HERNE BAY MUSEUM TRUST

Registered charity 1160344 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as HBMT

The management and development of Herne Bay Museum, 12 William Street, Herne Bay, Kent.

Objects

TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A MUSEUM IN HERNE BAY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR THE EXHIBITION OF ITEMS OF LOCAL OR HISTORICAL INTEREST AND PROVISION OF EDUCATION RELATING TO THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE TOWN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£52k

Latest spending

£58k

Registered

2015

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Trust relies heavily on the annual management fee from Canterbury City Council, noting that without this grant, significant deficits would have occurred in recent years. The trustees highlight that running costs now exceed the CCC grant, making day-to-day income vital for long-term financial security amid uncertainties regarding lease renewal and future funding levels.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: one year’s operating expenditure (held: £26k)

“In 2019 the Trustees agreed to set aside £26,000 to protect against possible long-term uncertainty about funding and set this figure to hold in reserve being, at the time, sufficient to cover one year’s operating expenditure.” — page 20

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Seaside Museum, Herne Bay (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Judith Clair Saunderschair
Douglas Downing
Eileen Wellings
IAIN NIGEL WARD FARQUHAR · trustee of 2 other charities
Katherine Sarah Hopcraft

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Kent

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£52k	£58k
31/03/2024	£44k	£50k
31/03/2023	£42k	£53k
31/03/2022	£38k	£39k
31/03/2021	£52k	£38k

Common questions

Is HERNE BAY MUSEUM TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Trust relies heavily on the annual management fee from Canterbury City Council, noting that without this grant, significant deficits would have occurred in recent years. The trustees highlight that running costs now exceed the CCC grant, making day-to-day income vital for long-term financial security amid uncertainties regarding lease renewal and future funding levels. Its FY2025 accounts were audited.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	19/12/2017	£9k	"Pudding Pan heritage project"