Trustees’ Report. 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
For all use of the word clubs it should be taken as meaning any club, activity or association using the Trust facilities.
During this financial year the trustees looked to a plan of necessary maintenance only, financed both from income and grant funding. This continued to be with regard to the financial difficulties faced by clubs as membership numbers whilst improving are still down on pre-pandemic numbers and increasing electricity costs which had to be planned for.
Opening Balance at bank of current, deposit and grant accounts £16262.83 Closing Balance at bank of current, deposit and grant accounts £ 20584.25 Giving a small increase in total fund of £4,321.42
The increase in funds currently held is due to the Tennis club holding a retention of work done under grant funding of £970 (payment pending until satisfactory performance of work has been shown), and a reduction in non-vital maintenance to help compensate for the over spend during the covid period. Trustees are taking on more duties concerned with the maintenance of both the centre and the outside facilities. These are all unpaid for which they should be thanked. External volunteers have been looked for but with the exception of one or two people who give a great deal of time and effort for which the Trustees give great thanks and appreciation finding volunteers from within the village is proving difficult on a regular basis.
Coming out of the pandemic has still been causing erratic re-uptake membership of clubs this has continued to impact income and has meant a necessary re-appraisal of club charges. Most clubs are now operational but with continuing reduced numbers of participants.
Meeting of the Membership Committee has continued to be postponed due to difficulty in finding sufficient people able to represent smaller clubs, however these are due to restart in May 2023 and will be under the guidance of the Chair of Trustees until they are in a position to appoint their own Chair and Secretary. The Constitution of the Trust is being looked at with a view to modernising and being representative of current village clubs, activities and associations, as this has not been done since the original set up in 1948. Progress on this and submission to the Charities Commission is expected in the year 2023-2024
A year of continuing austerity is planned for next year with only essential work being undertaken along with improvement work for which grant funding has been obtained. The main area of concern on costs is the rapidly increasing cost of electricity which
impacted the trust in December when the current contract ran out. With an estimated rise in costs of up to 300% work has been done to find the best option supplier and a new contract has been signed to start April 1[st] 2023.
Negotiation with clubs over necessary price rises to cover increased costs – mainly electricity – has been undertaken during January and February with agreement with the majority of clubs, the football club still being outstanding. These prices have been agreed as interim charges until the effect of electricity with the new supplier, and renegotiated insurance costs are known. The interim period ran from 1[st] January to 31[st] March, and necessary discussion will be held with all clubs once the new charges settle down and a better idea of cost need exists. Due to the fact that the initial months of the new charges for electricity will come in the summer months it is hoped that the interim increases will not have to be rediscussed until the end of 2023.
Looking forward longer term, the trustees are still looking into improvements to changing facilities and provision of all weather facilities to enhance the Trust’s offering to disabled, elderly, female, and the young people of the village. The trust is also considering possible changes to heating and electricity supply to the Centre for both economic and ecological reasons – grants for possible options will be looked into for these. There are also plans to assist children unable to access the internet at home, and for provision of internet facilities for elderly people who do not have a service and feel they would like some assistance with online activities, e.g. car insurance, attendance allowance, facetime.
The trust has not historically run its own events but it is hoped that for fundraising purposes and for making the Centre more part of village life. These will be started on a mixed variety of events as trials for what may be most effective going forward. It is expected that these will start in Summer of 2023.
Susan Taylor Treasurer and Trustee
WINKLEIGH WAR MEMORIAL RECREATION FIELD
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 MARCH 2023
ASSETS
Winkleigh Sports Field
Total Land assets
| Liquid Funds 210168 Current Account 1025550 Grant funding Account 7102018General Reserve Account Total |
£7,293.58 £1,270.31 £12,020.36 |
|---|---|
| £20,584.25 |
Total Gross Assets
Less Long Term Liabilities
Total Liabilities
Net Assets
£1,000.00
£1,000.00
£20,584.25
£21,584.25
£0.00
£0.00
£21,584.25
WINKLEIGH WAR MEMORIAL RECREATION FIELD ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees/Members of Winkleigh War Memorial Recreation Field on accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 set out on pages 1 and 2.
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act)
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act), and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the 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 accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act); and
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the Act; or
- 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
N R Blackmore & Co Accountants 7 Knighthayes Walk, Exminster, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8TU
17 May 2023