Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01.01.2023 To 31.12.2023
Charity name: Chelmsford University of the Third Age (u3a)
Charity registration number: 1027234
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full time work, by all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Chelmsford and surrounding district. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Over the past year our u3a has continued to provide the people of Chelmsford and surrounding district with many opportunities to come together, learn new things, and stay physically & mentally active during their later years. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have encouraged and enabled people no longer in full time paid employment to help each other to share their knowledge, skill, interests and experiences. The Trustees have promoted the values of lifelong learning and the positive attributes of belonging to a U3A. The Trustees have done all they can to ensure that people wanting to join a u3a could do so. Part of the committee’s focus last year was about making sure that our u3a has sound policies and procedures for all to follow. For example the committee produced an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy and appointed a lead for identifying improvement in these areas. An Action Plan was produced will be reviewed regularly by the committee, |
The Trustees have attended membership recruitment events that should drive new members from other backgrounds. A statistical analysis of members backgrounds will be done every 2 years using a voluntary questionnaire so we can monitor progress.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | We are indebted to our Group Leaders who take on responsibility for the operation of our Interest Groups. They have generated a number of good ideas including promoting the groups to both new and existing members, making them accessible to members of other u3a’s, and ensuring that new Groups are started when existing ones become full. Our monthly members meetings have run smoothly thanks to a band of volunteers who help set up the room, serve refreshments and assist in preparing social activities such as quizzes, raffles and games. One of our members was successful in his application for the role of Trustee in the East of England Region. He will serve as a Director on the Board of the Third Age Trust. Another of our members was ‘talent spotted’ by the Third Age Trust and has joined a national committee that reports to the trading arm of the Trust. He is giving them the benefit of his experience in financing and costing especially when it comes to marketing. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Our current membership stands at 578, which is 42 more than this time last year and is finally back to pre-pandemic levels. The Trustees consider it is vitally important that we expand our Interest Group Offer so that more of our members have a chance to come together to learn new things and remain physically and mentally active. We have made significant progress in this respect and now have a total of 39 different Interest Groups. The trustees have assisted our members to start up five new groups last year: Summer Evening Walks; Sewing, Crochet & Knitting; the Jazz & Blues Group; a discussion group and our very first group that uses Social Media to operate – Photographs on Facebook. The initial start-up costs for several of these groups were met from our reserves. The Trustees also consider it is important to engage with new members within 6 months of them joining, in order that they feel both welcome and valued. With this in mind two ‘New Members’ meetings were arranged last year, one in May and the other in November. These meeting provided the ideal opportunity to find out what interest there was in setting up new groups and to impress upon the attendees the guiding principles of the u3a and make sure they understood that they each have a part to play (however small), in the running of their u3a. The Trustees agreed to provide financial support to several groups who were finding it hard to remain viable to due slow take up by the members and rising expenses such as hall hire and speaker costs. |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | £18088 |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Some funds accumulated during the Covid pandemic, we are using this gradually each year. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £11233 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution adopted 10 February 2022 |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated Association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The charity elects or re-elects up to 12 Trustees (including officers) at each Annual General Meeting in February. The elected trustees may, at any time, co-opt up to 3 trustees until the next annual general meeting and may reappoint such co-opted trustees for one additional 12 month period. The ofcers are elected by the trustees at their first meeting from among their number (this includes any co-opted trustees). |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Charity is affiliated to the Third Age Trust. The Trustees have the powerto to co- operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities and to exchange information and advice with them and in particular with other u3as, clusters of u3as and The Third Age Trust. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Chelmsford University of the Third Age |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Chelmsford u3a |
| Registered charity number | 1027234 |
| Charity’s principal address | |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LesleyWood | Chair | |||
| David Sweeney | Vice Chair | |||
| Edmund Wood | Treasurer | |||
| Marie Neale | Secretary | |||
| Diane Read | Membership Secretary |
|||
| Wendy Hubbard | Beacon Administrator |
|||
| Lynn Regan | Newsletter Coordinator |
|||
| Brian Littlechild | Committee Member | |||
| Nick Bailey | Committee Member | |||
| Ann Bell | Committee Member | |||
| David Marsh | Committee Member | |||
| Geoff Swaine | Events Organiser | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole ear
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
Income & Expenditure as at 31st Decwnber 2023 Membershw Subs Visitors OonatioTrs 6.749.L 6.167.(Y) 716.11 831.45 1.914.27 19. 118.LK¢ 215.tXJ &5.10 21.60 11.92 9.390.33 Grfld Bank Intsre5t Copse 274.84 108.(Xl Diaries Sundri8S Total EXPENDuRE 738.32 1.664.C 1,987.9) 143.88 115.36 935 (Kl 216.34 196.10 1.389.70 I.OT2.C 1.602.42 191.88 215.C 826 80 256.75 209.60 .27 Hall Hirs Speakers NeWstter Print Stsmps Third Mattsrs Website 521 (M) 214.16 Travel Adtnin Athefbsing Raffle Prrzes tliare5 Baftk ChaFg85 Chnstmas East8r 176.45 144.C 138.66 159. 41_25 1n.99 414.49 278.40 740.15 124.40 867.77 310.¥ 4164.24 30th Anniversary Group Suw)rt Sundries Total t4et SurpluslD•fiGitlorthp YoHr 868.31 213.93 273.C 689.19 31.04 9.208.¥ 181.41 9.390.33 10.355.86 -1.769 59 A¢wmuLed FurJ as at 1st January F¥¥)rYear Adjustrnent Net Surplu51D8fiat fwthe Year Attumulated Fund 88 at 318t 13,C4J3.07 12,821. -1.769.59 11,233A8 181.41 13,003.07 Ropresented By CUnt Alc DepositNJc 659.31 17,428.97 1,933.93 15.rn.13 18.1)88.28 17.713.Ck8 6.854.80 4.709.99 6854 8 11.233A8 47D9.99 13.003.07 Treasurer Eddi8 Wcxxl D* JamJary2024 by Maurmxvan 18
x CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's FOR ENGLAND AND WALES report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner’s Report
ReportP to the trustees/ | Charity Name members of Chelmsford University of the Third Age (u3a) On accounts for the year | 31 December 2023 Charity no | 1027234 ended (if any) | Set out on pages| 1 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) |
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| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023.
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Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). | report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
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Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body. (if any): Address: 117 WATCHED S Ea cof
IER
1
October 2018
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Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose.
IER
2
October 2018