Friends of Kinneil 2009-10 AGM Presentation

The Friends of Kinneil AGMRegistered CharityCharity Registration NumberSC038368

Annual report for 2009-2010

Welcome to the AGMBruce Henderson, ChairmanThe Friends of Kinneil

Overview• Started in 2006, we’re now going into our fifth year• Initially a campaigning group, we’re now seen as a positive and credible partner• Worked hard to establish strong relationships with other groups in Bo’ness• Now an established charity, we’re here for the long term.

Key activities for The Friends• Raising the profile of the Park• Increasing awareness of Kinneil House and Museum• Forming partnerships to promote/improve Kinneil• Delivering member events• Developing a strategy for the estate

Raising the profile of KinneilIn 2009/10,we:

• We ran a number of events to raise the profile of the estate.

Raising the profile of KinneilIn 2009/10,we:

• We ran a stall at the Victorian Street Fair at the end of May 2009 and at the end of May 2010.• This raised money and promoted our activities.

Raising the profile of KinneilIn 2009/10,we:• We continued our series of open days at Kinneil House, run in conjunction with Historic Scotland• In the 2009 calendar year, five house open days attracted 1762 visitors.• The most successful was the Kinneil Heritage Day which attracted more than 1000 people.

Raising the profile of KinneilKinneil Museum also benefited.

In 2009, more than 5000 people visited the museum – representing an audience that grows year on year.

Raising the profile of KinneilOther activities:• We ran a summer walk through the estate, with historian Geoff Bailey.

Raising the profile of KinneilOther activities:• Continued to run clean-ups in the estate with Bonnie Bo’ness and Bo’ness Community Council (held in April 2009 and 2010)

Raising the profile of KinneilOther activities:• Ran a fundraising dinner for members and non-members, raising substantial funds for the charity• a photo/picture competition to encourage visitors to the estate• a members’ Christmas Party, hosted by Giles and Gail Fairholm

Raising the profile of KinneilOther activities:• A talk from Ian Scott on the history of Kinneil Estate • A training event to help members who guide visitors around Kinneil House with Adrian Cox and Chris Tabraham from Historic Scotland

Raising the profile of KinneilOther activities:• Big Roman Week – a series of events and talks to build on the area’s Roman Heritage• We plan to repeat the week this year.

Raising the profile of KinneilIn 2009/10,we actively promoted Kinneil Estate through:

• local media – newspapers, radio, etc., • the internet – i.e. our website www.kinneil.org.uk and other online channels such as tourism blogs. We even launched our own twitter site at www.twitter.com/kinneil• print publicity – our own posters and print material from partners, i.e. Falkirk Council

Raising the profile of Kinneil

• We continued to used print publicity (our own and partners) to promote key activities and initiatives.

Relationship building

Relationship building• We continued our successful partnership with Step Forth to encourage them to run three-times-a-week free health walks around Kinneil Estate.•The walks now run every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, leaving outside Kinneil Museum•Details available from the Museum or from our websitewww.kinneil.org.uk

Relationship building• We also worked continued our partnerships with• Bonnie Bo’ness and Bo’ness Community Council – to run litter picks• Historic Scotland and Falkirk Council – to run open days• Local press and media• The Antonine Guard, re-enactment group, who helped with Roman Week and other events

Relationship building• We have tried to build better relationships with organisers of the Bo’ness Hillclimb• We’re also talking to paranormal investigators about a future event!

Management team• Our management committee work very hard to pull events and activities together• Most member events are backed by good quality catering and presentations• This wouldn’t happen without their help and enthusiasm.• As well as running activities they have been working to develop new ideas to promote and improve the estate.

Member events/activities• We continue to offer membership at low rates.• Nearly all the money raised from membership is spent on specific member events.• We feel The Friends continues to offer good value for money and we want to encourage members to be more actively involved, i.e. Through volunteering, etc.• We need to develop membership.

Future developments• We plan to use money raised from recent fundraising to:

• improve audio visual facilities at Kinneil Museum• improve planting in front of the museum

Future developments• Medium to longer term projects:

• marketing and access project• visitor and interpretation project• park infrastructure improvements (with Falkirk Council)• plans for a film on Walking the Wall• a James Watt project (to tie in with a new £50 banknote)• and wider ecology and environment project

And finally• thanks to our office bearers and management committee• thanks to our partners• and thanks our members and supporters.

• We have a busy year ahead – here’s to a successful 2010/11

Thank you

The Friends of Kinneil AGMRegistered CharityCharity Registration NumberSC038368