2024-03-31-annual-report

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01 April 2023 To 31 March 2024

Charity name: The Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum

Charity registration number: NIC:101783

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	BrigA Naughten	Chairman
	Col A Reid OBE, TD DL JP
	MajW. R Kilroy
	MajM Murphy
	Mr R Doherty
	MajJ. Lefroy
	MajI Kyle
	Mr A Walsh
	Col. P Baxter	Vice-Chairman
	MajR Little

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The purpose of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum is to uphold the traditions of the Regiment and of perpetuating its deeds by holding the Regimental Collection upon trust for the benefit of the and are also dedicated to developing this museum for the benefit of the communities and society of Ireland of with education central to our purpose.
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 governing body of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum aims to help develop its educational role. Its main goal is to educate and actively participate in the community, allowing visitors to interact and learn about the role of the Royal Irish Fusiliers in this community and beyond. We aim to achieve this through our educational facilities. The current exhibition shows the development of items used by soldiers, from their diaries, weapons, and uniforms, from the start of the regiment to its end in 1968. We have tailored our talks to fit key stages and updated our presentations and workshops to provide a more interactive approach. Our touch-sensitive collection allows children with special needs to become more involved with the talks.
A statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Our provision of school talks demonstrates these benefits in conjunction with key stages. We provide research material and facilities for those seeking photographs and information on family members. We also provide academic facilities and support for students and academics. We opened our normal hours Tuesday – Friday and in addition, we opened Bank Holidays and several weekends. Our website is updated regularly to make our facilities more accessible and research a wider area. We continue to correspondent globally with regimental families.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant program- relate taking	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program-related investment	Para 1.38	We offer training and skill courses to volunteers and staff where applicable.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The volunteers gave valuable service in their hours of service within the museum.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
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	We continue to exhibit artefacts from the Regiment that tell the story of its history, which helps families research their ancestors and explain their experiences and life within the regiment. We have also held workshops, educational lectures, and talks for community groups. In continuing to overhaul and digitise the stores we have been able to locate and make available to the public a greater range of artefacts for handling purchases, especially for school/youth groups. We have been able to provide equipment and artefacts for school projects and loans to schools for educational classes. Our visitor numbers were less than normal but continued to rise, international visitors are less than normal due to a drop in tourism and travel but are steadily increasing.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against the objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The accounts show a true reflection of the transactions and receipts.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The level of reserves allows for the purchase of items deemed significant to Regimental History and would add to the collection.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The principal sources of funds were voluntary contributions, income derived from research and from shop sales.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document	Para 1.25	Trust Deed
How is the charity constituted?	Para 1.25	The charity is constructed as a Trust
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	New Trustees are elected following nomination by the other Trustees and voted upon.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	NIC: 101783
Charity’s principal address	Sovereigns House, The Mall East, Armagh, Co. Armagh BT61 9DL

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for wholeyear
Brig A. Naughten
Col. P Baxter
Mr R Little
Col A Reid
MajW R Kilroy
Maj M Murphy
Mr R Doherty
Maj J Lefroy
MajI Kyle
Mr A Walsh

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

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)

Caroline Corvan

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Philip Baxter
	Vice-Chairman