Dorking & District U3a Trustees Annual Report for year ending 31 March 2025 Registered Charity 1005743
Reference and Administration details
The Charity has no independent address but for the purposes of this Return it is: Conifer Lodge, Westcott Street, Westcott, Dorking Surrey RH4 3NY The current list of Trustees is set out below.
The following people served on the committee for the whole year unless otherwise indicated:
| Ianthe Cox | Chair from Oct 24, |
|---|---|
| Beryl Sinclair | Secretary |
| John Sinclair | Membership and Interim Treasurer |
| Christopher Hall | Treasurer elect from July 24 |
| Michael Docker | Webmaster |
| Deanne Rhodes | Days Out |
| Denise Hooker | Meetings Coordinator from July 24 |
| Rosemary Harbridge | Minutes Secretary |
| Karl Barclay | New Member Coordinator from Jan 25 |
| John Thom | Communication coordinator from Jan 25 |
During the year Helen Mardell, Tony Parker and Linda Willmott resigned
Structure Governance and Management
Dorking & District U3a is regulated by the Third Age Trust and is an unincorporated association governed by a constitution. The Committee and Trustees are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
Objectives and Activities
The aims of the U3a are to promote the life long learning and well-being of middle aged and older members, who are not in full time remunerated employment in Dorking and the surrounding area. Live, Laugh and Learn. Dorking & District U3a supports and encourages up to 60 interest groups, all of which are led by the members. An example of subjects covered are Art and Architecture, Music, Bridge, Pilates, Exercise Classes, Languages and Science, Photography plus many others. New groups have been introduced in this past year. In organising the many activities of the U3a, the Trustees are mindful of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit grateful to the unstinting efforts of the many volunteers who make the Charity so effective.
DORKING & DISTRICT U3a
Trustees Annual Report for year ending 31 March 2025 continued.
Achievement and Performance
During this financial year ended 31[st] March 2025, Dorking U3a has continued to grow. Membership was at 651 at the end of March 2025. The membership has now fully returned to face-to-face meetings, outings, events and residential trips.
Monthly meetings have been held at St Joseph’s Church Hall but still continue as a hybrid meeting for the few who are unable to physically attend. Attendance figures have certainly increased.
The first day out was to Hampton Court followed by visits to RNLI in Poole, Scotney Castle and Batemans. In November there was a long-awaited visit to the Purcell Club in Westminster Abbey, which was extremely popular. In February 2025 a behind the scenes visit to Chichester Theatre was a good start to the new year.
The first residential trip was to Tuscany in June, followed by an autumnal trip to the Lake District in October 2024.
The events calendar included the traditional Solstice Picnic in June at Buckland Park Lake. This was well supported by 108 people. An afternoon Barn Dance was held in September 2024.
Burns Night was celebrated on 25 January 2025, complete with Piper and all the traditions.
During the year a monthly Mailer was introduced, in addition to the quarterly Newsletter. The enhanced Website has improved contact with the membership and enables activities to be booked online.
Financial Review
The accounts to the end of the financial year in March 2025 show an increase in subscription income to £9,618 (2024 £9,081). General costs were also increased from £9,661 in 2024 to £10,195 in the year to 31.3.25 which left a small surplus of £484 (2024 £516).
Committee meetings have still been held on Zoom which saves the cost of a room hire, fuel and parking.
The General fund balance at 31.3.25 was £11,073 (2024 £10,589). The policy of the Dorking & District U3a is to retain general fund reserves equivalent to six months normal expenditure. The Trustees consider the current level of reserves to be sufficient.
DORKING & DISTRICT U3a
Trustees Annual Report for year ending 31 March 2025 continued.
Financial review (continued)
Income from Groups increased to £21,092 from £17,765 in the previous year, which reflected the increased activity. Costs were similarly increased resulting in a small surplus of £665 compared to a deficit of £639 in 2024. The Group bank balance was £3,824 compared with £3,159 in the previous year. The income from social events/days out was £15,232 (2024 £17,765) was lower than the previous year due to fewer days out in this period. The bank balance for the social events is now £4,999 compared to £4,360 in 2024
Risk and Internal Control
The Trustees have reviewed the risk to the assets of the Charity and consider the controls against material mismanagement or loss currently in place are adequate
Signed :…Beryl Sinclair…
Date :9 July 2025………..
Hon Secretary: Dorking & District U3a
Signed Ianthe Cox………
Date:9 July 2025…..
Chairman: Dorking & District U3a
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Dorking & District U3a
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts for Dorking & District U3a for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trustees’ accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept by the Trustees as required by section 130 of the Act, or
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the accounts do not accord with those records, or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Christine Braidwood
Date Signed:9 July 2025
Mrs C E Braidwood FCA
Chartered Accountant
Lowood, The Street, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7DJ
DORKING & DISTRICT U3a RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS For the year ended 31st March 2025
| MAIN ACCOUNT RECEIPTS |
2024-25 £ |
2024-25 £ |
2023-24 £ |
2023-24 £ |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriptons (total) | 9,618 | 9,081 | |||||||
Subscriptons (year ending 31 March) |
5,477 | 5,381 | |||||||
Subscriptons (next year in advance) |
4,141 | 3,700 | |||||||
Gif Aid |
1,061 | 1,097 | |||||||
Donatons |
|||||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||
| Total receipts | 10,679 | 10,178 | |||||||
| PAYMENTS | |||||||||
| Third Age Trust | -4,502 | -4,711 | |||||||
| Printng/Statonery | -2,262 | -2,342 | |||||||
| Purchase of a projector | -573 | ||||||||
| Hall hire | -247 | -435 | |||||||
| Speakers | -1,051 | -1,180 | |||||||
| Catering | -288 | -70 | |||||||
| Postage | -533 | -471 | |||||||
| Website | -366 | -281 | |||||||
| Zoom | -187 | -157 | |||||||
| Miscellaneous | -184 | -15 | |||||||
| Total payments | -10,195 | -9,661 | |||||||
| Net surplus/defcit | 484 | 516 | |||||||
Balance at year start (1 April) |
10,589 | 10,073 | |||||||
| Balance carried forward at 31 March GROUPS ACCOUNT |
11,073 | 10,589 | |||||||
| RECEIPTS | 21,092 | 17,765 | |||||||
| PAYMENTS | -20,428 | -18,404 | |||||||
| Net surplus/defcit | 665 | -639 | |||||||
| Balance at year start (1 April) | 3,159 | 3,798 | |||||||
| Balance carried forward at 31 March | 3,824 | 3,159 | |||||||
| SOCIAL EVENTS ACCOUNT | |||||||||
| RECEIPTS | 15,232 | 17,764 | |||||||
| PAYMENTS | -14,592 | -17,935 | |||||||
| Net surplus/defcit | 640 | -171 | |||||||
| Balance at year start (1 April) | 4,360 | 4,530 | |||||||
| Balance carried forward at 31 March | 4,999 | 4,360 |
DORKING & DISTRICT U3a
COMBINED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as at 31st March 2025
| Assets Main account |
11,073 | 10,589 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groups account | 3,824 | 3,159 | |||
| Events account | 4,999 | 4,360 | |||
| Pety cash | 25 | 25 | |||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 19,921 | 18,133 | |||
| Liabilities Subscriptions in advance TOTAL LIABILITIES |
4,141 ______ 4,141 |
3,700 ______ 3,700 |
The above accounts have been approved by the Trustees of Dorking & District U3a and signed on their behalf by:
…B Sinclair………………………………..- Hon Secretary – Dorking & District U3a
Date …9 July 2025……………………….