2025-06-30-annual-report

Friends Of The Ulster Museum

Reference and Administrative Details

Chairperson Ms Anna Carragher – Appointment 24[th] September 2024 Dr Elizabeth Miller – Resigned 24[th] September 2024 President Mrs N Dunbar – resigned December 1[st] , 2025 Vice- President Miss M Patricia Mackintosh Trustees Miss Elizabeth Anne Macdermott Mrs Pat Cameron Mrs Rosemary Thomas Mrs Helen Wright Mr Richard Wallace Mr Ian Forsythe Mr Ian Lindsay Mrs Deborah Baillie

Hannah Crowdy - Ulster Museum Representative Mrs Elizabeth Wallace

Alison Taggart – Resigned 13[th] April 2025

Miss M Patricia Mackintosh – Resigned 24[th] September 2025

Charity Registration Number

Principal Office

101366 c/o Ulster Museum Botanic Gardens Belfast BT9 5AB

Independent Examiner

RBCA Limited Chartered Accountants Linenhall Exchange 26 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BG

Page 1 Friends Of The Ulster Museum

Trustees' Report

The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025

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 science and history exhibitions. To encourage and support other similar bodies associated with the Ulster Museum.

Public benefit

The Friends’ contribution to the Museum accrues for the benefit of the general public attending the Museum and, in particular, of youth and school groups in furtherance of their education, and also in promotion of study and research and the augmentation of knowledge of the areas of artistic and scientific work in which the Museum engages. The benefits are clearly tangible and might be proven through the presence of improved resources at the museum and feedback/submissions from members of the public who gain from their enjoyment.

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 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.

This report records activities of the Friends during the year 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026. 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:

• A donation of £200 to the Ulster Scientists Trust towards their annual awards

• £8,000 towards the purchase by the Ulster Museum of costumes for ‘Ashes to Fashion’ exhibition 2026

Financial review

The result for the year shows an overall shortfall of £434 (2024: £5,197). This includes a net gain on investments of £15,184.

Page 2 Friends Of The Ulster Museum Trustees' Report (continued)

Reserves 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

To continue with our raison d'etre of assisting and supporting the Museum.

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end are listed on Page 1.

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 Chairman and the Vice Chairman are elected 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. The main business address is c/o The Administrator.

Page 3 Friends Of The Ulster Museum Trustees' Report (continued)

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

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

The law applicable to charities 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 of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material

• departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• 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 that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... Ms Anna Carragher Chairperson

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