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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04959445 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1102638















REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024


FOR



BEXHILL MUSEUM

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)



BEXHILL MUSEUM


CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024












Page



Report of the Trustees  

1


to


5


Independent Examiner's Report  

6



Statement of Financial Activities  

7



Balance Sheet  

8


to


9


Notes to the Financial Statements  

10


to


20


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024




The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).


OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The stated objectives of the charity are to provide a museum in order to promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public for their benefit, particularly by the presentation of exhibitions, lectures and other means of study relating to the display of local history, archaeology, history of costume, technology and engineering, the arts, ethnography, geology and social history.

Public benefit

The Trustees have confirmed that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and in their opinion the foregoing report on the achievements and performance demonstrates that they have complied therewith.


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

This year we have had some excellent additions to the collection including a Viking sword & axe donated to the museum, The sword was given over to a professional conservator before being put on display. These were very significant finds, and we must thank the landowners, the Finds Liaison Officer and the Heritage & Wildlife Crime Officer for making this possible. Also, some historic swords, knives and a pistol were donated by Sussex Police.

Some of the artefacts recovered from the wreck of the 17th century Dutch warship Klein Hollandia went on display. We hope more artefacts will be delivered in the future. A popular exhibition entitled 'Hats, Hats, Hats' opened in partnership with Dr Ruth Cereceda & Carolyn Kane from Bader College in Herstmonceux.

As always, our groups of collections volunteers have been working away adding new donations to the collection, checking the records on the database and developing new displays and exhibitions.

A team from Southampton University examined some of our collections of dinosaur teeth. Exciting results are expected when the paper is published. Falconbury School Old Boys visited in October 2023. Many of the group recognised their younger selves from photos in the archive. A group examined the St Vincent Papers in November 2023. It was a privilege to show a resident of St Vincent these important and emotive documents about the slave trade.

The popular More4 TV show 'Small Trains & Big Names' featured the Bexhill 1940 Winter Wartime Model Railway, with host Pete Waterman, museum patron Suzy Izzard and the model railway team. The Catsfield Hoard, which includes middle bronze age palstaves and the remains of two rare Sussex Loops were photographed and studied by Jamie Kaminski, editor of the Sussex Archaeological Collections journal.

The Education Group hosted 56 school visits from 29 different local schools during term time, including a few bespoke sessions based on themes chosen by the school. Accompanied by around 200 teachers, the visits brought 1,554 children and young people to the museum, of which 85% came from state, church or local academy run schools.

We also provided support for special needs pupil groups, and 13 travel bursaries to ease the cost of coach hire for schools.

The fundraising team led by trustee Peggy Goodberry had a particularly good year, bringing in £12,727 during 2023-24 - an amazing 45% increase on the year before thanks to a well organised and attended stream of events, walks and talks.

The hard-working Visitor Services and Events teams added more evening visits by youth groups such as the Cubs, Brownies, Beavers and Rainbows, and coped admirably with large groups, including a party of 100 students from Germany. The Events team also ran stalls at town events of all sizes such as Bexhill 100 and Bexhill Carnival.

Thanks again to our volunteers, the museum was again able to open from Boxing Day to New Year's Day. Largely due to their year-round efforts the Museum was awarded a Trip Advisor 'Traveller's Choice Award' for the second year running. This means the museum is in the top ten percent of venues by number of positive reviews on the site.

Finally, we record the sad passing of much-loved volunteers and members during the year. Philip Plummer joined in 2007 and worked on the indexing of the archives. Peter Carey worked on special exhibitions until about 2000 and was a regular attendee at the museum lectures until his passing. Lorna Extence was a long-standing member and a diligent participant in our annual general meetings over several years. Both Lorna and Peter were kind enough to remember the Museum in their wills. All will be much missed.


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The strategy outlined by the Forward Plan aims for self-sufficiency - ensuring that trading income & volunteer raised funds cover operational expenses. This will help volunteers to meet the expectations of all our audiences, six days a week, to the highest possible standards.


Both unrestricted income and expenses, left, are ringfenced. Ringfenced 'unrestricted' income came to £93,786 in 2023-24, up from £81,911 in 2022-23 - primarily thanks to higher visitor numbers and excellent volunteer fundraising results - leaving a surplus of £5,213 despite an increase of £2,552 in expenditures to £88,573 over 2023-24.


The rise in income was boosted by an admission price increase, raising ticket income to £37,153 from £26,197 the year before, separately backed up by effective volunteer fundraising. Ringfenced unrestricted cash in hand totalled £36,838 at end 2023-24, a bulwark against which extra core expenses may be considered in 2024-25, such as staff hires, or to cover unexpected costs following planned changes to our electricity supplies in 2024.


Everything else - from new roofing and display cases to special exhibitions and special events for young and old, able bodied or otherwise - must be raised from outside donors and various funding bodies. These 'restricted' funds allow expansion and improvement of collections management, care, display and use for audience growth, via a portfolio of carefully designed time-limited projects - without drawing from museum resources put aside for its core operations.


Away from core expenses, there were unexpected off-budget expenses for extra survey & design work for next year's capital project.  A fall in restricted income from project activities, plus fewer legacies, meant that combined restricted & unrestricted income fell by £15,881 to £110,658.


Throughout the year, Bexhill Museum' restricted fundraising strategy focused on raising the £500k needed for urgent renovation works on the roof and the basement. This was achieved, but the confirmed cash did not arrive until after the year's end, so next year's figures will look very different to this year's.


The planned works aim to add two extra project activity spaces to the museum which will substantially increase opportunities to plan, fund and implement new museum collection-based project activities, bringing in new resources, new income and more audiences.


The figures are skewed in two areas. Membership income for this year includes £3,043 from 2022-23's earnings due to an end-of-year delay in transfer, and a fall of £3,022 in utilities costs is due to underbilling by Rother following problems with their account transfers.


All in all, the end of year balance - the overall 'value' of the charity- fell to £213,742, a decrease of £8,861 from £222,603 the year before. However, this balance will nearly treble in 2024-25 when new restricted funds for the new roof and basement arrive.


Reserves policy

The unrestricted General Fund, representing funds available for the day-to-day operation of the Museum, at the end of March 2024 stood at £36,838. The balance of restricted funds at the end of the year, monies restricted for specific donor funded activities, was £73,154.

We treat total unrestricted income over the year, which came to £95,679 in 2023-24, as our working turnover figure. We then ensure that no less that ten percent of this is held as a minimum reserve within the General Fund balance in the unlikely event of an enforced closure.

In that event the collection would have to be relocated or ethically disposed of, and liabilities such as legal fees or redundancies covered - though in almost every reasonable circumstance the museum would be able claim insurance to cover such expenses.


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



FUTURE PLANS

The coming year will see large areas of the lower ground floor substantially renovated, with a new education room and store, floodproofing, floor levelling and new mobile shelving in the main storage room, and hopefully, a new space for the storage and study of important archaeological finds from the Bexhill area and off its coastline.


These new spaces, and the artefacts and resources they hold, will enable a major expansion of the museum's work from April 2026: in collections care & management, in new activities for smaller groups of children and people with special needs, for life-long education and specialist academic research, and in new park-side events for all ages.


The spaces are key to achieving the ambition and vision of the Museum's Forward Plan, adopted unanimously by the membership in October 2023: to maintain a museum that is "volunteer-run, expert-led, traditional in presentation, modern in expression, diverse in appeal, respectful of the history and artefacts it holds in trust, protective of Bexhill's past, creative with its present, adaptable for its future".


STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Company's governing documents are its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 9 October 2003 and amended by written resolution dated 10 February 2004 and special resolutions dated 3 October 2012 and 20 October 2021. Copies of these documents are available by request. The company is limited by guarantee.


Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The power of appointing new or additional Trustees is vested in the Trustees. Prior to appointment, new Trustees would be introduced to the workings of the charity, given a role description and advised of their responsibilities.

Organisational structure

The Management Team is appointed by the Trustees and meet weekly to review activities and manage the museum on a day-to-day basis. The group is made up of the volunteer coordinator, Gordon Smith, the Business Support Officer, Rohan Jayasekera, a representative of the Collections Care team, Stella Hales-Morris, and the Curator Julian Porter.

There is currently only one formal staff employee of the Museum, housekeeper Toni Neville, employed part-time for housekeeping duties. Rother District Curator Julian Porter MA is seconded by Rother District Council as Curator to Bexhill Museum. Rohan Jayasekera MSc MA is contracted by the Museum month-by-month on a part-time freelance basis as Business Support Officer.

Risk management

The Trustees have reviewed and identified the risks to which the charity is exposed and have ensured that appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The Trustees have updated the existing Child Protection Policy to take account of changes in practice regarding the Safeguarding of vulnerable adults.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

04959445 (England and Wales)


Registered Charity number

1102638


Registered office

Bexhill Museum

Egerton Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN39 3HL



BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



Trustees

Dr A G Stacey

Mrs G D Bradley

P A Goodberry

Mrs S A Hemmings

G R Smith

Dr M G Bell

D Scales

B Stringer (resigned 10/1/2024)

Ms C J Hirst (appointed 6/12/2023)

J B Trainor (appointed 6/12/2023)

Ms K J Byford (appointed 6/12/2023)


Patron

Suzy Izzard


Honorary President

Mr D J Betts


Neither the Patron nor Honorary President is an officer of the charity.


Company Secretary

R A Jayasekera


Independent Examiner

David Ashby FCCA ACA

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

Chartered Accountants

20 Eversley Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN40 1HE


Accountants

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

20 Eversley Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1HE.


Bankers

Barclays Bank plc, Devonshire Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1AG.


Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20th August 2024 and signed on its behalf by:






Mrs S A Hemmings - Trustee


INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

BEXHILL MUSEUM



Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bexhill Museum ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st March 2024.


Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').


Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.


Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:


1.

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.

the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.

the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).


I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.









David Ashby FCCA ACA


Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

20 Eversley Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN40 1HE


30th September 2024


BEXHILL MUSEUM


STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



2024


2023


Unrestricted


Restricted


Total


Total


funds


funds


funds


funds


Notes

£   

£   

£   

£   


INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2

23,656


12,064


35,720


60,389



Charitable activities

Admission fees

37,153


-


37,153


26,197


Education room hire and training

6,677


-


6,677


5,853


Royalties from publications

136


-


136


140



Other trading activities

3

25,549


2,915


28,464


25,681


Investment income

4

282


-


282


51


Other income

5

2,226


-


2,226


8,228


Total

95,679


14,979


110,658


126,539



EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

6

15,069


-


15,069


13,762



Charitable activities

7

Projects

3,328


17,544


20,872


8,081


Museum expenditure

62,926


-


62,926


80,764


Finance and administration services

20,652


-


20,652


19,836


Total

101,975


17,544


119,519


122,443



NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(6,296

)

(2,565

)

(8,861

)

4,096




RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

146,884


75,719


222,603


218,507



TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

140,588


73,154


213,742


222,603



CONTINUING OPERATIONS

All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


BALANCE SHEET

31ST MARCH 2024



2024


2023


Unrestricted


Restricted


Total


Total


funds


funds


funds


funds


Notes

£   

£   

£   

£   


FIXED ASSETS


Tangible assets

14

75,618


-


75,618


87,090


Heritage assets

15

25,374


43,569


68,943


66,869


Investments

16

2


-


2


2


100,994


43,569


144,563


153,961



CURRENT ASSETS


Stocks

17

4,110


-


4,110


4,893


Debtors

18

7,236


750


7,986


11,729


Cash at bank and in hand

31,191


28,835


60,026


55,704


42,537


29,585


72,122


72,326



CREDITORS


Amounts falling due within one year

19

(2,943

)

-


(2,943

)

(3,684

)


NET CURRENT ASSETS

39,594


29,585


69,179


68,642



TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT

LIABILITIES

140,588


73,154


213,742


222,603



NET ASSETS

140,588


73,154


213,742


222,603


FUNDS

20

Unrestricted funds

140,588


146,884


Restricted funds

73,154


75,719


TOTAL FUNDS

213,742


222,603



The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st March 2024.


The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.


The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a)ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b)preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.


BEXHILL MUSEUM (REGISTERED NUMBER: 04959445)


BALANCE SHEET - continued

31ST MARCH 2024


These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.



The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 20th August 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:






S A Hemmings - Trustee


BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



1.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES



Basis of preparing the financial statements


The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.



Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions


The charitable company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':




the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.



Income


All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.



Expenditure


Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.



Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.



Display cases and shelving

-

5% on cost


Fixtures and fittings

-

5% on cost


Interactive displays

-

20% on cost


Computer equipment

-

33% on cost



Heritage assets

Acquisitions for the collection since 1st April 2010, whether donated or purchased, are capitalised and recognised in the balance sheet at the cost or value of the acquisition, where such cost or valuation is reasonably obtainable and reliable. Items donated or bequeathed to the Museum's collection are valued by internal valuers if an external valuation for the items is not available. Such items are not depreciated or revalued.


Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.


Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.


Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.


BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



1.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued



Fund accounting

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2.

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES


2024


2023

£   

£   



Donations

5,428


11,241




Tax recoverable on gift aid

853


1,970




Legacy

500


3,000




Grants

18,980


40,979




Subscriptions

7,885


2,151




Donations to museum collection

2,074


1,048



35,720


60,389





Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:



2024


2023

£   

£   



Rother District Council - Service level agreement

8,500


8,500




Arts Council: Hastings and Bexhill Museums and Schools Project

(via Hastings Council)

7,480


7,479




Bexhill Town Council

3,000


-




East Sussex County Council - Captial project

-


23,500




Arts Council: Insight to Culture

-


1,500



18,980


40,979




3.

OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES


2024


2023

£   

£   



Shop and cafe income

15,225


16,239




Fund raising income

12,727


8,714




Sale of clothing

437


378




Other income

75


350



28,464


25,681





BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



4.

INVESTMENT INCOME


2024


2023

£   

£   



Interest on cash investments

282


51




5.

OTHER INCOME


2024


2023

£   

£   



Museums and Galleries Exhibition tax relief refund

-


1,708




Expenditure recharges to Rother District Council

2,226


6,520



2,226


8,228




6.

RAISING FUNDS



Other trading activities


2024


2023

£   

£   



Opening stock

4,893


4,098




Purchases

10,909


12,073




Closing stock

(4,110

)

(4,893

)



Fund raising, publicity and other costs

3,377


2,484



15,069


13,762




7.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS


Direct

Support



Costs (see

costs (see



note 8)

note 9)

Totals

£   

£   

£   



Projects

18,612


2,260


20,872




Museum expenditure

59,372


3,554


62,926




Finance and administration services

-


20,652


20,652



77,984


26,466


104,450




8.

DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES


2024


2023

£   

£   



Conservation

1,882


874




Collections, exhibitions and special projects

5,010


7,207




Computer & IT costs

3,172


3,597




Education & lecture costs

5,401


3,108




Subscriptions and conferences

1,738


1,044




Repairs and renewals

1,837


310




Advertising & promotion (inc newsletter and website)

8,226


6,178




General rates, water rates, gas, electricity & telephone

14,868


17,890




Cleaner's salary and cleaning consumables

7,754


7,520




Insurance

3,049


2,665




Printing, postage and stationery

1,596


1,224




Volunteer expenses

155


140




Payroll processing fees

384


360




Security and fire protection

4,356


2,547




Sundry expenses

203


50




Carried forward

59,631


54,714




BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



8.

DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - continued


2024


2023

£   

£   



Brought forward

59,631


54,714




Travel

507


2,197




Professional fees

3,373


10,172




Displays, signage etc (inc corridor project)

13


765




Bank charges

480


446




Card fees

708


606




Depreciation

13,272


15,988



77,984


84,888




9.

SUPPORT COSTS


Governance



Management


costs


Totals

£   

£   

£   



Projects

-


2,260


2,260




Museum expenditure

-


3,554


3,554




Finance and administration services

20,652


-


20,652



20,652


5,814


26,466





Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:




Management



2024


2023


Finance



and



administration


Total


services


activities

£   

£   



Sub contract administrative services

20,652


19,836




Governance costs



2024


2023


Museum


Total


Total


Projects


expenditure


activities


activities

£   

£   

£   

£   



Accountancy fees

-


1,704


1,704


1,680




Independent examiner's fees

-


456


456


432




Legal fees

2,260


1,394


3,654


1,845



2,260


3,554


5,814


3,957





BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



10.

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)



Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):




2024


2023

£   

£   



Depreciation - owned assets

13,272


15,988




11.

TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS


There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2024 nor for the year ended 31st March 2023.



Trustees' expenses


There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st March 2024 nor for the year ended 31st March 2023.


12.

STAFF COSTS




2024



2023





£



£




Wages and salaries


5,460



5,460




Social security costs


0



0




Pensions


0



0





5,460



5,460






The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:





2024



2023




Cleaner


1



1





1



1





13.

COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES


Unrestricted


Restricted


Total


funds


funds


funds

£   

£   

£   



INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM


Donations and legacies

15,761


44,628


60,389




Charitable activities


Admission fees

26,197


-


26,197



Education room hire and training

5,853


-


5,853



Royalties from publications

140


-


140




Other trading activities

25,681


-


25,681



Investment income

51


-


51



Other income

8,228


-


8,228



Total

81,911


44,628


126,539




EXPENDITURE ON


Raising funds

13,762


-


13,762



BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



13.

COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued


Unrestricted


Restricted


Total


funds


funds


funds

£   

£   

£   




Charitable activities


Projects

2,256


5,825


8,081



Museum expenditure

67,051


13,713


80,764



Finance and administration services

19,836


-


19,836



Total

102,905


19,538


122,443




NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(20,994

)

25,090


4,096



Transfers between funds

(1,500

)

1,500


-



Net movement in funds

(22,494

)

26,590


4,096




RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS


Total funds brought forward

169,378


49,129


218,507




TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

146,884


75,719


222,603



14.

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS


Display


Fixtures



cases and


and


Interactive


Computer



shelving


fittings


displays


equipment


Totals

£   

£   

£   

£   

£   



COST


At 1st April 2023

137,461


112,793


67,717


44,429


362,400




Additions

-


-


-


1,800


1,800




At 31st March 2024

137,461


112,793


67,717


46,229


364,200




DEPRECIATION


At 1st April 2023

99,849


63,643


67,717


44,101


275,310




Charge for year

6,872


5,636


-


764


13,272




At 31st March 2024

106,721


69,279


67,717


44,865


288,582




NET BOOK VALUE


At 31st March 2024

30,740


43,514


-


1,364


75,618




At 31st March 2023

37,612


49,150


-


328


87,090





BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



15.

HERITAGE ASSETS


Total

£   



MARKET VALUE


At 1st April 2023

66,869




Additions - donated

2,074




At 31st March 2024

68,943




NET BOOK VALUE


At 31st March 2024

68,943




At 31st March 2023

66,869




As set out in note 1, the balance shown here only reflects the acquisitions for the collection since 1 April 2010. The valuation of the donated items are carried out by the Museum's Curator.

Five year financial summary of heritage asset transactions

2023/242022/232021/222020/212019/20
Purchases0200000
Donations2,0741,04825,662851951
Total additions2,0741,24825,662851951
Disposal00000

16.

FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS


Shares in


group


undertakings

£   



MARKET VALUE


At 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024

2




NET BOOK VALUE


At 31st March 2024

2




At 31st March 2023

2





There were no investment assets outside the UK.



The company's investments at the balance sheet date in the share capital of companies include the following:



Bexhill Museum Trading Limited


Registered office: Bexhill Museum, Egerton Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN39 3HL


Nature of business: Dormant company


%


Class of share:

holding



Ordinary

100



31/3/24

31/3/23


£   

£   



Aggregate capital and reserves

2


2





The Society owns 100% of the issued share capital of Bexhill Museums Trading Limited. Its capital consists of 2 £1 shares both of which have been issued at par.



Bexhill Museum Trading Limited ceased trading on 31 March 2019 and is currently dormant.


BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



17.

STOCKS

2024

2023


£   

£   



Stocks

4,110


4,893




18.

DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2024

2023


£   

£   



Grant receivable

-


2,991




Other debtors

7,986


8,738



7,986


11,729




19.

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2024

2023


£   

£   



Amounts owed to group undertakings

2


2




Other creditors

2,941


3,682



2,943


3,684




20.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS


Net




movement


At



At 1/4/23


in funds


31/3/24


£   

£   

£   



Unrestricted funds


General fund

31,625


5,213


36,838




Tangible fixed assets designated fund

87,090


(13,272

)

73,818




Collection acquisitions designated fund

23,500


1,874


25,374




Elva repairs designated fund

100


-


100




Bexhills lost world development

project designated fund

4,057


-


4,057




Costumes designated fund

512


(111

)

401



146,884


(6,296

)

140,588




Restricted funds


Collection acquisitions fund

43,369


200


43,569




Local research

281


(281

)

-




Capital works project

20,723


(8,634

)

12,089




Museum in a box

168


(168

)

-




Izzard family train set

6,966


(2,495

)

4,471




Piano

654


-


654




Museum and schools

2,783


2,289


5,072




InSight to Culture

775


(775

)

-




Merryweather fund

-


7,299


7,299



75,719


(2,565

)

73,154




TOTAL FUNDS

222,603


(8,861

)

213,742




BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



20.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued



Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:



Incoming


Resources


Movement



resources


expended


in funds


£   

£   

£   



Unrestricted funds


General fund

93,786


(88,573

)

5,213




Tangible fixed assets designated fund

-


(13,272

)

(13,272

)



Collection acquisitions designated fund

1,874


-


1,874




Costumes designated fund

19


(130

)

(111

)


95,679


(101,975

)

(6,296

)



Restricted funds


Collection acquisitions fund

200


-


200




Local research

-


(281

)

(281

)



Capital works project

-


(8,634

)

(8,634

)



Museum in a box

-


(168

)

(168

)



Izzard family train set

-


(2,495

)

(2,495

)



Museum and schools

7,480


(5,191

)

2,289




InSight to Culture

-


(775

)

(775

)



Merryweather fund

7,299


-


7,299



14,979


(17,544

)

(2,565

)



TOTAL FUNDS

110,658


(119,519

)

(8,861

)





Comparatives for movement in funds



Net


Transfers




movement


between


At



At 1/4/22


in funds


funds


31/3/23


£   

£   

£   

£   



Unrestricted funds


General fund

39,243


(4,110

)

(3,508

)

31,625




Tangible fixed assets designated fund

101,070


(15,988

)

2,008


87,090




Collection acquisitions designated fund

23,300


-


200


23,500




Elva repairs designated fund

100


-


-


100




Bexhills lost world development

project designated fund

4,057


-


-


4,057




Costumes designated fund

1,608


(896

)

(200

)

512



169,378


(20,994

)

(1,500

)

146,884




Restricted funds


Collection acquisitions fund

42,321


1,048


-


43,369




Local research

281


-


-


281




Capital works project

-


19,223


1,500


20,723




Museum in a box

168


-


-


168




Izzard family train set

134


6,832


-


6,966




Piano

654


-


-


654




Museum and schools

2,265


518


-


2,783




InSight to Culture

3,306


(2,531

)

-


775



49,129


25,090


1,500


75,719




TOTAL FUNDS

218,507


4,096


-


222,603




BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



20.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued



Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:



Incoming


Resources


Movement



resources


expended


in funds


£   

£   

£   



Unrestricted funds


General fund

81,910


(86,020

)

(4,110

)



Tangible fixed assets designated fund

-


(15,988

)

(15,988

)



Costumes designated fund

1


(897

)

(896

)


81,911


(102,905

)

(20,994

)



Restricted funds


Collection acquisitions fund

1,048


-


1,048




Capital works project

23,499


(4,276

)

19,223




Izzard family train set

10,500


(3,668

)

6,832




Museum and schools

7,480


(6,962

)

518




InSight to Culture

2,101


(4,632

)

(2,531

)


44,628


(19,538

)

25,090




TOTAL FUNDS

126,539


(122,443

)

4,096





Designated funds


The tangible fixed assets fund represents the value of the fixed assets held by the charity.



The Collection acquisitions designated fund represents the estimated cost of items donated to the museum and the actual cost of items purchased by the museum, since 2010, for items which the trustees have the power to dispose of at their discretion. During the year over 50 items were donated to the museum.



The Elva repairs fund is money designated for repairs to the Elva car.



Bexhill's lost world development project fund is monies designated from the receipt of a legacy in 2016 towards an extension to the museum.



The Costumes fund is made up of a donation of £2,000 which was designated towards the costs relating to the costumes held by the museum.



Restricted funds


The Collection acquisitions restricted fund represents the estimated cost of items donated to the museum and the actual cost of items purchased by the museum, since 2010. During the year over 100 items were donated to the museum.



The Local research fund represents donations towards local research costs.



A major project for the stripping out and refitting of the semi-derelict basement stores and other urgent works was confirmed at the year's end. Funds received for this purpose in previous years were held in a Capital Project fund during the current year and will be transferred to a new dedicated fund with its own bank account in 2024-25.



The Museum in  a box fund is the balance of funds received for the museum in a box project.



The Izzard family train set fund is monies received towards the upkeep, improvement and changes to the layout of the model train set display.



The piano fund is made up of donations for the ongoing costs of maintaining the piano.



BEXHILL MUSEUM


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024



20.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued



The Hastings & Bexhill Museums & Schools account draws on funds from an Arts Council project, now its fourth year, which is designed to encourage stronger shared activities with local schools. Though a restricted fund, it allows spending on a wide range of education related activities.



The InSight to Culture fund is a grant from the Arts Council for that project.



The Merryweather fund is grants and donations received towards the restoration costs of Bexhill's 1895 Merryweather horse-drawn, steam powered fire engine which will be permanently displayed at the museum once restoration is complete.


21.

RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES



There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st March 2024.


22.

LIMITED LIABILITY OF MEMBERS



The liability of the members is limited.



Every member of the charity undertakes to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of the same being wound up while he/she is still a member or within one year after he/she ceases to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of rights of the contributories amongst themselves such amount as may be required, not exceeding £1.