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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 30th June 2023.
Reference and Administrative details
Registered charity name Friends of the Ulster Museum Charity registration number NIC 101366 Principal Office c/o Ulster Museum Botanic Gardens Belfast BT9 5AB President Mrs N Dunbar Vice-President Mr P Cavan (deceased 28[th] May 2023)
The Trustees
Mrs P. Blamphin (Chairperson, resigned 14[th] January 2023) Dr Elizabeth Miller (Acting Chairperson, 10[th] February 2023) Miss M P Mackintosh (Hon. Treasurer) Mrs D Baillie (Administrator) Mrs Shelagh Caldwell Mr Ian Forsythe Mrs Janet Leckey Miss Anne Macdermott Mrs Moranne Noad (Resigned 5[th] June 2023) Mr Peter Thomspon Ms Hannah Crowdy (Museum Representative) Mrs Pat Cameron Mrs Edna Stanley Mr Richard Wallace Mrs Liz Wallace
Accountants Johnston Graham Ltd Chartered Accountants 216/218 Holywood Road Belfast BT4 IPD
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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
Structure, governance and management
As set out in the constitution, the administration, conduct and function of the charity will be upheld by the Management Committee made up of three officers and nine ordinary members supported by a paid administrator. The committee holds a meeting at least twice a year. The nine ordinary members are elected at the AGM for a term of three years. The Chairperson and Vice Chairman are elected each year at the AGM and re-elected each year for a period of five years. The Hon. Treasurer is elected each year at the AGM. The Annual Accounts which have been examined by an independent examiner are presented at the AGM for the membership's approval. Grants and donations requests are brought to the meeting of the Management Committee by the Hon. Treasurer for approval and are presented in the annual accounts to members at the Annual General Meeting. Further approval of the annual subscription and the Administrator's salary are brought to the Management Committee by the Hon. Treasurer for approval and are presented in the annual accounts.
No change being a variation or item rescinded to the constitution shall be made without being passed by not less than two-thirds of members in person at the AGM.
The Friends of the Ulster Museum was registered with the NI Charity Commission in December 2015.
The Hon. Treasurer is the main contact with the Commission's Office.
Objectives and Activities
To support and assist the Ulster Museum, and to promote its use and enjoyment by the public. To provide funding (either directly or after accumulation or investment) to allow the Ulster Museum to purchase objects to add to the Museum's collection for public exhibition, and in particular art, history and science exhibitions. To encourage and support similar bodies associated with the Ulster Museum.
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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: NIC 101366
Annual Report 2022-2023
Funds held by the Friends of the Ulster Museum have been generated by a bequest placed in an investment portfolio producing annual income and events run by the members raising funds to support and assist the Ulster Museum to promote its use and enjoyment by the public. These funds also permit the museum to purchase objects adding to its collections for public exhibition. The Friends also support and encourage other similar bodies some associated with the Ulster Museum.
A further source of funds is received by members' subscriptions, gift aid and bank interest covering administration costs: wages and salaries, printing and stationery, bank charges, insurance. The Friends employ one part-time administrator but does not have overhead costs.
Grants and donations requests are brought to the meeting of the Management Committee by the Hon. Treasurer for approval and are presented in the annual accounts to members at the Annual General Meeting. Further approval of the annual subscription and the Administrator's salary are brought to the Management Committee by the Hon. Treasurer for approval and are presented in the annual accounts.
Report Content
This report records the activities of the Friends during the year 1[st] July 2022 to 30th June 2023. It normally would summarise the grants and donations made during the financial year, details of which would be presented in the Annual Accounts at the AGM. We received the following requests and made the following donations to the Ulster Museum:
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A payment of £5100 towards the purchase by the Ulster Museum of 16[th] and 17[th] Century coins and a bronze age axe.
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£5000 towards the purchase by the Ulster Museum of painting “L'allée au bois” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
Registration of the Friends of The Ulster Museum with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
The Friends of the Ulster Museum was registered with the N I Charity Commission in December 2015. The Hon. Treasurer is the main contact with the Commission's Office. The main business address is c/o Mrs Deborah Baillie, Administrator, Friends of the Ulster Museum, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB, which is also used for registration purposes.
Management Committee Meetings
The Management Committee met during 2022-2023 on the following dates to administer the normal business of the Friends.
Dates: 6[th] September 2022, 14[th] February 2023, 7[th] June 2023.
Accounts
A copy of the 2022-2023 accounts was prepared by the Hon. Treasurer and sent to the Accountants Johnston Graham Ltd for examination. They have been presented and approved at the Annual General Meeting on 26[th] September 2023
Trustees 2022-2023
All Members of the Management Committee are Trustees.
| Chairperson | Mrs Priscilla Blamphin (Resigned 14thJanuary 2023) |
|---|---|
| Acting Chairperson | Dr Elizabeth Miller (From 10thFebruary 2023) |
| Hon Treasurer | Miss M Patricia Mackintosh |
| Administrator | Mrs Deborah Baillie |
| Members | Mrs Pat Cameron, Mrs Shelagh Caldwell, Ms Hannah |
| Crowdy, Mr Ian Forsythe, Mrs Janet Leckey, Miss | |
| Anne Macdermott, Mrs Moranne Noad, Mrs Edna | |
| Stanley, Mr Peter Thompson, Mrs E Wallace, Mr R | |
| Wallace. |
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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
Achievements and Performance
Funds held by the Friends of the Ulster Museum have been generated by a bequest placed in an investment portfolio producing annual income and events run by members raising funds to support and assist the Ulster Museum promote its use and enjoyment by the public. These funds also permit the Museum to purchase objects adding to its collections for public exhibition. The Friends also support and encourage other similar bodies some associated with the Ulster Museum.
A further source of funds is received by members' subscription, gift aid and bank interest covering administration costs: wages and salaries, printing and stationery, insurance, bank charges. The Friends employ one part-time administrator.
The Friends do not have overhead costs.
Financial Review
During the financial year the charity made the following contributions to the Museum:
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A payment of £5100 towards the purchase by the Ulster Museum of 16[th] and 17[th] Century coins and a bronze age axe.
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£5000 towards the purchase by the Ulster Museum of painting L'allée au bois by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Reserve Policy
The Trustees have a discretionary portfolio with our Brokers set up to maximise the return to the charity within acceptable risks and to provide adequate reserve to meet the needs of the charity into the foreseeable future. The investment portfolio is held for growth and interest to allow the Friends to support the Ulster Museum acquire items for the curators of history science and art and further assisting with large scale exhibitions.
Plans for Future Periods
Continue with our raison d'être of assisting and supporting the Museum.
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Friends Of The Ulster Museum
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Period from 1 July 2022 to 30th June 2023
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30[TH] JUNE 2023
Trustees’ Responsibility Statement
The Trustees are required by law to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the trust at the end of each financial year and the income and expenditure of the trust for that period. In preparing accounts, suitable accounting policies have been used and applied consistently, and reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates have been made. The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records, safeguarding the assets of the trust and preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are satisfied that the trust is a going concern.
Dr E Miller
ACTING CHAIRPERSON
Date: