DURHAM COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S INSTITUTES theWI INSPIRING WOMEN ANNUAL REPORT Year ending 30th September 2025 Charty Rgg. No. 1010819 VA T￿g No 7T/2635 42 R6gk¥ered i) England & Wal8s- CompgnyNo 2675573 Rggthred 0￿ - MHouse. Barnfield Rtsad, spen￿￿00r, DL16 6EB Durham Count Federation Of Wls Chairman's Re ort I have been welcomed as your County Chair by many Wl members and have enjoyed your meetlngs, your blrthdays and your Group meetings. I thank you all for yourfriendship and support. As our Office Administrator resigned at the beginning of this financial year, it has been necessary for the Federation office at Wl House to be run by dedicated members of the Board of Trustee5, who have used their skill and expertise to keep everything running smoothly. We have used 5avin8s from staff costs and money from grants for internal improvements to Wl House a5 well as resurfacing the carpark. Visitors to Wl House will have seen and benefitted from these improvements. We are working towards ernploying a member of staff and hopefully the Trustees will soon be able to hand overthe clerical work. The Federation Team have continued to host regular events such as the annual Chairman's Lunch, the Carol Service. our Grand Days Out and our Dabble Days. We provlde re8ular events at Wl House, Spennymoor, where members can update their ski115, learn new ones or just 8et tO8ether to enjoy Wl food and conversation. Both our Spring Annual Meeting and ourAutumn Council Meetin8 are well attended with members enjoying interesting speakers and the chance to meet up with members from other groups. The National AGM this year was virtual and Federation or8anised a 'Watch Party, at The Lssembly Room Theatre, Durham City where over IDO delegates and visitors gathered to watch the live streamed event. Our Membership Te3m ha5 opened two new Wls this year. however two Wls have suspended. therefore our number of Wls tn Durham County remains at 69. This is my final Chairman's Report as my 3 year tenure finishes at the beginning of April 2026. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be your County Chairman. Freda Laverick DCFWI Chair. THE DURHAhl COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S INSTITUTES DIRECTORS, REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 GDO &co GD(YHehlr&CO The Durham County Fod•rntlon of Womon's Inslitut•s Contents Page Report of the Trustees 1to3 Ind8pen(18nt Examinerfs Report Income and Expenditure Account Balan¢e Sheet 6t07 Notes to the Financial Statements 8t010 Detailed Statement of Financial Activrt 11to12 Tho Durham County Federation of Womfrn's Instltules R•port of the Trustee6 For Th• Yoar Endod 30 Se temb•r 2025 The tfustees who are also directots of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable lo charities preparing their accounts in accordance wilh the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffeclive 1 January 20191. OBJECTIVE8 AND ACTVITIES ObJedlve$ and alms The main purposes of the Womèn's Institute organisalion a￿ lo enable women who are interested in issues associated with njral life, induding arts, crafts and sciences, lo improve and develop conditions in rural life, to advanr their educatKJn in citizenship, in public questions both national and inlemational, in music, drama and other cultural subjects and in all branches of agriculture. handicrafts. home e¢onomi¢s, heaKh and social welfare. It seeks lo give women the opportunty of working through the Women's Institule organrsation, and of putting into p￿¢11¢8 those ideals for which it stsnds. In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have ¢onsider8d the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Slgnlfl¢ant activltle¥ During the period a significant numtrer of activities have taken place, both at Wl House and venues around the County. There were numerous ¢Rft workshops. quizzes, coffee mornings. walks, flower arranging and our regular monthty classes of crocheL knrtting and sewing. Trustees are mindful of the upkeep of Wl House and with this in mind are planning more acbvities in-house 50 a5 not to spend on high rental of other venues. ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable Actlvltles The support for events held during the period was good, with number5 up and even oversubscribed, however we undeT5tand that some of our members are still reluctanl to take part in activrties in large numbers so have concentrated on planning smaller workshops wrth this in mind. Our 300 club continues to be very popular as does our "Chairmans Lunch al Ramside Hall. Trustees and the Membershp Support Commillee are always activety looking for areas where new Wls could be established and two new Ws have been opened this year. FINANCIAL REVIEW Prfnelpal fvndlng sourc•s The principal fvnding sources are membership fees plus the surplus on events organised Ihioughoul the year, we were also fortunate enough to receive a refvrbishment grant via Durham County Council. whith amounted to £10,000.00, which enabled us to make improvements to the property on Barnr￿Id Road. Investrnent pollcy and oblectlves ReseTve funds are invested in Incoff* Bonds with the National Savings and the Cambndge and Counttes Bank, each of which the board feel is of little or low risk with a competitive rate of interest. Most of the Federal￿n money is invested in W House which is used for the benefit of the members who are encouraged to attend events and workshops hefvj there. Reservos pollcy The Federation aims to maintain minimum free reserves equivalent to 6 months staff costs and overheads. Page I Th¢ Durham County F•d•ralion of Women's Institutes Report of the Truslees For Th• Year End¢d 30 Se temb•r 2025 FUTURE PLANS The Board contlnues to look to fulure events to raise funds to support the work of the Federation. Current Trustees and committees are already working hard behind the scenes planning evenlslwoTkshops and outings for members, both new and exlsting, lo take part in. sUp￿rt will also conlinue lo all Wls to help increas& membership and gain t￿eT understanding from indivKlual Ws who may need help with ST issue5, in the ever-growing woHd of all things digital. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEPAENT Govorning do¢ument The charity is controlled by its goveming document, a deed of trust, and constltutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Compantes Act 2006. Rocruitment and appolntmont of now tnMt•es An election is held every three years for Trustees with the next being held in Spring 2026. Members are invited lo nominate any member who they think would be suitable for the position. a secret ballot is then held when every Wl has the right to vote for up to 12 members. The elected ￿rnber5 nomin8te members to be co-opted and up to 3 each year are invited to join the board., this enables them to gain experien￿ of the role before deciding rf they wish to stand for e￿I10Th at a future date. A new board has been appointed to commence in ApTI 2026 Organlsotlon•l structuve The Durham County Federation of Women's Institutes is governed by a Board of Trustees which consists of minimum of 6 members. inC￿ding elected memters and up to 3 ccpopted members. The Board of Tfustees elects its Chairman, two Vice Chainnen and Treasurer. The Board makes decisions relatsng to the Nnning of the Charity and the upkeep of IM HoLBe. The day-to-day operation of the Federation is Garried out by the Federation Secretsry who puts into actK)n the wishes of thè Board and refeis items back where netessary. Indu¢tlon and tralnln9 of n8w truste8s There is a Handb￿k wh￿h is 9Nen lo all Tntstees on appointffftnt. All Trustees must ¢onWete an online training programme offered by the National FederatN)n of Women's Institutes. Prior to the first meeting attended by new Trustees the current Chairman ouUine5 the procedures for meets.ngs and covers items such as confrjentiality. Wldor network The Durham County Federalion is affiliated to the N*"onal Federation of Women's Institutes, the hea&]uarters of which is in London. R•lated parties Wthin Durham County there are indiv￿ual Women's Inststules who are affiliated to the County Federation 8upports and encourages them in their ath"vitres. Risk Management The major risks identified by the Trustees have been reviebved and systems estsbllshed to miligate those risks. All activities arranged are evaluated from a financial viewpoint as well as ensuring Ihat they are within the objects of the Charity Page 2 The Durham County Federatlon of Women's Instltutes Report of the Trusts•s For The Year Ended 30 S• mb•i 2025 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered company number 02675573 IEngland and Wales) Regist•r•d Charity number 1010819 Registored offi¢• W l House, Barnfield Road Spennymoor Durham DL16 6EB TnBtees Mrs Freda Laverick Mrs Angela Dearfov8 Mrs Joyce Jackson Mrs Lesley Jerred Mrs Elaine Johnson Mrs Yvonne MacDonaki Mrs Susan Openshaw Mrs Andrea Palchett Mrs Dorothy Proud Mrs Denise Smith Mrs Aison Henry Mrs June Carr (Resigned 0910112025) Company sO¢￿￿ry Mr8 Angela Dearlove Independont Examln•r G. D. O'Hehir & Co Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants Suite 2, SM Business Centre Barnfield Road Spennyrnc