RE Museum Governance

In 2021 Trustees The Institution of Royal Engineers agreed that work should commence to convert the existing Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive charity into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a new independent Constitution and Trustee Board.

An extensive period of engagement, consultation and discussion was conducted over several years between, inter alia, Members, Trustees, the Privy Council, and the Charity Commission of England and Wales, which also included an independent Legal Review by Stone King LLP. The change culminated in a vote by Members at Annual General Meeting 2024, who agreed a motion by a majority of not less than two-thirds of those present, to amend The Institution of Royal Engineers Bye-Laws, and to petition His Majesty The King to amend The Institution of Royal Engineers current Bye-Laws to reflect the conversion of the Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive into a Royal Engineers Museum CIO Foundation.

The Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive charity (Registered Charity Number 295173) was placed into suspended animation at midnight 31 January 2025, with a Transfer of Assets made at 00.01 am on 1 February 2025 into the new The Royal Engineers Museum CIO Foundation (Registered Charity Number 1211021). The title of the Collection together with all associated artefacts has been fully retained by The Institution of Royal Engineers (including any new items acquired) under a formal Loan Agreement between the Royal Engineers Museum CIO Foundation and The Institution of Royal Engineers. The Loan Agreement is expressly for the loan, care and development of the Collection, as amended from time to time, as described by the object of the Royal Engineers Museum CIO Foundation.

Members have been reminded that Trustees The Institution of Royal Engineers agreed on 11 April 2024 that the Lease of BR200 The Ravelin Building, Building 300 (Block 40), Building 301 (Block 38) and Building 302 (Block 39) would not be transferred and would remain an agreement between the Secretary of State for Defence (c/o Defence Infrastructure Organisation) and The Institution of Royal Engineers.

The new governance arrangements for the Royal Engineers Museum CIO Foundation have:

• Allowed the Royal Engineers Museum to modernise its operating model.
• Permitted the recruitment of a new Trustee Board able to take informed decisions (by drawing on industry expertise).
• Created a delivery framework based on the functions of COLLECT – CONSERVE – COMMUNICATE.
• Protected the Royal Engineers Museum’s charity status by satisfying the requirements of the Charity Commission of England and Wales, and have also maintained the existing Accredited status under Arts Council England.
• Ensured eligibility for established heritage sector grant funders and (potentially) open up alternative revenue avenues.
• Improved the Royal Engineers Museum’s ability to professionally manage the Designated Collection, recognised for its outstanding national importance, whilst bringing further diversity to the body responsible for its leadership.