2023-03-31-accounts

Trustees Report 2022/2023

Trustees 2022 -23:

Chairman – Anne Vardy; Vice Chair – Andrew Williams; Business Secretary – Ian Harvey; Treasurer – Robert Lang; Membership Secretary- Nikki Cox; Communications Secretary – Ruth Kelly; Speakers' Secretary – Ann Webley; Committee member – Chris Boydell.

Proposed Trustees for 2023-2024

Chairman: Anne Vardy Vice Chair: Chris Boydell Business Secretary: Ian Harvey Treasurer: Richard Green Membership Secretary: Nikki Cox Communications' Officer: Ruth Sanders Committee Member – Policy Administrator: Robert Lang Committee Member – Speakers' Secretary: Ann Webley

Non Committee Roles – Thanks must go to the following for their efforts in supporting the operation of Cirencester u3a. Beacon Administrator: Andrew McKechnie Web design and online payment administrators: Nikki Cox, Peter Landless, Virginia Tatlioglu, Richard Green, Steve Fearn, Robert Lang and Andrew McKechnie Newsletter and News Bulletin editors: Margo Wallis and Bonnie Green Speakers' Secretaries: Ann Webley and Gill Faulkner

Further thanks must go to the Meeters and Greeters Group, Brian and Eunice Wells (refreshments supplies) and the various Groups that have been responsible for the refreshments at the monthly meetings. Special mention must also be made of Ian Harvey and Steve Fearn for keeping the Monthly Members Meetings viable with the Audio Visual management and Zoom support when needed.

All these members have worked steadily and willingly behind the scenes, keeping our u3a functioning smoothly.

Main Activities during the year. This year has been a celebration of thirty years of the u3a in Cirencester. Many members took part and helped organise the 30th anniversary events. • A tea party at the Ashcroft Hall with entertainment provided by u3a groups, as well as displays of groups' art, crafts and activities which was attended by 85 members.

• A picnic in St Michael's Park, under warm sunshine and clear skies allowed members to enjoy various activities such as petanque, netball, table tennis, kubb and croquet as well as relaxing in the shade for a picnic lunch. • A 30th Anniversary Commemorative booklet celebrating the past ten years was published and all members received a free copy. • Members were invited to plant a tree or more in their gardens or fields to be listed on the late Queen's Green Canopy Initiative. Over 354 trees were planted by our members this year and have been added to the list.

In addition to the 30[th] Anniversary events there were other activities during the year: • Our u3a took part in the Cirencester Health and Wellbeing week with a stall and displays in the Market Square. The event highlighted the opportunities and support for improving health and wellbeing. • A New Members' meeting was held in November with Group Leaders attending to chat to new Members and give them insights into the range of Groups offered by Cirencester u3a. • At the end of January a Group Leaders' Forum was attended by 26 Group Leaders. After an excellent discussion and sharing of ideas, the main issues raised were

• The need for deputies in groups to stand in for or take over when the Group leader is not available

• An active participation by members to align with the ethos of the u3a which is that members contribute to their groups to make a shared enterprise. • It was agreed that many groups are viable because these two points are part of the way they operate. • Following the trend of many other u3as, an online payment system for the renewal of members' subscriptions was introduced using Beacon and PayPal. Subscriptions can now be renewed via the Cirencester u3a website. This system will make financial transactions simpler and quicker for members, the Membership Secretary and the Treasurer. • Committee members have attended workshops run by the u3a National Office and the South West Region on topics covering Interest groups, Legal Issues, Beacon administration, Equality and Diversity, Membership, Safe guarding and Finance.

Statistics

700 members

50 active groups Three new groups were formed this year - Military History, Discussion, History of Art

Four groups closed - Astronomy, Recorders, Singing for All, History New members: 107 since May 2022

Members' Monthly Meetings

A wide range of topics were offered this year: Fraud Safety, The Woodland Trust, Elizabeth 1 through paintings, Walks along the Thames Path (several), Catherine of Aragon, Wildlife photography, Chivalry, and we'll never forget the two Hearing Aid Dogs who raced across the hall responding to the fire alarm.

The June meeting was postponed due to exceptional heat and the December meeting was postponed due to exceptional cold with snow and ice.

Finances

Our finances are sound. The membership fee has had to be raised from £10 to £12 to cover the rising costs

of venues, contributions to the National Office and the TAM magazine.

Robert Lang has been treasurer for three years and has made sure that we are in a very sound financial position. We thank him sincerely not only for his work as Treasurer, but for his constant support to committee members on all matters relating to finance.

We are delighted to have Richard Green in this role for the next year. Richard has experience of Treasurer duties and will take over from Robert following the AGM.

Andrew Williams is stepping down as Vice Chair. Andrew has been a valued member of the committee, always ready to delve into the many resources from National Office to support the committee and keep our u3a up to date with current regulations.

Going Forward – priority for 2023 – 24

Inspired by the National Office initiatives to improve communication with members

Cirencester u3a Committee will work to create a framework to improve dialogue with members

• To enable members to contribute to decision making and suggest ideas for the benefit of all members.

• To improve communication and support for Group Leaders

• To provide opportunities for members to see and understand the workings of Cirencester u3a, Groups and the Committee

• Taking on supporting roles to existing Group Leaders

• Shadowing / observing different Committee roles

• The aims being to encourage more participation in running Groups and Cirencester u3a overall

• Preparing for a smooth handover to a new committee in 2024 when four Trustee positions will have to be filled

Chair, Treasurer, Business Secretary and Membership Secretary

Sincere Thanks

The committee thanks all members for their support and involvement in this celebratory year. We look forward to another year of sharing experiences and learning with friends.

Anne Vardy Cirencester u3a Chair 25[th] April 2023

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Fairford and District U3a G A Dennis-Treasurer 4 Dynevor Terrace,Coronation Street,Fairford. GL7 4JD Report to the Trustees and Members of Cirencester U3a On the Accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2023. I report to the Trustees on rny examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2023. As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the account5 in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under s145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under 514515llbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect.. Accountin8 records were not kept in accordance with sertion 130 of the Act, or The accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I 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. Signed Date: May 5, 2023 Name: Geoff Dennis. ACMA