HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, present their
report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31
March 2015.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Name
Highland Museum of Childhood
Charity registration number
SC03393
Company registration number SC241841
Registered office
The Highland Museum of Childhood
The Old Station
Strathpeffer
Ross-shire
IV14 9DH
The Trustees
Mrs Tina Fewster
Mr Peter Bowen
Mrs Margaret Spark
Dr Fiona Skinner
Mrs J Murray
Mrs E MacLean
Co. Secretary
N/A
Bankers
Royal Bank of Scotland
High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9HA
Solicitors
MacLeod & MacCallum
Solicitors & Estate Agents
28 Queensgate
Inverness
IV1 1YN
Structure, governance and management
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
Governing Document
The Highland Museum of Childhood is incorporated as a company limited by
guarantee governed by its memorandum and Articles of Association dated 7
January 2003. It is recognised as a charity in Scotland, its Deed of Trust dated 1
November 1991, and amended by a Supplemental Deed dated 22 December
2002; it is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Anyone
invited by the current members can become a member of the Ltd Co. During the
year there were 8 members, each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event
of the charity being wound up.
Appointment of Trustees
As set out in the Articles of Association the chairperson of the board of trustees
is appointed by the trustees. The chairperson of the board of trustees would
normally chair any general meeting of the company. At every AGM new trustees
may be appointed as elected by the board for a period of up to three years, after
which period it may be the express desire of the members and trustees to reelect immediately that trustee to the board for a further three years. All members
are circulated with invitations to nominate trustees prior to the AGM advising
them of the retiring trustees and requesting nominations for the AGM. When
considering co-opting trustees, the board has regard to the requirement for any
specialist skills needed.
Trustee Induction and Training
New trustees undergo induction training to brief them on their legal obligations
under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan
and recent financial performance of the charity. During induction they meet key
employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate
external Board Development training events where these will facilitate the
undertaking of their role.
Organisation
The board of trustees, which can have up to 15 members but not fewer than 5,
administers the charity. The board meets monthly. A manager/chief executive is
appointed by the board to manage the day to day operations of the charity. To
facilitate effective operations, the manager/chief executive has delegated
authority for operational matters including finance, employment and museumrelated activity.
Wider Sector Networks
The charity is supported by an annual revenue grant from the Highland Council
(HC) linked to a Service Level Agreement (SLA) monitored by annual returns
and Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs). The charity is also fully accredited
by Arts Council England and works closely with the regulatory body, Museums
Galleries Scotland to maintain its standards. The charity is a three-star visitor
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
attraction accredited by the Scottish Tourist Board. At a Highland level, the
charity was a founder-member of the Highland Museums Forum, a body
established to support the development of independent museums. The
curator/manager is the current Chairperson of the Forum. The charity is also a
member of: The Association of Independent Museums. The curator is a member
of the Museums Association.
Related Parties
The charity's wholly owned subsidiary, Highland Museum of Childhood (Trading)
Ltd was established to take advantage of commercial opportunities. The trading
subsidiary has an agreement with the charity to be able to operate in this
manner and gifts any profits to the charity.
Risk Management
The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
a) An annual review of the risks the charity might face.
b) The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks
identified in the plan.
c) The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact
on the charity should those risks materialise.
The work has identified only a few minor risks but has resulted in better
emergency procedures and contingency plans and has given the impetus for
better planning. Particular attention has focused on non-financial risks arising
from fire, and health and safety of staff.
A key element in the management of financial risk is the preparation of regular
financial monitoring reports and their review by trustees.
Objectives and activities
The main aims of the charity are:
 To collect, document and preserve artefacts and archive material relating to the
history of childhood in the Highlands of Scotland and to interpret this material for
the education and enjoyment of as broad an audience as possible.
 To maintain all levels of external quality, collections care and visitor services to
meet the targets and measurements laid down therein.
 To provide an Education and Outreach programme to schools and the wider
community thereby increasing access to and ownership of the collection.
Detailed operational goals and targets for the year are drawn up each year in the
charity’s development plan, approved by the board, to include the following areas:

Operations: financial planning, fundraising, staff & volunteer management,
workforce development, marketing, policy development & forward planning
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
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Collections: accreditation, documentation procedures, conservation
management, research
Visitor Services: retail management, external tourism standards, customer care,
support of coffee shop
User Services: including exhibition development, community, learning and
access programmes, opening hours, enquiries
The main objective of the year
1. Appoint new curator/manager by the beginning of the new financial year (April
2014) to coincide with previous curator/manager’s retirement.
2. Implement an audit of the collections in store and improve documentation
standards
3. Implement collections care and new interpretive displays.
Achievements and performance
 All Highland Council Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) targets were met and
Statutory Performance Indicators (SPI) figures delivered on target.
 During the year to 31 March 2015 visitor numbers to the museum have
increased but there was a reduction in attendance at education activities in the
Goods Shed. Tickets sales to the museum have increased almost by 10%.
 Summary of Learning & Access programme:

17 facilitated School visits from Primary and SEN Schools

8 Family workshops throughout school holidays (Summer and October)

Festival of Museums family event on 17th May

2 craft workshops as part of the My Hearts in the Highlands Project

2 Adult storytelling ad art workshop as part of the My Hearts in the
Highlands Project

2 outreach events – Woolfest at Dingwall Mart and Heritage Festival at
Dingwall Academy

5 Groups visits and talks at the museum

Weekly usage of the Goods Shed by Sing for Fun group.

One Open Day in December for families and children and Victorian day
activities in June.

Permanent displays – 6 interpretation panels were replaced from the
permanent display due to damage. The temporary exhibition was a previous one
- Highland Dancing - that was revived for the Year of Homecoming 2014. As
part of the My Hearts in the Highlands Project a travelling exhibition ‘Needed on
a Journey’ was also displayed during June. A new story panel banner was
produced as part of the MHITH project and temporarily displayed in the
museum. Plans were implemented to improve the standard of interpretation
methods for the 2015/16 temporary display - An Island Childhood.
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015

Funding – small pots of funding were accessed to run events and purchase
equipment. Funding acquired from the MGS Purchase Fund for a new laptop
and external hard drive. Also from the MGS Festival of Museums fund for an
event. Other activities that were funded through Highland Council/My Hearts in
the Highlands were craft workshops for families, storytelling workshops for
adults. Mackenzie New York Villa Trust generously funded children’s activities
for the summer activity programme.
 Collections – a full audit of the collections in the store was conducted. Every
object was photographed, labelled, documented and given a new location. This
information was recorded in the catalogue. The backlog of unaccessioned
objects was also cleared and all documentation ie entry forms was completed.
 Staff – A new curator and manager started in April 2014 who was the previous
Learning & Access Curator at the museum. They have been studying part time
at the University of S Andrews – M Litt in Museum & Gallery Studies – and this
will contribute greatly to their work at the museum. Other training attended by the
curator was Fundraising and Retail Management. The Curator is also on the
Highland Museums Forum committee and has been representing the HMF
regarding the proposed Highland Council funding cuts.

Volunteers The museum’s voluntary staff continued to offer their support
throughout the year giving on average 25 hours per week, and are to be
commended for their valuable contribution to the museum’s success.

Weekend staff They have continued to give their support and
commitment throughout the season. 2 members of staff moved onto to enter full
time study in October so new staff were recruited in March 2015 for the start of
the new season.
 Property – the canopy covering the platform was identified as in need of repair.
LDN architects have assessed it and produced a report. Identifying funding will
be the next step.

Tenants – Adam Gordon has moved on and now Unit 4 has a new tenant
– Embrace Gift Shop who started trading in December 2014. ARCH Highland
now also rent office space within the Goods Shed bringing in an extra source of
income for the museum.

Museum – various measures have taken place to improve Health &
Safety within the museum premises including all fire extinguishers being
replaced, a Fire Assembly point being established and emergency procedures
updated and disseminated to staff and volunteers.

Repairs – there were a lot of unforeseen repairs that had to be dealt with
including storm damage to trees and fencing, flooding, and roof leaks. A new
gardener has been appointed who has worked hard to improve the museum
grounds.
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
Financial review
The Trustees continued their practice of monitoring financial progress against the
strategic plan. The end of the year saw a satisfactory financial result based on strong
financial management. Grant claims continued throughout the period. Income is still
derived from rental of the units to local businesses such as the Coffee Shop, Green
Kite Fair Trading and Embrace Gift Shop.
The charity's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Highland Museum of Childhood (Trading)
Ltd, continued to trade, and its profits transferred to the charity.
The charity is wholly committed to implementing the provisions of its business plan and
is confident of meeting its objectives.
The principal funding source during the year was The Highland Council, to
whom the charity is grateful. The funding in exchange for fulfilling a Service
Level Agreement affords the charity a measure of financial stability.
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The funding of events and equipment
Grateful thanks are due to the following:
My Hearts in the Highland project for funding storytelling and crafts events
Lorna Cruickshank, Independent Museums Support officer for financial
assistance towards purchasing new fire extinguishers.
Museums Galleries Scotland – for funding events such as the Festival of
Museums and for financial assistance through their Purchase Fund for the costs
of a new laptop and external hard drive.
Mackenzie New York Villa Trust for financial assistance towards the museum’s
summer activity programme.
Investment Powers and Policy
Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charity has the power to
invest in any way the trustees wish.
The trustees, having regard to the requirements of operational activities and
funding future re-development and to the reserves policy, have operated a policy
of keeping available funds in an interest-bearing account and seek to achieve a
rate of deposit interest which matches or exceeds inflation as measured by the
retail price index.
Due to the unstable financial climate during the year it has been unable to
achieve this objective.
Reserves Policy
The trustees have established the level of reserves (that is those funds which
are freely available) that the charity should hold.
The actual reserves at 31 March 2015 were £2403.36.
It is the trustees' view that efforts should be made to increase the amount of
reserves by around 10% per annum. However with the low interest rates
currently available it has not been possible to achieve this target.
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
Plans for future periods
The board expects several plans to come to fruition in 2015/16:
 Capital project to restore the canopy. The curator/manager will seek funding to
enable the canopy to be restored. A part of the project new interpretation panels
about the history of the station will be developed and displayed on the exterior of
the building.
 Improve marketing by production of a new leaflet and promoting the museum
and all businesses at the Old Station as a visitor destination.
 Continue to improve the standards of interpretation and display within the
museum including changing some of the permanent displays.
 Continue to involve, train and supervise volunteers in managing the collections
and documentation procedures.
 Improve the shop by streamlining stock and developing branded products
specific to the museum.
STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE INDEPENDENT
EXAMINER
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of
that information.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The trustees (who are also directors of Highland Museum of Childhood for the
purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report
and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial
year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in
accordance with United Kingdom generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United
Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the trustees
must no approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give true
and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the income and
expenditure of the charitable company 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 UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to
any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2015
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate
to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which 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.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
M J McNab BSc, FCCA has been appointed as independent examiner for the ensuing
year.
Registered office:
The Old Station
Strathpeffer
IV14 9DH
16th September 2015
Signed by order of the Trustees:
Peter Bowen
Trustee