2021-12-31-accounts

Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Annual Report and Accounts

For the Year Ending

31 December 2021

Charity Number 518657

Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

CONTENTS	PAGE
Members of the board and professional advisors	1
Trustees’ Annual Report	2-6
Independent Examiners’ report	7
Statement of financial activities	8
Balance sheet	9
Notes to the financial statements	10-11

Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Trustee information

Registered Name Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum Charity Number 518657 Principal address Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Coalbrookdale Telford Shropshire TF8 7DQ President Sir Neil Cossons OBE Vice President Wendy Waterson Honorary Officers Chair Jim Clarke Treasurer Susan Tarr Secretary Ray Farlow Committee Members Glyn Bowen Steve Evans Ray Hardman Geraldine King John Ravenscroft Paul Walker Stuart Walker

Independent Examiner Andrew Fairchild Bankers Lloyds Bank plc 113 The Border Telford Shopping Centre Telford TF3 4AE

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 and the year ended 31 December 2020. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.

Objectives and activities

The Association is established for the exclusively charitable purpose of assisting the charity registered as the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Limited to secure the preservation, restoration, improvement, enhancement and maintenance of features and objects of historical and industrial interest and to that end:

• i to promote and organise working parties to undertake or assist with the work of the said Charity;

• ii to obtain, collect and receive money and funds by way of contributions donations and subscriptions and any other lawful method and to apply such money and funds for the benefit of the said Charity;

• iii to procure and provide information and services for the said Charity;

• iv to do all such lawful acts or things as are incidental to the attainment of the primary object of the Association and do not derogate from the charitable nature thereof and so far as may be necessary or desirable to do such acts or things in collaboration with any person, body, institution, authority or otherwise.

Structure, governance and management

Organisational structure

The Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

They are governed by the relevant UK laws and regulations of the Charity Commission. The Rules of the Constitution.

The management of the charity is vested in a committee who act as trustees.

Appointment and induction of trustees

All life and Ordinary members are invited to stand for election, as officers, who will automatically become trustees on their election.

Trustees and officers can nominate new members, who are then selected by the Board of Trustees. The induction process includes meeting with the Board of Trustees and a review of the financial accounts and minutes of previous meetings.

Related Parties

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum (registered charity number 503717) is considered to be a related charity.

Risk Management

The charity trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to mitigate these risks .

Achievements and performance

The Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s principal funding is via membership, and this is used to support the key objectives of the charity as set out in the Chairman’s Report for the AGM.

Ensuring our work delivers our aims

The committee review our aims, objectives and activities each year, referring to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of the previous 12 months and helps to achieve our strategy for increasing our membership.

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021

How our activities deliver public benefit

As shown in our objectives and the Chairman’s report all our charitable activities focus on making the public aware of an increase to their understanding of the work done by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the history of the World Heritage Site, by way of membership to access the museums, history talks and our newsletter. This in turn will assist the Museum’s sites to be able to continue for the public benefit of future generations.

Who used and benefited from our services?

We ensure that all members of the public can benefit by having various membership categories, incorporating all ages. The talks are also open to non-members. Prior to Covid, our magazine was also available to non-members at various sites.

Financial review

Reserves

Unrestricted funds are required to provide flexibility so that funds which can be designated to specific projects to enable these projects to be undertaken at short notice and to cover administration costs for at least six months.

The Friends regularly review the amount of reserves that are required to ensure that they are adequate to fulfil the charity’s continuing obligations on a quarterly basis at their committee meeting.

Investment powers, policy and performance

The Friends’ income and expenditure is considered to be small and, as a consequence, we do not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments such as stocks and shares. The Friends have therefore adopted a low-risk strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks.

The Friends’ Committee regularly monitors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the charity obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. Occasionally this may involve using an account that requires a period of notice before funds may be withdrawn. Before doing so the Friends’ Committee considers the cash flow requirements.

Restricted funds are kept in a separate deposit account with Lloyds and is instant access.

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021

Chairman’s Report

The turbulence of 2020 continued to cast its shadow on 2021 and the Museum had to struggle with the impact of a third Lockdown at the start of the year whilst coping with the uncertainty around winter Covid 19 restrictions at the end of the year. In spite of this the Museum has managed the demands of social distancing and timed entries whilst progressing with its development programme.

The Friends have continued to offer their support to the Museum in various ways: pledging financial support, volunteering and leading on a variety of initiatives. It is noticeable how valued the support of the Friends is by the Museum and their overall contribution recognised; it has created a healthy working partnership that I, as Chair, am keen to pursue.

As with any organisation it is the team behind it that determines its success and I am privileged to work with a Friends Committee that is dedicated to supporting the work of the Museum. In a year where ‘face to face’ meetings have been largely absent it is the commitment of your Committee that has provided the means to continue supporting the Museum through the ‘joys’ of Zoom (my thanks to John Ravenscroft here for his hosting skills) and protracted email correspondence. I would like to place on record my thanks to: Sue Tarr, Geraldine King, John Ravenscroft, Glyn Bowen, Wendy Waterson, Ray Hardman, Ray Farlow, Stuart Walker, Paul Walker and Steve Evans for their support and advice.

The activities of the Friends have, of necessity, taken a different route than in a ‘normal’ year; with restricted opportunities for guiding, researching, promoting the Friends or even meeting, it has been the activity of the Friends Facebook Page that has been a regular source of information through its weekly updates and for that I have to thank Glyn Bowen, the Facebook Manager and Geraldine King for her regular photographic contributions.

The decision back in September 2020 to start a Friends Newsletter to fill the gap left by the absence of the IQ Magazine has turned into a feature that now has three editions a year growing in size from 4 pages in its first edition to 12 in the December 2021 edition. As a Newsletter your Committee has taken the decision to focus on ‘that which is of interest to Friends’ and editions in 2021 have carried news of Museum events and developments such as the opening of the new Adventure Playground, the refurbishment of Enginuity and the redesign of Coalport China Museum. Updates for the Friends with regard to the financial pledges made to the Museum were carried as was a report on Membership numbers over the last 4 years (Membership numbers stood at 684 in December 2021). On a personal note, obituaries of Friends who sadly passed were included as were details of staff appointments to various Museum posts and on the theme of keeping Friends informed, updates on the watching brief being kept on the redevelopment of the former AGA site were published.

The Newsletter has also carried short articles contributed by Museum Staff and in future will feature some provided by Friends, the idea being to encourage the publication of research as yet another aspect of the Museum that is of interest to the Friends. Articles covered a wide range of subjects from Coalbrookdale Quakers against the Opium Trade to a works outing from Coalbrookdale to London in 1898. Of particular interest is the research project into the Coalbrookdale Collection, parts of which were rescued from the AGA site before its closure, and the features on aspects of the gems to be found at the Coalport China Museum.

Evidence that a partial return to normality for the Friends was the holding of the delayed AGM for 2019 and 2020 on 22 September 2021; it was gratifying to have 50 Friends in attendance to conduct the business of the day and have confirmed the pledge of £50,000 as matched funding in support of the Museum’s effort to access Government grants - a special thank you must go to Sue Tarr, our Treasurer, for her astute financial management skills that has allowed us to make such a donation.

The AGM also marked the re-launching of the Friends Talks programme and we were pleased to welcome Nick Ralls, Museum CEO, who gave an insight into the ‘Future Plans for the Museum’ which clearly is of great interest to the Friends and also reflects the close working relationship between the Friends and the Museum.

Our Talks Director, Geraldine King, put together a varied and interesting programme for the Autumn Talks: in October Marion Blockley spoke of the work of the Coracle Trust and its planned

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021

development in the Gorge. In November Diana Clarke was the speaker for the Annual Joint Meeting with Broseley Local History Society sharing her research into ‘Joseph Anstice and his Circle’. Unfortunately, the scheduled talk in December on ‘Mrs Beeton – the Victorian Delia Smith’ fell victim to the resurgence of Covid 19 and had to be cancelled but the programme for the Spring and Summer has been announced.

In addition to the Talks Programme, in the Autumn the Friends were invited to a private viewing of the newly redisplayed Coalport Galleries in joint event with the Caughley Society. On Friday 1[st] October 2021 Friends gathered for ‘Prosecco and nibbles’, an address from Gaye Blake-Roberts and a tour of the Galleries hosted by Kate Cadman and her team of demonstrators.

Although the end of the Autumn season was disrupted by Covid, from the Museum’s point visitor numbers for the year were above those forecast helped in no small part by the successful Christmas Events programme. The Autumn also saw the Friends actively renewing their support for the Museum: in September a clean-up project on David and Sampson was led by John Freeman and Peter Stoddart and a team of Friends made a significant contribution to preparations for the Christmas Events programme by exercising their Christmas Tree assembly and wreath making skills! In September and October two guided tours were led by Friends, the first in a while and a sign perhaps that ‘normal service’ is to be resumed.

Evidence of the high regard in which the Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum are held can be seen in the invite Geraldine King received to join the judging panel for the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM) ‘Impact Awards’, a competition recognising best practice, creativity and innovation by UK Groups in support of their Museums.

A difficult period for all concerned with the Museum but one in which Friends have been able to demonstrate their continued support for the Museum and for that I offer my thanks to you for your support of the Friends accompanied by a plea for anyone interested in becoming a Committee member or Museum Guide to contact me through the Friends Administrator, Verity Jones, at [e-mail]

Jim Clarke

Chairman 2021

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

• observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP.

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Independent Examiner

Mr Andrew Fairchild BA ACMA CGMA offers himself to be re-appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

On behalf of the board

Jim Clarke Trustee

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Independent examiner's report to the trustees on the unaudited financial statements of Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

I report on the accounts of Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum for the year ended 31 December 2021 set out on pages 2 to 11.

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 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

• state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 the 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 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 Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records

• 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 requirement 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 in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Andrew Fairchild BA ACMA CGMA

Date: 18 May 2022

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Notes £ £ Incoming Resources Legacy Funding 675 Investment Income 3 33,423 Total incoming resources 33,423 675 Resources Expended Costs of charitable activities Ironbridge Quarterly 0 Donations to Ironbridge Gorge Museum 4 40,969 29,010 Prizes and Awards 0 Membership and Administration 5,200 Printing, postage and sundry expenses 1,459 Meetings and other events 35 Total resources expended 47,663 29,010 Net incoming resource (14,240) (28,335) for the year Total funds brought forward 31,916 30,585 Total funds carried forward 17,676 2,250 Incoming resources from charitable activities Incoming resources from generating funds	2021 Total £ 675 33,423 34,098 0 69,979 0 5,200 1,459 35	2020 Total £ 30,585 32,231
		62,816
		492 24,120 0 1,300 518 86
	76,673	26,516
	(42,575) 62,501 19,926	36,300 26,201
		62,501

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Balance Sheet

As at 31 December 2021

Notes Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ Current Assets Debtors 6 970 0 Bank and Cash 22,698 2,250 23,668 2,250 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 (5,992) Net current assets 17,676 2,250 Net Assets Funds Restricted funds 8 2,250 Unrestricted income funds 9 17,676 17,676 2,250	2021 2020 Total Total funds funds £ £ 970 3,928 24,948 58,665 25,918 62,593 (5,992) (92) 19,926 62,501 2,250 30,585 17,676 31,916 19,926 62,501

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 18 May 2022 and signed on its behalf by

Jim Clarke Trustee

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

• The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and the preceding year.

1.1. Basis of accounting

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in March 2008 (SORP 2008) and the Charities Act 2011.

1.2. Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable.

Membership subscriptions are received quarterly for an annual basis passport and are included when received. Interest is recorded when received

1.3. Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Resources expended are recognised in the year in which they are incurred. Expenses are recognised inclusive of any irrecoverable VAT. Costs of charitable activities are those costs which directly relate to the activities of the charity and include the donations made to the Museum.

2. Governance costs

No governance payments were made in 2021 (2020 – nil).

3. Incoming resources from charitable activities

	2021	2020
	£	£
Subscriptions	27,189	28,188
Donations	105	136
Gift Aid	6,031	3,665
Fund raising Activities	98	242
	----------------------------------------------	----------------------------------------------
	33,423	32,231
	==============================================	==============================================
Donations
	2021	2020
	£	£
Ironbridge Museum Trust	19,931	20,220
Contribution	-	-
Sundry Contributions	50,048	3,900
	------------------------------------	------------------------------------
	69,979	24,120
	====================================	====================================

4. Donations

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Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2021

5. Trustees Emoluments

Neither the trustees nor any persons connected with them received any remuneration.

A total of £95 (2020 - £633) was reimbursed to 2 (2020 - 3) trustees in respect of expenses occurred on behalf of the charity.

6. Debtors

6.	Debtors
				2021		2020
				£		£
	Gift Aid			970		3,928
	Other Debtors			-		-
				------------------------------------		------------------------------------
				970		3,928
				====================================		====================================
7.	Creditors
				2021		2020
				£		£
	Trade Creditors			-		-
	IGMT			5,900		-
	Provisions			-		-
	Accruals			92		92
				------------------------------------		------------------------------------
				5,992		92
				====================================		====================================
8.	Restricted Funds		At			At
		1 January		Incoming	Outgoing	31 December
			2021	Resources	Resources	2021
		£		£	£	£
	Fund	30,585		675	29,010	2,250

9. Purposes of Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objects. Trustees consider that sufficient funds are held to meet these objects.

Funds	At			At
	1 January	Incoming	Outgoing	31 December
	2021	Resources	Resources	2021
	£	£	£	£
General Purpose Fund	31,916	33,423	(47,663)	17,676

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