THE SIEGE MUSEUM LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial ststements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Ststement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordan with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). (effective 1 January 2019). Objectives and activities Pur oses and aims Our charity's purposes are as set out in the objects clause contained in the CoMpanS Memorandum of Association: To restore and promote the permanent preservation, for the benefit of the public generally and especially the inhabitants of the city of Londondery of a Memorial at the Royal Bastion. City Walls, Londondery to the Late Reverend George Walker, joint Govemor of the city of Londonderry during the siege of 1689 and to establish and maintsin for the education and benefit of the public generally and especially the inhabitants of the city of Londondery museums, interpretive or heritage centres within the City Walls of Londonderry to depict by display and chronicles, the attainments of the Scottish, English and French Protestant settlers and des¢endants in the City and County of Londondery with a permanent feature on the events of 1688 - 1689 incorporating the Reverend Doctor George Walker's Influen on the besieged and his subsequent national acdaim The focus of our work Our main objecttve for the year to provide tours and exhibitions for the benefit of the public relating to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. with history and heritage around the walls of Londonderry through the siege heroes trail and other events within the city Who use and benefit from our seNices? Our objects and funding focus on the promotion, education and preservation of the historical events surrounding the Great Siege of 1689 and the benefit extends to the general publi¢ within Northern Ireland and Ireland. intemational visitors. educational bodies and cross community initiatives. A core element of the project will be the development of new teaching m8tertals on the history of the Great Siege, for primary and secondary schools, which will link in with both the Northem Ireland and Ireland educational syllabuses The trusteès have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
THE SIEGE MUSEUM LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Achievements and perforniance The Siege Museum is pleased to retain its 4 Star recognition from Tourism Northern Ireland. The report was exceptionally complimentary, commending staff, presentstion and cleanliness. A few recommendations were suggested and will be implemented on an ongoing basis. On 4th January 2023, Fluid Audio Visual engineers commenced the installation of new projectors and screens on the 1st and 2nd floors of the museum, enhancing the films on both levels. Cost of the project totslled £19.985. The museum was delighted to continue welcoming cultural groups, community associations, school parlies and untversity students during the year. We are especially pleased to welcome many intemational academics introduced by Queen's University and students from several universities based in the United States participating in conflict resolution studies. The visitors found the museum and our explanations useful and valuable to understand the complex road to peace in Northern Ireland. The gallery continues to offer a welcoming environment to all groups that wish to understand the culture associated with the Great Siege of Londonderry and its legacy. Special visitors.. On the 18th May we were pleased to welcome the Secretsry of Stste. Chris Heaton Harris and offer a guided tour of the museum, explaining its creation and purpose. A warm welcome was also extended to Will Gelling, the new Northern Ireland Office Political DireGtor who visited the museum on the 21st June. We were again delighted to welcome the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. Lord Jonathan Caine, on Wednesday 4th October. Following a guided tour of the museum we engaged in a meaningful discussion debating the ongoing legislation introduced to Northem Ireland through the implementstion of the Protocol and Windsor Framework. Recent projects include: Urban Village Initiative.. Although the funding was initially for a three-year project, we were delighted to received a further extension to the programme. The extra year enabled the facilitators to continue providing guided tours to visiting groups from various areas of Northern Ireland. Although a challenging initiative, we are pleased to proceed with the venture and continue to welcome group visits to the museum. Schools Programme: Once again it was pleasing to Continue with this presentation which encourages school parties to the Siege Museum thus offering us the opportunity to convey an understanding of the history of the Great Siege of 1689. Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund.. Funding was secured towards sponsoring group visits to the Siege Museum. The funding provided a guided tour, refreshments, coach travel and a booklet on the Siegè. Derry City & Strabane District Council: We were pleased to secure funding to assist towards museum overheads. As part of the ongoing initiative to celebrate the citvs rich cultural heritage DCSDC along wrf(h The Honourable The Irish Society. worked in partnership to offer small grants to venues to present animation during Culture Night. We were successful in obtsining funding to provide an exhibition on 17th century cannon and mustket fire. We were also pleased to secure funding from the DCSDC Heritage Animation and Visitor Servicing Fund to asslst with staff salaries and summer animation of the museum. We also made a successful application to the slippage fund to present 3 17th century cannon and musket display each Saturday during March. This display attracts curious and attentive spectstors and assists the promotion of the museum.
THE SIEGE MUSEUM LTD TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Partnerships: The museum continues to be represented on a Walled City Hèritage Venues Group coordinated by officials from Derry City & Strabane District Council. This committee will pioneer and encourage visitors to the heritage venues around the walls and the city in general. A visttor pass scheme has been created and managed by Visit Derry. This enterprise has yet to reach its anticipated potential for the museum and other participating visitor attractions. Despite the initial disappointment, we believe the pass should have improved advertising and hopefully this will increase sales and add to the museum footfall during the incoming year. Accreditation: The museum is pleased to have achieved Northern Ireland Museum Accreditation. Our focus will now be aimed at ensuring the policies and plans are maintained and the museum retains the high standard we have achieved to comply with the qualification. We hope the accreditation will enhance prospects for sustainability, assist future funding applications and most importanuy, comply with conditions set out by funding agencies that contributed towards the construdion of the museum. Social media: The Siege Museum's website displays all relevant information conmIng the museum. introducing events & programmes. opening hours. admission prices, facilities and directions. Facebook and Twitter ensure visitors are updated with relevant events, including talks and tours that are taking place. Outreach vehicle: Volunteers continue to plan for events and activities which will attract visitors to the museum. Their promotional activity greaY enhanS the museum, raises the profile, creates awareness and encourages footfall to our exhibition. 2023 has been an encouraging year with the retum of tourists and visitors to the city. We now look forward to increasing our tourism potential and creating additional fooffall to the Sieg& Museum. Financial review The Trustees have secured funding from Dery City & Strabane District Council, the Departrnent of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Reconciliation Fund, Urban Village Initiative and The Act Initiative during the year. The charity has recorded an overall deficit of £6,491 for the year. The majority of this relates to spending restricted funds received in the prior year. Unrestricted funds have decreased by £785 on the prior year. Income from tours of the museum has increased slightly on the previous year and sales of souvenirs have increased by £7k. on the previous year. The restricted income received from fvnders varies from year to year depending on the projects being funded and as a consequence costs specific to projects vary accordingly. Restricted funds at the year end are £17,704. The running costs of the museum are at a similar leveL of the previous year and the trustees are satisfied with the financial result. The TrLSStees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The reseNes are required to meet the working capital requirements of the charity. The long tem) strategy is to build reserves through planned operating surpluses. Structure, governance and management The charity is a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 7 January 2003 and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland. The charitsble company was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed by its Articles of Association. Memberfs liability in the event of the company being wound up is limited to £1.
THE SIEGE MUSEUM LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposè of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial ststements were: Mr William Hay Mr James Brownlee Mr Ronald Mccausland Mr Worthington McGrath Mr Ivan Taylor Mr Richard Wray Mr George Luney Mr Victor Wray Mr Michael Speers Mr James Speers Mr Noel Moore Mr Raymond Chestnutt Mr William Moore Mr Matthew Hamilton (Resigned 9 March 2023) (Appointed 9 March 2023) Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association trustees are elected at an Annual General Meeting from amongst those persons nominated by the ordinary members. The trustees have the power at any time to appoint any person to be a trustee, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing trustees. Any trustee so appointed serves only until the next Annual General Meeting at which Trustees are to be elected and are then eligible for re-election. A retiring Trustee is eligible for re-election. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up. ststement of trustees. responsibilities The trustees, who are also the director5 of The Siege Museum Ltd for the purpose of company law. are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in acGordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial ststements 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 charitable company for that year. 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 SQRP. - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK 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 concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 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 Companies Act 2006. 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.
THE SIEGE MUSEUM LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The trustees. report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Mr Worthington McGrath Trustee Mr William Moore Trustee 6 March 2024