Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/09/2022 Period start date To 31/08/2023 Period end date
Charity name: University of The Third Age Lancaster and Morecambe Charity registration number: 1014076
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The Objectives of this U3A are to advance the education of retired and semi-retired people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area by providing activities of a mental, physical and social nature for its members. It is a self-help organisation open to all such persons as defined above without discrimination |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
In fulfilling these objectives, the Trustees are aware of and act according to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, by providing a wide range of activities organised by members for Members within Groups and giving advice on other sources of education which may be appropriate. The U3A holds two meetings each month, open to all members, with regular special talks, at which paid speakers address members on a wide variety of subjects. A considerable number of members take active roles in the organisation, including teaching and assisting learning, organising meetings and activities for membership groups, helping communications between members, and providing refreshments at meetings. All roles within the charity are voluntary. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | All trustees were inducted into the role of Trustee following the guidance issued by the Charity Commission, including the acceptance of the Code of Conduct for Trustees. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Other | N/A |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | GROWTH: Lancaster and Morecambe U3A has sustained its membership since the COVID difficulties in 2020-2022 and has continued to develop in ways that ensure its future sustainability. Our groups and activities include both on-line and in- person meetings. We have increased the number of groups and activities and this is reflected in a welcome increase in turnover of 16%. Our membership remained stable this year. ACHIEVEMENTS: Communication with such a large number of members is helped by the Beacon Management System which is part of our administrative processes and practices. Our website is well maintained with relevant and current information, and its content is easily accessible to members and prospective members. This year we have set up a specific Inclusion Team (AIDE – Accessibility Inclusion Diversity Equality) to promote practical ideas and events which may draw in members with individual needs and abilities. EXTENDING EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY LINKS: We promote non- U3A educational activities at our Monthly Meetings as well as through the Newslink section on our website. We have informal links (through some group leaders and other members) with local interest groups and activities. The publicity group continued to keep in contact with the community through a new YouTube video, public Facebook page, and articles in local newspapers. We have continued our links |
with Lancaster University’s Faculty of Health and Medicine. LINKS WITH OTHER U3As: We are a member of the Bay Network (U3A), which is a liaison group with declared aims to be a forum for the exchange of news, information, events and ideas; to encourage links between interest groups of the member U3As; and to encourage minority interest groups which are difficult for individual U3As to support. Members of Lancaster and Morecambe U3A have supported the Third Age Trust at National and Regional levels. EVENTS: We continued to hold regular and well attended monthly meetings in both Morecambe and Lancaster. Members continue to have a very wide choice of groups, lectures and activities in which to engage, as well as the opportunity and support to set up new groups if they so wish. CONCLUSION: Our U3A is composed solely of volunteers. By providing and taking part in a wide range of learning opportunities – creative, academic and physical – these volunteers help protect themselves against loneliness and ill health as they grow older, while benefiting the wider community both by encouraging younger members to join and promoting educational and recreational activities throughout the wider community.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The L&M u3a financial position is healthy and stable. This year, as part of our recovery from the COVID difficulties, we drew down a little from our operating reserves in order to encourage membership renewals and recruitment by holding membership contributions stable despite some increases in costs. This will be reviewed in the next financial year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The L&M u3a holds a reserve fund in an account recommended by the Charities Commission with the aim of covering unforeseen contingencies. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £10,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Income is generated from annual membership subscriptions and from event and group attendance fees. This is specifically to cover room hire and incidental expenses and the provision of technical expenses as needed by the groups. We claim Gift Aid refunds from HMRC each year. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | There are no major risks but the constantly increasing costs of room hire and potential increase in Third Age Trust contributions are both being monitored. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated Association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Since a change in the constitution in October 2022 the number of trustees shall be not less than 5 and not more than 15. Up to 12 Trustees may be elected for a term of 1 year by the membership present, or voting by proxy, at the AGM in February each year. There are 4 officers - chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer - who are normally directly elected each year by the annual general meeting. The existing trustees may co-opt additional trustees (up to the maximum overall trustee numbers of 15) to serve until the next annual general meeting. There are limits to both the continuous and overall periods that officers and committee members may serve on the committee to ensure that the committee membership is refreshed periodically. The 2022 constitution contains a 3-year transitional arrangement for the terms of trustees who had been elected for different periods under the previous constitution. Trustees receive “The Essential Trustee: what you need to know” document (Charity Commission) and have a training session before taking on responsibilities. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | Induction courses are held for new trustees before and after election to the post. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | University of the Third Age Lancaster and Morecambe |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Lancaster and Morecambe U3A |
| Registered charitynumber | 1014076 |
| Charity’s principal address | 10 Coolidge Avenue, Lancaster LA1 5EH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Howorth | Chair | Membershipat AGM | ||
| MaryWaters | Vice Chair | 01.09.2022 – 28.02.2023 | Membershipat AGM | |
| Sharon Garforth | Vice Chair | 28.02.2023 – 31.08.2023 | Membershipat AGM | |
| Nigel Cole | Treasurer | Membershipat AGM | ||
| Elizabeth Battersby-Hill |
Secretary | 01.09.2022 – 28.02.2023 | Membership at AGM | |
| Clive Million | Secretary | 28.02.2023 – 31.08.2023 | Membershipat AGM | |
| Peter Jenner | Membershipat AGM | |||
| David Downes | Membershipat AGM | |||
| Jill Grindey | Membershipat AGM | |||
| Margaret Hemming | Membershipat AGM | |||
| Malcolm Hemming | Membershipat AGM | |||
| Christine Jenner | Membershipat AGM | |||
| Lyn Summers | 01.09.2022 – 28.02.2023 | Membershipat AGM | ||
| Ruth-Ann Leak | 28.02.2023 – 31.08.2023 | Membershipat AGM | ||
| Pauline Horrocks | 28.02.2023 – 31.08.2023 | Membershipat AGM | ||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Clive Million Full name(s) Clive Million Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc) Date 14 December 2023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES 1014076 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forih& tth<)d To Section A Receipts and payments UnrÈstrietÈd fundi Total funds Last year A1 R8e•lpts Xl,$11 19291 Gfftaid FlefurKI GpactIbe5 onthly arny Srci¥ LKIw8S 18cell¥tyJ$ 2,628 15.330 1706 Fid INo2P(rnrrti Sub tolal(Gross MJconR lor AR) 71,798 71,rn 61.769 Ise8 tsblel. Sub total 71.758 71.79B 61.769 Third AgeTrusi Fee5 In5 & cON[er & Dew F5 9215 9215 349 4702 4510 5.091 GrpbeS MDnthly atKI SpeLia Fidd Sluty INo2knxrt) 21.620 21.61) Sub total UrChas. (see table) Sub total 62.016 Ple¢ ofrewpW(paynwnts) . AS Transfer5 between funds A6 Cash funds last year •nd Cash funds thls yearend 1.764 247 $0.877 50.630 CCK< Rl accoLEnts ISS) 3011012023
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted Restrlct•d funds funds to n8•restt Endowm•nt funds to war8St£ B1 Ca8h fund8 4321 10. 41866 Endowment fund5 to nearest£ fund5 fuFK to nErnt£ to Currertvalue FurMI knwlNch DetsTIs B4 A8eets retained for the chaiitys own us• FuTrJto ¥rt Ditails B5 Liabilities SvJned by ore orlwo trL15tees on tehaif of all Ihe trustee5 SignalurE Prwrt Name Date of roval 3111012023 Nlgel Cole 3111012023 CCXX R2 ac£ounts ISSI 30iion023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examinef s Report Report to the trusteesl members of LANCASTER & MORECAMBE U3A On accounts for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2023 Charity no {11 any) 1014076 Set out on pages I report to the Injstees on my examination of the accounls of the above charity {Xhe Trust") for the year ended 3 1 OP 2023. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparation basis of report of the accL)unts in accordance wtth the requifetnents ol the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in ¢arying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charily Commission under section 14515)(bl of the Ad. I have completed my examination. I confirTn thal no material matters have come to my attention ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordan wilh section 130 of the Ath or the a¢xounls do not accord with the accounting records I have no ¢oncems and have wme across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not appty. Independent examiner's stalement Signed: Date: 31 October 2023 Name: ALAN JOHN MEIKLE Relevant professional qualification{sl or body (If any): FCA Address: Summerdale. Head Dyke Lane. Pilling PRESTON PR3 6SJ IER Ociober 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters ol concem {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners}. Give here briet delalls ol any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER October 2018