COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM — Charity Commission profile

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status: Registered
Reporting status: Submission Received
Charity type: Trust
Registered: 3 July 1962
Removed: Not supplied
Financial period: 1 February 2025 – 31 January 2026
Latest income: £105,134
Latest expenditure: £91,389
Gift Aid: Yes
Owns or uses land: No
In administration: No
Insolvent: No
CIO: No

Public contact address: 10 GRAVEL WALK, EMBERTON, OLNEY, MK46 5JA

Website recorded by the regulator: cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

The museum commemorates the poet William Cowper, who lived in the house from 1768 to 1786, and his friend the preacher, hymnwriter and slave trade abolitionist John Newton (author of 'Amazing Grace'). It holds an important collection of lace and items relating to the archaeology and history of Olney and its surrounding villages. The historic gardens include Cowper's original summer house/study.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2025
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Cycle Reference: AR26
Reporting Due Date: 30 November 2026
Date Annual Return Received: 9 August 2026
Date Accounts Received: 9 August 2026
Total Gross Income: £105,134
Total Gross Expenditure: £91,389

Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Reporting Due Date: 30 November 2025
Date Annual Return Received: 6 September 2025
Date Accounts Received: 6 September 2025
Total Gross Income: £117,113
Total Gross Expenditure: £120,520

Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Reporting Due Date: 30 November 2024
Date Annual Return Received: 8 August 2024
Date Accounts Received: 8 August 2024
Total Gross Income: £172,144
Total Gross Expenditure: £223,016

Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Reporting Due Date: 30 November 2023
Date Annual Return Received: 29 November 2023
Date Accounts Received: 28 November 2023
Total Gross Income: £184,867
Total Gross Expenditure: £138,223

Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Reporting Due Date: 30 November 2022
Date Annual Return Received: 7 August 2022
Date Accounts Received: 15 August 2022
Total Gross Income: £73,720
Total Gross Expenditure: £53,835

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR26
Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2025
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Due Date: 30 November 2026
Ar Received Date: 9 August 2026
Total Gross Income: £105,134
Total Gross Expenditure: £91,389
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Grants: £3
Income From Government Grants: £13,050
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 150

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Due Date: 30 November 2025
Ar Received Date: 6 September 2025
Total Gross Income: £117,113
Total Gross Expenditure: £120,520
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £2
Income From Government Grants: £12,450
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 150

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Due Date: 30 November 2024
Ar Received Date: 8 August 2024
Total Gross Income: £172,144
Total Gross Expenditure: £223,016
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £3
Income From Government Grants: £28,044
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 100

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Due Date: 30 November 2023
Ar Received Date: 29 November 2023
Total Gross Income: £184,867
Total Gross Expenditure: £138,223
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £3
Income From Government Grants: £43,053
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 100

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 February 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Due Date: 30 November 2022
Ar Received Date: 7 August 2022
Total Gross Income: £73,720
Total Gross Expenditure: £53,835
Charity Raises Funds From Public: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: Yes
Count Govt Grants: £2
Income From Government Grants: £17,985
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 100

05 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Milton Keynes
Welsh Ind: No

06 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code: 109
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Arts/culture/heritage/science

Classification Code: 112
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Environment/conservation/heritage

Classification Code: 305
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space

Classification Code: 202
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Elderly/old People

Classification Code: 102
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Education/training

Classification Code: 304
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Human Resources

Classification Code: 309
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body

Classification Code: 201
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Children/young People

Classification Code: 308
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Sponsors Or Undertakes Research

Classification Code: 207
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: The General Public/mankind

Classification Code: 307
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Advocacy/advice/information

Classification Code: 108
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Religious Activities

Classification Code: 205
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies

Classification Code: 206
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Defined Groups

07 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name: COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Charity Event Order: 1
Event Type: Standard registration
Date Of Event: 1962-07-03T00:00:00

08 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description: DEED DATED 6TH OCTOBER 1902, SCHEMES OF 20TH DECEMBER 1950 AND 19TH JULY 1985
Charitable Objects: MUSEUM TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE POET WILLIAM COWPER.
Area Of Benefit: NOT DEFINED

09 Official extract

Charity Other Names

Charity Name Id: 112857
Charity Name Type: Working name
Charity Name: COWPER AND NEWTON MUSEUM - HOME OF OLNEYS HERITAGE

10 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name: Paying staff

Policy Name: Internal risk management policy and procedures

Policy Name: Financial reserves policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investing charity funds policy and procedures

Policy Name: Social media policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Policy Name: Bullying and harassment policy and procedures

Policy Name: Volunteer management

Policy Name: Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Policy Name: Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints policy and procedures

Policy Name: Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures