Annual Report of the Chair to the Heather Club AGM 2025
The last year has largely been dominated by our being awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Services. However, the process was equally as useful, as the receipt of the actual award.
During the judging process we were heartened to find out that the independent judges felt that we largely had everything in place, but there were undoubtedly some areas that needed closer inspection and consideration.
The Trustees took this forward and developed a blueprint to make the necessary changes.
One Trustee undertook to assess all our policies and to ensure that these have been updated accordingly any that were missing and might be expected by the Charity Commission, were written and adopted.
The website felt dated, with some information that needed to be brought up to date, one trustee undertook a review, and made some recommendations that could be implemented immediately, and thanks to the generosity of one of our members we will soon be in a position to unveil a brand-new website, with one dedicated Trustee to oversee future updates of both this and our social media.
Close scrutiny of our accounts has enabled us to better understand how we can manage our finances in these challenging times and whilst currently we are happy with our position, we have put in place a forecast with indicators that will flag up if any actions are required in the future.
Our key focus is to encourage new members which provides us with a 'win/win', generating more income from subscriptions and seeing more people benefitting from what the club has to offer. We have therefore formulated a marketing and communications plan to increase membership numbers which trustees have approved, and we are in the process of implementing.
It is important that the Heather Club is constantly looking for ways to improve, and following much research and discussion, we are about to launch our offering of four free places per week, for those experiencing financial hardship. This will be initially introduced as a trial, after which we will consider what the next steps should be.
The Heather Club underwent a significant transformation with a new manager taking over the reins. Fortunately, with the support of the assistant manager and the volunteers, the transition was enacted smoothly, and our members experienced no disturbance to their routine.
Finally, no report from the Heather Club would be complete without acknowledgement of the hard- working volunteers, who are the main reason that we were given the King’s Award for Volunteering. Week after week our volunteers donate what amounts to one or two days a week to keep our members smiling and engaged, whilst trustees donate their time and expertise. This results in an unbeatable team, worthy of their King’s Award for Volunteering.
The Heather Club Income & Ex enditure Statement Janua to December 2024 2024 2024 INCOME EXPENDITURE Donations & Grants Members Subs HCF Grant Luton Airport Grant Other Grant Donations Trading Income Other Income 34.379.00 19.085.12 2.200.00 490.56 Meals Rent Refreshments Transport Mini Bus Club Activities Entertainment OutingslActivities 10,346.61 5,038.50 562.53 4.121.04 310.00 3.256.80 169.92 224.23 Bank Interest Investment interest Gift aid Bank transfers Cash & cheques rec'd 133.75 Gifts Other Expenses Insurance l HR DBS Checks 612.22 264.50 424.00 Staff Admin Admin Manager employment costs Driver employment costs 544.80 Total Income 61,501.61 796.82 27.734.21 2.701.70 Advertising Training bank charges Accountant Telephone Other Expenses 190.00 90.96 1,492.15 Total Expenses 53,667.81 Opening Bank balances as at 111124 Treasurers A/C Savings A/C 48.695.80 10.113.74 Plus total income Less Expenses 61.501.61 53,667.81 Closing balance 66,643.34 Breakdown of closing balances as at 31112124 Treasurers A/C Investment Alc Total 35.725.07 30,918.27 66,fA3.34 Variance
Inde endent Examiners Re ort to the Trustees of the Heather Club I report of the accounts of the Heather Club Regtstered Charity 1015598 forthe year ended 31 December 2024 as follows: Res ective res onsibilities of trustees and examiner Examine the accounts lundersection 145 of the 2011 Act) To followthe procedures laid down in the general direecions gNen by the charity commissioners (under section 145 (5) (bl of the 2011 Act) and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of inde ndent examlners re My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions by the Charty Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compari50n of the accounts psented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Inde endent examiners ststement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respectthe requirements a. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 act; and b. To prepare accounts which accords with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 act have not been met or 2. To which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Sandra Melli5h FCCA SJ Mellish Accountancy Services Ltd Imex Centre {B1zspaI 575-599 Maxted Road Hemel Hempstead HP2 7DX