TUNBRIDGE WELLS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE
Charity No: 1018835
Annual Report & Financial Statements For the year ending 31st March 2024
http://www.tunbridgewellsu3a.org/
Chairman’s Report to the AGM on 20[th] June 2024
The year 2023/24 has been one of transition. Apart from my becoming chairman after the expertly executed terms of previous chairmen, particularly Eryll Fabian and Sue Brimlow, we have also transitioned to the regular use of the Tunbridge Wells Christian Fellowship (CWCF) Hall; although a few were concerned, most of us have found the CWCF Hall to have improved facilities as well as better ambience. (Hall hiring is one of the responsibilities of our busy Secretary, Sian Shaw.)
We have also seen transition from Rob Slater to Craig Forster, who joined just before he took up the baton for arranging our monthly talks; we are grateful for their service. And, then thrust upon us through the unexpected and untimely passing of David Brimlow, Treasurer and friend of many, we are about to transition to a new Treasurer, with the timely interim support of past Treasurer, David Scott.
Transitions lie ahead; an anticipated important one being the implementation of a new website based on the National u3a’s delivery of a new and more modern ‘platform’, called SiteWorks. The timing of this is not certain, as we are in the hands of the national team, but we have a core team in place to help ready ourselves; we hope to see our new website in place before the end of the 2024/25 year. Along with this we are hoping to implement a proper email service for our u3a that will allow role-based email addresses to be set up using our domain name (tunbridgewellsu3a.gov). And then we can move to get our data assets properly managed in a shared ‘cloud’ database.
In March we recognised the work of our many volunteers with a lunch at the TW Masonic Hall; about 100 attended. The lunch, delivered by the catering team at the Masonic Hall, was very tasty and a great success. Within our u3a ‘fold’, ‘shepherded’ in by our Membership Secretary Judy Horwood, are nearly 1,100 members. Of these, about 150 volunteer in various ways across our u3a, including those who organise group events, as well as membership-wide ones, and the behindthe-scenes teams for audio-visual facilities, publicity and promotion, gazebo operations, refreshments, greeting and meeting, Beacon membership records, website support. We are grateful for all they do.
We are thankful to our Newsletter Editor Bridget Sands, for keeping us aware of planned and completed events, such as our short breaks to Luxembourg in October 2023 and the Peak District in May 2024 (organised by Sandra McDonald and her team), day trips (organised by Joan Young and her team), as well as other membership-wide events (organised by Philippa Bernstein and her team) during the year. We are grateful for all those who participate in planning and bringing these events to fruition.
Our second monthly coffee morning hosted at the Old Auction House has added to
the success of our more well-known monthly coffee morning at the Trinity.
Of course, the core of our u3a, remains the 100+ groups, led by enthusiasts for whom we are most grateful, which cater (in some cases literally) for the interests of many of our members. Our Groups Coordinator Lindsay Hasell welcomes new ideas for adding groups to the existing portfolio.
My thanks must also go to the Deputy Chairman Fiona Findlay, for stepping in when I couldn’t be present.
Above all, it’s good to get together with members as colleagues and friends for lively chats and banter; I particularly thank members who keep an eye on the isolated. While sometimes things may not run as smoothly as we’d like, may we continue be positive in all we do and so overcome the challenges. May we continue to so work together for the mutual benefit of members in the year that lies ahead.
Kind regards
Chris Woodward
INTERIM TREASURERS REPORT 2023 – 2024
It is with sadness that it falls to me to present this Financial Report for 2023/24 following the sudden death of our previous Treasurer David Brimlow. David had been treasurer for five years since I retired from the position in May 2019. He has diligently carried out this task throughout that period, including through the COVID epidemic.
In March 2024 I assumed the role as Interim Treasurer, supported by my wife Jill Scott as Bookkeeper.
During David’s tenure, the reserves of Tunbridge Wells u3a have increased from £24,000 (2019) to over £41,000 (as at 31[st ] March 2024), growing by £3,624 over the past 12 months. This includes funds held on behalf of members of groups, outings, and events.
Overall, the income and expenses of the charity are marginally higher than the previous year. This largely reflect increased membership. There is a change in the relative amounts received and spent on the various member activities (Educational visits, Group activities and Events) organised by individual groups or on behalf of all members. However, the overall income and expenditure has remained stable. This may be due to timing of events and payments made.
As the Interim Treasurer, I have drawn some conclusions from the financial accounts prepared by David and completed by me over the last few weeks of this financial year.
Total Funds of the Charity
David was aware of the growth in the funds of our u3a and the need to manage these within the terms identified both by the National u3a and the Charity Commissions guidance. It will be up to the Management Committee as Trustees, guided by the new Treasurer to be elected at the AGM, to agree a policy for the future management of these funds and the best way they can be used to promote the objectives of the Tunbridge Wells u3a.
The Executive Committee recommends that the subscription for the membership year commencing September 2024 remains at £16 per annum.
Financial Controls
The National u3a, in line with guidance issued by the Charity Commission, have recommended that all u3as should have in place a written set of financial policies (and procedures). It will be the responsibility of the new Treasurer, with the support of the recently formed Finance Sub Committee, to formulate and recommend such a policy, and for the Executive Committee to approve it.
I wish to thank my wife, in her role as Bookkeeper, members of the Executive Committee and Sue Brimlow for their assistance during this difficult period. This enabled our normal Treasury functions to continue as we went through the necessary banking procedures and year-end reconciliations.
Finally, I wish the new Treasurer success in his important role as a Trustee of our Charity.
David A. Scott Interim Treasurer Tunbridge Wells University of the Third Age
Tunbridge Wells u3a
Statement of Accounts: all accounts
Income & Expenditure
1st April - 31st March
| Income & Expenditure 1st April - 31st March |
|
|---|---|
| Start year INCOME Membership Gift Aid Donations Educ Visits - Rcpts & Exp Groups Income, other Events Income Bank interest EXPENDITURE Affiliated Third Age Trust Central Expenses Bank Charges Monthly Meetings Group Educational Visits Groups Expenses Other Event Expenses Surplus Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2024 Carried forward from previous year Surplus for the year Year End Balance Represented by: CAF Bank PayPal / iZettle Savings TOTAL FUNDS |
2023/24 2022/23 16,631 16,124 2,627 2,507 29 468 9,849 13,305 9,794 7,674 6,386 4,803 451 102 |
| 45,767 44,983 6,573 6,634 4,528 5,276 309 532 2,589 2,715 10,075 12,100 9,779 8,081 8,290 6,508 |
|
| 42,143 41,846 £ 3,624 £ 3,137 37,836 34,699 3,624 3,137 £ 41,460 £ 37,836 5,062 6,874 200 200 36,198 30,762 £ 41,460 £ 37,836 |
Independent Examiners Report
I have reviewed the accounts of the TWu3a and am satisfied they are compatible with the requirements of section 30 of the Charities Act 2011. No matter has come to my attention which would indicate they do not comply with the requirements of the Act.
Independent Examiner: James Shah, Meekins Shah Accountancy Ltd
Date: a