The Trustees are pleased to present their report for the period ending 31st December 2007.

Contents

[ click here ] Reference and Administrative Information

[ click here ] Structure Governance & Management

[ click here ] Objectives & Activities

[ click here ] Achievements & Performance

[ click here ] Future objectives for the Charity

[ click here ] Financial Review

[ click here ] Plans for future periods

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name : Jack and Jill Windmills Society
Charity Registration Number : 1118285
Company Registration Number : 6023209
Registered Office : 89 Woodbourne Avenue, Brighton, East Sussex. BN1 8EJ
Website : www.jillwindmill.org.uk

Directors and Trustees:
The directors of the charitable company (hereinafter called "the Charity") are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees.
Mr J Slaughter : Chairman
Mrs S Sickelmore : Company Secretary
Mr S Potter : Treasurer
Mr P Barber
Mr K Cook
Mr R French
Mr D Jarmann

The above all served as Trustees for the whole of the period ended 31st December 2007.

Reporting Accountants:
Cranfields
3 Church Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR0 1SG

Bankers:
HSBC Bank PLC
Burgess Hill
West Sussex

Solicitors:
Bennett Oakley &Partners
13 Mill Road
Burgess Hill
West Sussex

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 8th December 2006 and registered as a charity on 8th March 2007. The company was incorporated under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees
Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the Trustees are elected to serve for a period of three years after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.
Trustees retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
There are no other bodies or societies that may nominate a Trustee.

Trustees Induction and Training
There is no defined induction or training of Trustees, however the Trustees for the period have all been actively involved in the objectives of the Charity.

Organisation
The board of Trustees administers the Charity. The board meets at least three times annually.

Related Parties
Mid Sussex District Council is the owner of the mill and is therefore obligated to maintain the mill in accordance with requirements of its listed status. This work is done by the Society with financial assistance from the council.
The Charity has no subsidiaries.

Risk Management
The Trustees are in the process of preparing a risk management strategy.

Objectives and activities

The Charity's objects are:
To promote the permanent preservation of the Mill at Clayton known as Jill (hereinafter called "the Mill") as a building of historical and architectural interest for the education and for the benefit of the public generally.
In furtherance of these objects, but not otherwise, the Charity may do all or any of the following things:
(a) To repair, renovate, restore or rebuild the Mill and generally maintain and develop it and the site thereof so far as the owners permit.
(b) To make such arrangements as are necessary to raise funds to finance their operations including subscriptions and loans, and covenants when the status of the Charity allows.
(c) To purchase, acquire and maintain furniture and other equipment, machinery, tools and appliances for use and display in the Mill, or on the site thereof.
(d) To make such arrangements as are necessary to enable the public to inspect and enjoy the Mill.
(e) To give organised and private lectures, talks, demonstrations and exhibitions to publicise any of the said objects.
(f) To print and publish and sell books, pamphlets and other material and documents concerning any of the said objects.
(g) And generally to do all things necessary for the attainment of the above.

Achievements and Performance
In 2007 the Charity successfully painted and serviced two of the sweeps of the mill. This also involved the replacement of the wooden stock which was 37 years old and had suffered from rot due to the exposed position. This work was all undertaken by volunteer labour from the community.

In 2007 the Charity were also able to open the mill to the visiting public on more than 31 days. Again this was all done with volunteer labour and many people were able to enjoy their visit and learn about the mill. On most of these open days books and pamphlets were on sale to the public in furtherance of the objectives.

The mill was also used to produce stone ground flour by wind on at least two occasions. This flour is organic and was available to purchase on open days.

Special Open Days were held through out the year and were designed to show the broad influences originating from, or centring on the Windmill, such as the use of alternative power sources in milling.

Sunday Open Days concentrated on the involvement of the whole family in the enjoyment of the Windmill.

Some Sunday morning group visits have centred on religious aspects associated with the Windmill and the surrounding downland and hamlets.

Educational visits were confined to weekdays, when the Windmill is not open to the public, and the Charity worked with teachers, youth leaders and lecturers in forming programmes designed to show the Windmill as an integral part of the history and science curriculum. Ages ranged from Reception Class at Primary Schools to students of the University of the Third Age.

The work of the Charity provided a landmark created by the physical aspects of the Windmill for the surrounding residential and farming community, tying together our history and Trustees concerns to preserve and conserve our heritage and environment for the future in the form of a living, working Windmill rather than a static museum.

This work continued to expand in the period under review as the Charity's website brought about many contacts and as a result the Windmill has welcomed visitors from countries around the World, as well as producing a much wider catchment area for school visits.

Our strategy is to make the best use of the restricted area and facilities at the Windmill to maximise the number of members of the public who can enjoy the experience of learning, both in the informal visits and in the formal educational setting. The Charity aims to have available highly experienced and articulate guides who are able to match the technical expertise of the preservation and maintenance team.

Future objectives for the Charity
The mill is now 186 years old and although major restoration has taken place since 1978, most of the mill components are original. There are components that it would be impossible to replace without significant rebuilding which would be impractical to rely on volunteer labour to achieve.

It is therefore the objective of the Charity to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to maintain the mill in its present working condition, no matter what deterioration occurs to the mill components.

It is also the objective of the Charity to increase the capacity of the site in line with the objectives but not to the detriment of the site or the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Financial review
The main asset that the Charity has been fortunate to benefit from is the use of volunteer labour to achieve so many of the objectives. The Trustees have not put a value on this labour.

Principal funding sources
The principal funding sources are donations together with sales of souvenirs, refreshments and literature as mentioned in the objects. Members of the society also pay a membership fee.
In addition the mill has been used for film locations from which income has been gained.

Investment Policy
Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Charity has the power to deposit or invest funds. The investment policy of the Charity is:
To invest those surplus funds not required for immediate use.
To obtain a reasonable income from those funds.
To invest only as permitted by the investment powers of the Charity.

Reserves Policy
The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation.
The reserves are needed to fund major repairs of the mill so that the Charity is able to continue the current activities in the event of a significant drop in income.

Plans for future periods
In 2008 the Charity seeks to refurbish two sweeps.

The Charity also seeks to provide audio visual equipment in the lower floor of the mill to give more understanding of the mill and the work of the Charity to those unable to climb the stairs of the mill.

The Charity plans to open the mill to the general public for their enjoyment and education.

Welcome to the first AGM of our new company.

It was with great sadness that the Society learned last summer of the death of one of our founder members, Donald Chamberlain. In his capacity as an officer of Mid Sussex District Council, Donald gave us great encouragement to start the restoration of Jill.

In her letter to us, Donald's wife Sarah concluded by saying 'Jill, long may she prosper!'

In 2007 sweeps I and III were removed for painting. Unfortunately, once they were down it became obvious that the stock that supported them was beginning to rot and would need replacing. The new, made to measure laminated stock had to be ordered from Denmark and this delayed our progress by many weeks.

Roger French and his group of helpers are already working on the refurbishment of sweeps II and IV. They were removed on 30th April and, as this pair are supported by a metal stock, it is hoped that it will not be too long before Jill is restored to full working order.

Keith Cook has reported an increase in mid week visitors during 2007, some coming from as far away as Mexico. Our thanks go to Keith and his team for this, often unnoticed, hard work they do to publicise the society.

At 8 a.m. on 1st August we were pleased to play host to a large group of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from the Southdown District with their leaders and parents. Along with Scouts from all over the world, they were renewing their promise on the 100th anniversary of scouting at the site of their 'logo', Jack and Jill.

Danny Jarmann a founder member of our society and a dedicated worker for thirty years has decided to retire as a Trustee. We are pleased that he is remaining a member and can be called upon to help and advise when needed.

I must finish by once again saying how much we owe to our workers, Saturday gang, guides and roundhouse helpers. There are not many societies that can open every Sunday throughout the season manned by volunteers.

Jack Slaughter, Chairman      14th May 2008

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