
| Other | The Charity provides accommodation in part of its premises for the Rainhill Model Railway Club under a sub-lease granted by our superior landlord. |
Financial review
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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Income for the period: £87,193
financial position at the end Expenditure: £98,294
of the period Deficit for the year: £11,101
Details are in the financial statements
appended to this report.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the
Charity’s income resulting in a deficit for the
previous and current reporting periods. We
aim to eliminate the deficit during the current
year.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The Trustees have reviewed the Charity's
policy for holding reserves requirements for reserves in line with Charity
stating why they are held Commission guidance, and after
consideration of the main risks to the
organisation. They have established a policy
whereby the unrestricted funds not
committed or invested in tangible fixed
assets should be maintained at £30,000,
which will cover approximately 4 months of
normal expenditure.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £30,000
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 Does not apply
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 None
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 None
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
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Principal sources of funds:
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Para 1.47
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The charity’s principal member subscriptions (3%) sources of funds (including entrance fees to the museum, any fundraising) catering and shop sales (35%) income from accommodation of privately owned vehicles and Rainhill Model Railway Club (55%)
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appeals and donations (2%) other income (5%)
These funds support the objectives of the charity by enabling the operation of the Museum and conservation of its historic vehicles for the public benefit.
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Investment policy and The Charity does not hold any investments.
Para 1.46
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
The Trustees have examined the major
Para 1.46
A description of the principal strategic, business and operational risks to
risks facing the charity which the Charity is exposed and confirms
that systems are established to take steps to
reduce these risks.
Principal risks include:
Catastrophic loss of premises and
collection
Unexpected early termination of
lease on premises
Financial pressure or failure
Unexpected major building repairs
not covered by insurance
Loss or reduction of volunteer
support
Ageing volunteer membership, and
possible reduction in active
contribution
Other
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Structure, governance and management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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| Type of governing document: for example,trust deed, memorandum and articles of association etc |
Para 1.25 | Articles of Association adopted by Special Resolution on 13 March 2022. These replaced the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company incorporated 11 August 1982. |
| How is the charity constituted? for example limited company, unincorporated association, CIO |
Para 1.25 | The Charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees, who are also Directors of the company, are elected by subscriber members of the company at the annual general meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association. The Trustees also have the power to appoint new Trustees by co-option. The maximum number of Trustees is 9, with a complement of 6 at the end of the reporting period. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | The management of the charity is undertaken by the board of trustees. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Charity has links with some of the other charitable organisations in the St. Helens area that provide historical educational facilities and entertainment attractions for the local population, and with the cultural departments of the local authority. The Charity has continued its liaison with St. Helens council and is involved with the St Helens visitor economy network strategy group, which endeavours to improve and promote St Helens as a visitor attraction, to benefit the people of the town and its economy and wellbeing. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The Charity is a member of the National Association of Road Transport Museums (charity no. 11431218). |
| Other |
Reference and administrative details
| Charity name | North West Museum of Transport Limited |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | North West Museum of Road Transport |
| Registered charity number | 513262 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Old Bus Depot 51 Hall Street St. Helens Merseyside WA10 1DU |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Name of person (or body)
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole year entitled to appoint trustee
(if any)
1 Clive Arnold Secretary, Chair
2 Mark Ashcroft Treasurer
3 Matthew Davies
4 Paul Holmes Until 24 April 2022
5 Robert Hughes
6 Paul Lambert Until 31 January 2023
7 Shaun McGarry Until 2 May 2022
8 Keith Naylor
9 Gerald Pennington
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20
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Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
None
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Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|
| None | |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
None | None |
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| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Does not apply | |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Does not apply |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser | ||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (optional information) |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors
Signature(s) Full name(s) Clive Richard Arnold Position (for example Secretary, Chair, etc)[Secretary ] Date 29 January 2024