Financial Statement for the period
1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025
1st April 2023 - 31st March 2024
INCOME
| INCOME | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Members subs | £2,265.00 | £2,241.83 | ||
| Earned income - ticket sales | £19.15 | £388.60 | ||
| Conference sponsorship and income | £0.00 | £2,419.13 | ||
| Highlife Highland re MHH support | £5,000.00 | £5,000.00 | ||
| ArtFund re MoTH project | £0.00 | £4,890.00 | ||
| MGS re MoTH project | £0.00 | £3,617.00 | ||
| C&BS re MOTH Project | £500.00 | £5,000.00 | ||
| Visit Scotland Connect | £1,300.00 | £0.00 | ||
| UHI re prescribe culture | £0.00 | £9,000.00 | ||
| MGS re Sustaining Heritage | £2,977.00 | £6,586.00 | ||
| MGS re Sustaining Heritage next steps | £2,249.71 | £9,760.00 | ||
| MGS re future proofing Highland museums | £4,643.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Foyle Foundation re Futureproofing | £3,000.00 | £0.00 | ||
| The Space re Futureproofing | £6,015.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Misc income re Future Proofing | £768.59 | £0.00 | ||
| Donations | £0.00 | £66.80 | ||
| £28,737.45 | £48,969.36 | |||
| EXPENDITURE | Income for period | £28,737.45 | £48,969.36 | |
| Expenses | ||||
| Email and domain | £620.28 | £532.78 | ||
| Legal fees/insurance | £131.00 | £121.40 | ||
| Consultancy - core MHH functions | £7,400.00 | £7,800.00 | ||
| Travel expenses - core MHH functions | £653.99 | £0.00 | ||
| Visit Scotland Connects | £1,164.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Projects - MoTH | £940.00 | £20,586.30 | ||
| Projects - Prescribe Culture | £0.00 | £8,400.00 | ||
| Projects - Sustaining heritage | £0.00 | £7,540.58 | ||
| Projects - Sustaining heritage - conference | £0.00 | £4,260.00 | ||
| Projects - Sustaining Heritage next steps | £2,200.00 | £8,310.00 | ||
| Digital equipment for streaming | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Future proofing Highland museums | £13,051.33 | £0.00 | ||
| £26,160.60 | £57,551.06 | |||
| Surplus (Deficit) for period | Expenditure for period | £26,160.60 £2,576.85 |
£57,551.06 -£8,581.70 |
|
| CURRENT POSITION | ||||
| Opening balance as at 1st April 2024 | £2,601.62 | £11,183.32 | ||
| Surplus (Deficit) as above | £2,576.85 | -£8,581.70 | ||
| Closing balance to date | £5,178.47 | £2,601.62 | ||
| Represented by: | ||||
| Santander Business Account | £5,178.47 | £2,601.62 | ||
| Cheques in hand to be cashed | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Total | £5,178.47 | £2,601.62 |
Independent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees ol Museums and Herltage Hlghland (Charfty rry&ered In Scotland NUM1SCO49o88) I report on the acCOts of the charity for year ended 31 March 2025 which are sel out on page l. Respective responsibllities of trustees and examiner The tharivs trustees are responsible k)r the preparatlon ol the accounts in accordance with the terms ol the Charities and Tru51ee Investment (Scotkndl Act 2(X)5 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland] Regulations 2(X16 (as annded1 The chaiity trustee5 conslder thal the audli requirement ol Regulation 10(l} la) to (c) of the 2(116 Accounts Regulations does nol apply. It is my responsibillty to examine the accounts as rniulred under settbn 44(1] (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matter5 have cx)me ta my attent*)n, Basis of independent exarninerfs statement My examination Is carrled oul In accordan with Regulation 11 of the 2(X)6 knunts Regulations. An examination hude$ a review ol the accounting records kepl by the charlty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those record& It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disck)sures in the accoun and Seeks explanations from the trustees concerninB any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required In an audit, and consequently I do not expre55 an audit opinioD on the view given by the accounts. Independent eXaMNS statLimeni In the course of my examinatiorh no matteT has come to my attentK)n l. which gives me asOnable cause to believe thai In any mateiiai w the requlrements: tc keep accountin8 records in accordance with Settn 4411} (aj of the 2(X15 kt and Regulation 4 of the 2(X)6 Accounts Regulations to wepare accounts which accord with the accountin8 records and comply with Regulation 8 of the Accounts Regulations have nol been met, or to which, in my Opinio attention sh(wld be drawn in order to enable a proper Date: 1st December 2025
Museums and Heritage Highland Trustees’ Impact Report 2025
Chair’s Message
This year has been one of reflection and renewal for Museums and Heritage Highland (MHH). Amidst a challenging funding landscape and ongoing recovery across the sector, our network has continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and compassion. The ‘Future-Proofing the Highland Museum Workforce’ project has been a shining example of what collaboration can achieve - empowering museums to reimagine volunteering, embed wellbeing and build inclusive practice. We are proud of the collective progress our community has made and look forward to deepening this work in the year ahead.On behalf of the trustees, I want to thank our members, funders and partners for their commitment to the Highland heritage community. Together, we continue to ensure that museums remain vibrant, relevant and rooted in the people and stories of the Highlands.– Chair, Museums and Heritage Highland Board
Introduction
Over the past year, Museums and Heritage Highland (MHH) has continued to champion collaboration, resilience and inclusion across the Highland heritage sector. Building on the momentum of previous years, 2025 has been a period of learning, experimentation and deepened connection with our members and partners. Our major funded initiative, ‘Future-Proofing the Highland Museum Workforce’, has been a defining project - helping us explore innovative ways to engage volunteers, improve wellbeing, and ensure that Highland museums remain sustainable, inclusive and future-ready.
Our Year in Review
Highlights from 2025 include:
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Supported over 30 member organisations through training, peer exchange and advocacy.
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Delivered four major training workshops and 10 Heritage cafes
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Produced three new toolkits to support youth volunteering, remote volunteering and wellbeing.
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Delivered the third ‘Breathing Space’ residential weekend, supporting freelance heritage professionals.
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Strengthened partnerships with national organisations including Museums Galleries Scotland, Make Your Mark, The Space and the Museums Association.
Focus Project: Future-Proofing the Highland Museum Workforce
This flagship project, delivered between October 2024 and June 2025, aimed to build a more skilled, confident and diverse museum workforce. Working with three test-bed museums - Dingwall Museum, Brora Heritage Centre and the Arctic Convoy Museum - we explored innovative approaches to volunteering and wellbeing in rural contexts.
Key Outputs
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Four training workshops on inclusive volunteering, accessibility, anti-oppression and live streaming.
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Three toolkits co-created with partner museums, now freely available on our website.
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A two-day workforce summit focusing on inclusion, representation, and sustainability (delivered in May 2025 so not included in the 2024-25 financial year)
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A residential ‘Breathing Space’ weekend for freelancers to share practice and strengthen wellbeing.
Highlights
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Youth Volunteering at Dingwall Museum: The introduction of young volunteers transformed the museum’s energy and approach, fostering intergenerational collaboration.
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Remote Volunteering at the Arctic Convoy Museum: Over 40 volunteers joined from across the UK and beyond, expanding the museum’s reach and capacity.
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Wellbeing at Brora Heritage Centre: Although full implementation was delayed by redevelopment work, the pilot laid the foundation for future wellbeing-focused initiatives.
Impact
The project achieved significant outcomes for both MHH and the wider network, including:
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A more skilled and confident workforce: staff and volunteers across the test museums reported greater confidence and capability in inclusive volunteering and digital engagement.
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Greater diversity and inclusion: remote volunteering opened doors to participants with disabilities, caring responsibilities, or geographical barriers.
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Enhanced wellbeing and organisational learning: initiatives such as Breathing Space reinforced the importance of wellbeing in governance and culture.
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Stronger networks: the summit and heritage cafés fostered peer support, new collaborations and continued sector dialogue.
Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive:“Being part of the project has been like a breath of fresh air... The mix of experienced older volunteers working with younger energy is proving to be successful.” – Anne, Dingwall Museum
“It made me feel part of such a great community with a common goal… I felt closer to my grandfather who served on the convoys.” – Rowan, Arctic Convoy Museum Volunteer (Tasmania)
Focus Project: Developing Your Travel Trade Offer (2024)
In partnership with VisitScotland, Museums and Heritage Highland delivered the ‘ Developing Your Travel Trade Offer ’ programme to help Highland museums create high-quality, bookable visitor experiences and strengthen their connections with the travel trade.
Aims
Support museums to develop and market authentic, high-value visitor experiences Build confidence and readiness for engaging with travel trade partners
What We Did
Delivered two webinars with VisitScotland, engaging 12 museums Provided one-to-one mentoring for all participants, including six joint sessions with VisitScotland Produced a Travel Trade Toolkit – a practical step-by-step guide to building and promoting bookable products
Supported six museums to develop new experiences and pitch at VisitScotland Connect 2025 in Aberdeen
Results So Far
Increased awareness of travel trade processes and readiness across the network Six new bookable, authentic cultural experiences developed 25+ trade partners engaged at Connect 2025, generating new opportunities for collaboration Toolkit and tailored action plans shared with 10 Highland museums
Next Steps
We will continue to share learning across the network, supporting more museums to become “travel trade ready” in 2025 and beyond, ensuring that Highland heritage experiences remain authentic, sustainable, and visitor-focused.
Looking Ahead
We’re committed to building on this momentum through future projects defined by our network - supporting wellbeing, nurturing best practice and building connections. Our work will continue to strengthen organisational approaches to wellbeing and inclusion, foster collaborative leadership, build confidence in sustainable development and keep wellbeing at the heart of our support for the sector. We’ll also continue to develop our anti-oppression and accessibility work, ensuring that Highland museums are welcoming, inclusive spaces for all.
Environmental Responsibility
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Delivering most training and meetings online to minimise travel.
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Using recycled and sustainable materials where print is essential.
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Encouraging use of public or active transport for in-person events.
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Supporting local suppliers and sustainable catering practices.
Sharing st practice from across ihe seclor lo encourage more suslainable activity Thank You This year's achievements were only ssIble thanks io the committnI of our nmber museums. volunteers, funders and partners. SCIal thkS go to our project funders, MUsen5 Galleries Scolland, High Llfe Highland and our collaborators itKluding Mak'e Your Mark. The Space, the Museums Association and National Museums Scollanit Togetr, we continue to strengthen and celebrate the rich heritage of Highlands. Governance and Future Priorities MHH Board of Trustees has continued to provilk strdtegic oversighi, ensuring the Organisation mains Iransparenl, accounlable and resp)nsive to needs of its MemTs. Truslees have 1 quarterly, supy)ned by regular sub-group discussions on projects. advocacy and funding developmenl. This year also saw ihe sIrenhening of our governance framework. with reWed focus on diversity. well]ng and succession planning wilhin the Board ilself. Key highlighis include: Review and refresh of MHH'S stralegic priorities for 202P28. aligning with [ne[nr needs and national sector strategy. Continued progre&s on equality. diversity and inclusion. wilh consultants un(krtaking Museum Activisl training. Ongoing commilment lo digilal Iransparency and OFrn sharing of resources via our online meMirS, Hub. SInglhened partnerships wilh national and regional heritage b(MJies to amplify the Highland museum voice. Looking ahead. our priorities for 2026 inclu(k expanding wellbeing and inclusion projects. developing a sustainabk funding mixkl for Breathing spa and suptM)ning museums to emtrtd digital and environmental suslainability in t1[ ottrations. We remain comn]itted to listening to our network. reswnding to their challenges and adviKating for a strong. tesilient and connected Highland heritage seclor.