2025-03-31-accounts - Tunbridge Wells u3a

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS u3a

Charity No: 1018835

Annual Report & Financial Statements For the year ending 31st March 2025

www.tunbridgewells.u3asite.uk

Chairman’s AGM Report

We can look back at the past year as one of success, with the continued smooth operation of our established programmes of activities and events, and achievement insofar as planned key ‘projects’ are concerned.

We implemented a new website around the beginning of calendar year 2025, thanks largely to the work of Ian Graham, assisted by Nola Marshall. Our website is now based on the more modern ‘platform’, called SiteWorks, which most u3as around the UK are using. And thanks largely to the efforts of our Treasurer Mike Duckett, we have established a charity account with Microsoft, so that all committee members have access to the Office software package at no personal cost. We are starting to use a proper email service for our u3a that is allowing role-based email addresses to be set up using our domain name (twu3a.org.uk).

In February we again recognised the work of our many volunteers, you could say the core of our u3a, with a lunch at the TW Masonic Hall; about 100 attended, and they were very informatively and lively addressed by Chris Murphy of the TW Repair Shop. The lunch, delivered by the catering team at the Masonic Hall, kept to the high standards we have come to expect of them, and many judged the event to be a great success.

Within our u3a ‘fold’, ‘shepherded’ in by our Membership Secretary Judy Horwood, are over1,100 members. Of these, about 150 members volunteer in various ways across our u3a, including those who organise group events, as well as membership-wide ones, and the behind-the-scenes teams for audio-visual facilities, publicity and promotion, gazebo operations, refreshments, greeting and meeting, Beacon membership records, website support, and flower embellishments. We are grateful for all they do.

We are thankful to our Newsletter Editor Bridget Sands, for continuing to keep us aware of planned and completed events, such as the short breaks (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.

Philippa has offered to continue to serve as our Events Coordinator, while Joan steps down from the committee this month having excellently served for six years, while kindly offering to continue to organise day trips outside of the Committee.

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, much of what goes on in our u3a, is undertaken by our interest 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 go to our Secretary Sian Shaw, who makes sure we have an effective calendar and locations agreed for our key events, and the Deputy Chairman Fiona Findlay, for her counsel and stepping in when I couldn’t be present.

Above all, I am always pleased 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. May we continue to so work together for the mutual benefit of members in the year that lies ahead.

Chris Woodward

Treasurers Report 2024 – 2025

As of March 31[st,] membership was 1,106 and is now at pre-pandemic levels. The higher membership together with a very active groups and outings programme resulted in increased income of £21,490.

Total income was £67,666 compared with £46,176 in the prior year.

Subscription, gift aid and donation income at £20,776 was £1,316 up on the previous year.

Total expenditure was £67,448 compared with £42,327 in the previous year, resulting in an overall surplus of £218.

Third Age Trust affiliation costs at £7,690 increased by £1,117 compared with the previous year and will increase further this year to £8,342. The increases, although related to membership numbers, were also caused by a correction in the number of members receiving the Third Age Trust magazine.

£1,964 was spent end expensed on capital items in the year to help with publicity, improve efficiency and reduce future costs particularly printing.

The introduction of online joining has been a great success with over 50% of all new members joining online and has reduced workload and cost.

As of 31[st] March, total funds were £41,903, £5,959 of which is ring fenced for groups and future events.

The Executive Committee recommends that the subscription income for the membership year commencing September 2025 remains at £16.00 per annum.

A Financial Policy detailing responsibilities and procedures has been written and approved by the Executive Committee.

M R Duckett Treasurer Tunbridge Wells u3a

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Tunbridge Wells u3a
Statement of All Accounts
2024/25 2023/24
Income
Membership 17,796 16,804
Gift Aid 2,729 2,627
Donations 251 29
Educational Visits 15,209 9,849
Groups 20,937 9,794
Events 9,487 6,386
Interest 865 677
Other 392 10
Total Income 67,666 46,176
Expenditure
Third Age Trust 7,690 6,573
Central Expenses 8,457 4,557
Bank Charges 486 483
Monthly Meetings 2,524 2,589
Educational Visits 16,108 10,056
Groups 19,795 9,779
Event Expenses 11,996 8,290
Other 392
Total Expenditure 67,448 42,327
Surplus 218 3,849
Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2025
Previos Year Carry Forward 41,685 37,836
Surplus 218 3,849
Year End Balance 41,903 41,685
Represented By
CAF Bank 7,129 5,062
Savings 34,774 36,423
PayPal 200
Total Funds 41,903 41,685
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