**Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date ~~a|~~ **From** 01 FEBRUARY 2023 **To** 31 JANUARY 2024 ~~a~~ Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Wells u3a ~~ee~~ **Other names charity is known by** Wells University of the Third Age ~~Pe~~ **Registered charity number (if any)** 1023275 ~~CT~~ **Charity's principal address** Rathdownie, Wookey Road, Wells **Postcode BA5 1NA** ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |**Trustee name**
~~ee es~~
~~es~~|**Office (if any)**
~~es~~
~~GC~~|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **
~~ee~~
~~GC~~|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**
~~GC~~| |---|---|---|---| |1 Susan Ann Revell
~~ee es~~
~~es~~
~~es~~|~~es~~
~~GC~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~GC~~
~~ee~~|Members
~~GC~~
~~ee~~| |Jennifer Anne
Williams
~~es~~
~~es~~
~~es~~|Administration
Secretary
~~GC~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~GC~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members
~~GC~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~| |Vivian Elaine Kelly
~~es~~
~~es~~
~~es~~|Minutes Secretary
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~
~~GC~~|Resigned 2 November
2023
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~
~~GC~~|Members
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~GC~~| |4 Ian Michael Lee
~~es~~
~~es~~
~~a~~|Treasurer
~~ee ~~
~~GC~~
~~ee ee~~|~~ee~~
~~GC~~
~~ee~~|Members
~~ee~~
~~GC~~| |Donald Branch
~~es~~
~~a~~
~~a~~|Chair
~~GC~~
~~ee ee~~
~~ee~~|Appointed as chair 2
November 2023
~~GC~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members
~~GC~~| |John King
~~a~~
~~a~~|~~ee ee~~
~~ee~~|Resigned 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members| |7 Jeanne Evans
~~a~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|Members| |8 Ann Brown
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~||Members
~~C~~| |9 Christine Lowe
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|Members
~~C~~| |James Antony
Crawley
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~a~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Resigned 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members
~~C~~| |Janice Elizabeth
Crawley
~~a~~
~~a~~
~~es~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Resigned 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members| |12 Marian Harding
~~a~~
~~es~~
~~ae~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Members| |Caroline Foster
~~es~~
~~ae~~
~~ae~~|Minutes secretary
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Appointed 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|| |Michael Calverley
~~ae~~
~~ae~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Appointed 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|| |Alan Sanderson
~~ae~~
~~ee~~
~~ae~~|~~ee ~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Appointed 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|| |Peter Evans
~~ee~~
~~ae~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Appointed 2 November
2023
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|| |17
~~ae~~
~~GO~~|~~ee~~
~~GO~~|~~ee~~
~~GO~~|~~GO~~| |18
~~GG~~|~~GG~~|~~GG~~|~~GG~~| 19 20 **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** **Name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of adviser Name Address** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** ## **Description of the charity’s trusts** Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charity Trust How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Trustees are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting by Trustee selection methods members. On November 3[rd] 2023, members voted their approval of the (eg. appointed by, elected by) officers, reports and accounts and elected the duly nominated trustees. Voters’ eligibility was checked and verified against the membership records. Trustees are confirmed in their officer role at the next full meeting of the trustees. How the charity is constituted - (eg. trust, association, company) ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: - policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; Wells u3a continues to be affiliated to the Northern Somerset Association of u3a’s and trustees attend meetings regularly. Wells u3a has continued to keep abreast and involved with local events through its contact with the Wells Community Network, a Community Interest Company established to provide support to residents in Wells during and following the pandemic. - the charity’s organisational Wells u3a operates as a self-governing member of the Third Age Trust; in structure and any wider recognition of our corporate responsibility to good governance and network with which the charity transparency, we follow all the guidance provided by the Third Age Trust works; and implement the procedures and protocols that the TAT recommends. - • relationship with any related In discharge of that responsibility, we have introduced and regularly review, policies covering Privacy, Data Protection, Safeguarding, Equality - parties; Diversity and Inclusion, and Finance. All members agree to our Members - • trustees’ consideration of Code of Conduct on joining Wells u3a.We have procedures covering risk major risks and the system assessment and incident reporting. We publish our policies and and procedures to manage procedures on our website and encourage group leaders and members to them. familiarise themselves with our policies and procedures. ## **Section C Objectives and activities** |**Summary of the objects of the**
**charity set out in its**
**governing document**
**Summary of the main**
**activities undertaken for the**
**public benefit in relation to**
**these objects (include within**
**this section the statutory**
**declaration that trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit)**|The charitable purpose of Wells U3A is the advancement of education
and in particular the education of older people and those who are retired
from full time work, by all means, including associated
activities conducive to learning and personal development, in Wells and
its surrounding locality.| |---|---| ||Structure: Governance and Management
Wells u3a is a member of the Third Age Trust, whose national office is
Blackfriars Road London, and is governed by a registered constitution set
out by the Third Age Trust and approved by the Charity Commission and
adopted by Wells u3a in April 2018.
In order to administer our activities within laid down rules we appoint a
group of elected trustees who act as committee members who take on
various roles conducive to the successful running of an active member-
orientated organisation, with meetings held approximately every 6 weeks.
The Trustees are appointed or re-appointed annually at the Annual
General Meeting, observing the Third Age Trust recommendation of
serving no more than three years in a named post where possible.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or
other benefits (apart from acceptable expenses, for example for
stationery).
Objectives and Activities
To advance the education of retired people and those in their later years
not in full time employment, in Wells and the surrounding area. In
addition, leisure and recreational activities are arranged by and for
members throughout the year.
Members’ groups continue to offer an eclectic range of interests, with a
new German conversation group started in this year, adding to some 50
plus existing groups. All the groups reflect the passion and knowledge
that members are ready to share with fellow members. Members join
groups that cover topics that they are already familiar with or to learn
something entirely new.| Weekly coffee mornings have continued to offer a place to meet for prospective new members, as well as for existing members. These gatherings give an opportunity to meet face to face, to exchange news of events, and also to provide a listening ear for these who may require it. Monthly talks are held for all members where selected guest speakers present interesting and informative talks of a wide range of topics. These talks generally have capacity attendance. Representatives from some of the members’ groups were in attendance during our new members welcome day, to introduce themselves and share their particular interest. ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** Wells u3a is entirely dependent on its volunteers as the model for u3a promotes. Members share their knowledge, expertise or passion with fellow members contributing where they can, which has meant that most groups have continued to flourish, with planned succession in mind. You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. Section D Achievements and performance **Summary of the main achievements of the charity** We have seen the successful continuation of 50 plus interest groups **during the year** which provide education and stimulation for our members. Many members contribute to the groups that they have joined by offering talks and activities based on their own knowledge and expertise, or that they have undertaken to research, thereby expanding their own and fellow members knowledge and understanding. Members have started new groups reflecting their own specific interest and have encouraged other members to join them in learning something new. Most groups encourage discussion and full participation by all members is encouraged in a friendly and safe environment. Our Group Coordinator maintains an overview of the groups and is ready to step in with advice and support. New members’ open day held in June provided attendees with the opportunity to feedback on their experience so far and to meet some of the group leaders and trustees. In January we participated in Wells Community Day, where a Community stall highlighted Wells u3a achievements, and introduced our organisation to those unfamiliar with the benefits of belonging. Wells u3a worked hard to reduce loneliness and isolation amongst its members, and improve their mental and physical wellbeing, both in the groups that members attend and with weekly coffee mornings, but also by organising three social events during the year: a summertime ‘pizza and pud’ party, a Harvest Supper and a Christmas Lunch. All were heavily subscribed and enjoyed by everyone there. We learnt how to make paper lanterns and paraded our wonderful u3a paper lantern alongside other Wells residents in a fabulous Lantern Parade, which was a special occasion in the Wells calendar. Publicity and advertising have become important parts of our continuity and regeneration. We advertise our upcoming events and publish press releases describing completed events in local weekly and monthly newspapers and in the county newspaper and magazines. **Section E Financial review** **Brief statement of the** **charity’s policy on reserves** The Trustees believe that Wells u3a should maintain a contingency reserve of £5000.00 to meet obligations in the event of a drastic fall in income. **Details of any funds materially in deficit** None ## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: - the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); - how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; - investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. The principal source of income is membership subscriptions and gift aid on those subscriptions. The biggest outlays are the Third Age Trust capitation fees which Wells u3a pays in order to remain under the umbrella of the Third Age Trust, and Wells u3a Newsletters which are printed quarterly, to keep Wells u3a members informed of our groups’ current activities. The committee does keep under review the possibility of replacing the printed Newsletter with a digital version, but members’ opinion is strongly in favour of keeping a printed copy, both for ease of reference and in consideration of the danger of excluding digitally-poor members. Wells u3a continues to hand-deliver the quarterly newsletters, in order to avoid the cost of postage. A team of volunteers undertakes to deliver the newsletters within a couple of days of their receipt. This has proved to be very successful, both in terms of speed of delivery, and keeping printing costs more manageable. The Treasurer reports to the committee at every meeting with a spreadsheet of income and expenditure and a summary report. Any issues of concern are discussed and agreed by the committee. The main payments this year were for the Third Age Trust capitation fee, the Third Age Matters magazine which is received by the majority of members. (Third Age Matters is a Third Age Trust publication; members are invited to give their permission for their details to be passed on to a third-party distributor, or to opt out, which several do), the printing costs of the quarterly newsletters, and administration and training costs. Other sizeable outgoings were the rental of the lock-up garage to store larger assets and fees for the Wells u3a website facility and the TAT facilitated database, Beacon, necessary for the safe retention of member personal data. All groups are expected to meet their costs. Occasional exceptions are made if unexpected expenses have been incurred. ## **Section F Other optional information** Succession planning for Wells u3a committee and group leadership has been one of the main priorities for this year. We are mindful that in order to thrive we must plan ahead for seamless transitions and successful replacements. ## **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** ## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** J A Williams **Full name(s)** Jennifer Williams **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Administration Secretary **etc)** **Date** / 28/11/2024 / |**WELLS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE**|**WELLS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE**||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Registered Charity number : 1023275**|||||||| |**RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**|**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2024**||||||| ||**Unrestricted funds **|**Restricted funds**
**(See Note A)**|
**Designated Funds**
**Talks (See Note B)**|**-**
**Designated funds -**
**Groups (See Note**
**C)**|
**Designated funds -**
**Trips & Visits (See**
**Note D)**|

**Designated funds -**
**Socials (See Note**
**E)**|
**TOTAL**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
**£**|**£**|**£**| |**RECEIPTS**|||||||| |Conferences||151.50|||||**151.50**| |Donation|77.00||||||**£77.00**| |Gift Aid|712.50||||||**£712.50**| |Groups||||21670.96|||**£21,670.96**| |MonthlyTalks|||1584.00||||**£1,584.00**| |Social Events||||||6940.20|**£6,940.20**| |Subscriptions|10630.00||||||**£10,630.00**| |U3A merchandise - Trees|0.00||||||**£0.00**| |Visits and Trips|||||29050.50||**£29,050.50**| |**TOTAL RECEIPTS**|**£11,419.50**|**£151.50**|**£1,584.00**|**£21,670.96**|**£29,050.50**|**£6,940.20**|**£70,816.66**| ||||||||**£70,816.66**| |**PAYMENTS**|||||||| |3rd Age Trust incl Capitation Fees|-2660.90||||||**(£2,660.90)**| |Administration|-£766.34||||||**(£766.34)**| |AGM & Open Meetings|-430.35||||||**(£430.35)**| |Conferences||-151.50|||||**(£151.50)**| |Donations|0.00||||||**£0.00**| |Equipment and Resources(See Note F)|-763.95||||||**(£763.95)**| |Gifts|-227.09||||||**(£227.09)**| |Groups||||-20031.13|||**(£20,031.13)**| |Insurance & Licences|-143.88||||||**(£143.88)**| |Monthly Talks (Speakers & Expenses)|||-£902.33||||**(£902.33)**| |Monthly Talks Venue Hire|||-£427.68||||**(£427.68)**| |Newsletters|-2886.82||||||**(£2,886.82)**| |Refunds of Subs|-15.00||||||**(£15.00)**| |Other Printing|-190.60||||||**(£190.60)**| |Rent of Lock-up for Storage|-1038.18||||||**(£1,038.18)**| |Social Events||||||-7267.96|**(£7,267.96)**| |Training|-944.82||||||**(£944.82)**| |U3A Magazine “Age Matters”|-1189.36||||||**(£1,189.36)**| |U3A merchandise - Trees|0.00||||||**£0.00**| |Visits and Trips|||||-28318.90||**(£28,318.90)**| |Website & Beacon|-669.00||||||**(£669.00)**| |**TOTAL PAYMENTS**|(£11,926.29)|(£151.50)|(£1,330.01)|(£20,031.13)|(£28,318.90)|(£7,267.96)|**(£69,025.79)**| ||||||||**(£69,025.79)**| |**EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS**
**/PAYMENTS OVER RECEIPTS FOR THE**
**YEAR**|(£506.79)|£0.00|£253.99|£1,639.83|£731.60|(£327.76)|**£1,790.87**| ||||||||| ||||||||| |Bank balances at 1 February2023|£6,406.24|£2,840.70|£2,539.27|£6,214.58|£1,243.66|£86.38|**£19,330.83**| |Transfer from Unrestricted Funds|||||||| |Bank Balances at 31 January2024|£5,899.45|£2,840.70|£2,793.26|£7,854.41|£1,975.26|(£241.38)|**£21,121.70**| ||||||||**£21,121.70**| |**STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**|**AT 31 JAN 2024**||||||| |**Assets**|31-Jan-24|31-Jan-23|||||| |Bank Main Account|£16,523.18|£14,732.31|||||| |Bank no 2 Account|£4,598.52|£4,598.52|||||| |Total cash in Banks|£21,121.70|£19,330.83|||||| |Cash held byGroups||£768.07|||||| |PettyCash|£50.00|£50.00|||||| |Prepaid Expenses for Trips notyet taken||£553.00|||||| ||||||||| |**Liabilities**|||||||| |Cash held for trips notyet taken||£2,073.00|||||| |Cheques Outstanding||£174.00|||||| |Note A - These are Funds which are ring fenced for|a particular purpose by the donor||||||| |Note E - These are the regular events open to all on
Note F - Assets purchased this year included:
Note B - These are funds from attendance fees at t
Note C - These are funds from Groups to pay for th
Note D - These are trips and visits open to all mem|a first come first served basis, e.g. the Harves
he monthly talks, which are used to pay for spe
eir hire of premises and facilities.
bers on a first come first served basis, e.g. the||t Supper
akers and refreshments
St Fagans trip||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees and Members of the Wells University of the Third Age ( Wells u3a) ( Charity No. 1023275) on the Accounts for the Financial year ending January 31[st] 2024.** I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ( ‘The Trust’) for the year ended 31[st] January 2024. I have completed my examination and can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that the accounts did not accord with the accounting records in any material respect. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Jane E. Burman Date: 8[th] January, 2025