THE MAELDUNE TRUST
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
Objectives and Activities
The object of the Trust is to advance the education of the public in the history and heritage of the town of Maldon, Essex and East Anglia.
Our activities include the exhibition of the Maldon Embroidery, exhibitions of local artefacts, displays of art work from local, Essex and East Anglian artists, and a comprehensive archive of historical videos and photographs as well as oral history recordings. This provides a centre for historical interest and expertise for Maldon and beyond. It contributes to the enjoyment of educational resources for all ages. It improves the interpretation of Maldon’s history through the stories depicted on the Embroidery and in the archive displays. Thus, importantly contributing to the economy of the area by enhancing the social and leisure resources available to both local residents and visitors to the area.
We work closely with the other Heritage venues in the town and believe that we are a major factor in keeping the High Street alive.
In planning their activities, the Trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
The work of the Trust is supported by a dedicated group of 26 volunteers lead by our Centre Manager, and also the 6 Trustees.
Achievements and Performance
The Charity has succeeded in fulfilling the objectives as set out in the Declaration of Trust. The Trust is seeking Charitable Incorporated Organisation status which is nearing completion. This has taken longer than expected. With the ten year extension to our lease granted us by Town Council, who own the building, we have been able move forward with improvements to the Centre. The Trust continues to observe the Sensory Charter Mark requirements to ensure the hearing loops provided at both desks are functioning and supplying information leaflets with larger font. The Trust’s manager continues to be innovative in order to make the Centre not only more visible, but also a valuable member of both the town’s heritage group and part of the Tourism team. She has secured articles from the Town’s Military museum to provide an excellent exhibition for the D Day anniversary celebrations. She has had troughs made by the local Men’s Shed to stand outside with who we are our opening hours etc on. A local U3A has sponsored the planting in these. The EPOS system is proving very valuable to simplify and ensure accuracy of our accounting. Most items are now barcoded which helps the volunteers at the till.
The art exhibitions, which change every three weeks, prove popular with visitors and bring in much needed revenue. The craft area attracts visitors who are looking for unusual presents. We are getting many return visitors for these items, particularly from the Christmas ‘market’.
The Maldon Visitor Information Desk continues to bring in both visitors from the town and further afield. Our ambassadors give information about what to visit and what’s on in the local area. People requiring rail card discount numbers, bus timetables, sacks for recycling and coach company brochures can obtain them at the desk. School and adult visits for talks on the embroidery continue to prove popular. These can be booked via the website. Talks are also given to groups away from the Centre through a Powerpoint presentation.
A monthly article appears in a local magazine as well as using Facebook and Instagram to advertise our events, exhibitions and preview evenings. Our twice yearly newsletter is emailed to our increasingly large friends group
The Maldon Society photographs and videos archive continues to be catalogued and updated, to improve the visitor experience. The heritage weekend with the theme, ‘Routes to the Past’, saw many visitors following our map connecting heritage sites on the embroidery to the actual places in the town.
We again gave two students from local schools, work experience.
Having refurbished the inhouse toilet area we obtained grant funding to complete the work in the adjacent kitchen/ office/rest room.
Financial Review 2024/25
Our Deficit for the Year ended 31at March 2025 was £3,097 as shown in our Annual Income and Expenditure Account compared with a Surplus of £1,214 in the previous yeat. We expected that the year would be challenging financially and so it has proved. _ Visitor numbers at 13,874 were slightly less than 14,579 in the previous year, and our Artists Exhibitions were less successful with our Sales totalling £40,343 compared with £49,638 in the previous year. Our vital maintenance Grant from Maldon Town Council remained at £6,500, but we also received a £1,000 donation from Maldon Rotary Club towards our General Funds. We completed the upgrade of toilet/kitchen area at a cost of £2,200, which was cushioned by Grants of £1,500 from the FSJ Trust and and £500 from Masonic Lodges.
Our net Funds at 31* March 2025 totalled £20,318. This is sufficient to provide working capital and to safeguard our levels of activity in the near future. The current year has started with increased sales, including from successful exhibitions, an increase in our support Grant from Maldon Town Council to £7,500 and increased visitor numbers. So we are cautiously optimistic that we will be much nearer to break even this year.
Structure Governance and Management
We are governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 18 September 1989 and revised on 17“ March 2008. The Charity is governed by the board of seven Trustees and the Centre run by the Manager assisted by volunteers. The Charity works closely with the other heritage organisations in the District.
Reference and Administrative Details
We are named The Maeldune Trust registered with the Charity Commission No 802226 and operate from The Maeldune Heritage Centre on The Ground Floor, Plume Building, St Peters Tower, Market Hill, Maldon CM9 4PZ
The Trustees are: - Jillian Hipsey Chairman Helen Philpott Vice chairman and Secretary Derek Jones Dorreen Linton Colin Pryke Treasurer Lindsey Wright
Centre Manager: - Joye Colbeck
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf
Jillian Hipsey
Chairman of the Maeldune Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Maeldune Trust
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charit year ended 31% March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation c accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company | independent examination, | have examined your charity's accounts as requirec the Act. In carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Dire Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
independent examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have cor connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any!
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e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerni content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Reg: than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view whict considered as part of an independent examination.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with : which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper und accounts to be reached.
Signed: ——y7-——
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Name: Karl Davies
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Date: 1* July 2025
MAELDUNE TRUST
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|YEAR ENDED 31° MARCH|2025|UNRESTRICTED|FUNDS|
|2025|2024|
|RECEIPTS|£|£|
|Exhibition|and|Shop|Sales|40,899|49,807|
|Grant|Maldon Town|Council|8,500|8,775|
|Donations|2,036|1,396|
|Bank|Interest|50|52|
|Total|Receipts|51,485|60,030|
|PAYMENTS|
|Due|to|Artists|23,312|28,283|
|Shop|Purchases|5,051|5,637|
|Bank and|Commission|Charges|773|786|
|Salaries|17,192|13,657|
|Other|Staff Costs|259|306|
|Electricity and Water|1,992|2,090|
|Insurance|703|738|
|Other|Property|Costs|353|283|
|Display and|Equipment|Purchases|2,583|4,645|
|Printing|Postage|and|Stationary|132|242|
|Telephones|1,393|1,055|
|||T Costs|1,272|2,253|
|Sundry expenses|44|250|
|Total|Payments|55,061|60,225|
|Net|Receipts|less|Payments|-3,576|-195|
|Opening Cash|Funds|24,207|24,403|
|Closing Cash|Funds|20,631|24,208|
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MAELDUNE TRUST STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT 31° MARCH 2025
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|Assets|£|£|
|Balance|at Bank|20,552|24,127|
|Cash|in|Hand|80|80|
|20,632|24,207|
|Shop Stock|3,436|2,322|
|Debtors|and|Prepayments|60|55|
|3,496|2,377|
|Assets|for own|use|1|1|
|Less|Current|Liabilities|3,811|3,171|
|Net Assets’|20,318|23,414|
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