Woking Area u3a Annual Report for the year ending 31" August 2025
Constitutional and administrative information
Woking Area u3a was established via a constitution in September 1993 and is registered with The Charity Commission (No. 1031717). The correspondent is the Secretary, Peter Grieve, whose address is 4 Church Close, Horsell, Woking, Surrey GU21 4QZ.
The trustees are the members of the committee, they are elected or re-elected annually by the members at the Annual General Meeting or appointed or co-opted by the committee in the interim. They are: Barbara Nicholson (Chair), Sue Holmes (Treasurer), Peter Grieve (Secretary), Anne Turvey (Venues Co-ordinator), Derek Hancock (Membership Secretary), Christine Maunders (Beacon administrator), Alan Chalmers (Special Projects), Philip Heaton (Groups Co-ordinator) and Christine Cunliffe (Events organiser).
The bankers are Barclays Bank pic, Woking and the independent examiner is Mr Phillip Smitham, 107 Old Woking Road, West Byfleet, KT14 6HY.
Objectives and organisation
Woking Area u3a is a self-help organisation for people who are no longer in full-time employment. Its primary objective is providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities for its members by its members. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the charity.
The committee usually meets monthly to review operational and financial matters. Meetings with Group Leaders and new members were held during the year while monthly meetings, open to all members, were maintained at St Andrew's Church, Goldsworth Park.
Overview
Membership on August 31 was 1,449 and rising, compared to 1,332 the previous August 31.At its peak there were over 1,600 members. More renewals and new members were expected as the academic year got into full swing. We have continued to maintain most of our groups, with thanks to all the Group Leaders who give their time to run them. A few have closed or merged but a number of new ones have formed. We will continue to promote the development of new groups.
Over the year, there has been a determined effort to get more members involved in the running of the organisation and to create a viable succession plan for the committee and groups.
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This is a constant battle, as it is in most charities, but the idea of group leaders having deputies is hopefully taking root and replacements for retiring committee members have been found, subject to election at the AGM, These were needed for the roles of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Venues Coordinator and Special Projects. The drive to have deputies at committee and GL level must go on and we will continue to encourage members to volunteer.
Many of our volunteers tell us how much they have enjoyed the experience, so it benefits them as well as the organisation.
Activities other than groups have blossomed and proved extremely popular. Quizzes, curry suppers and outings have been fully booked while plans for our first u3a holiday for some years are well under way, Committee members have given their time to arrange these but it would help if others could volunteer to help.
Also popular was the renewals day, held for the first time early in August. Around 100 members took advantage to renew, join or seek advice on joining groups.
Efforts have also been made to push the Woking Area u3a name into the public domain. A volunteer fair, run by Woking Council, was attended; a public Facebook page created and plans are afoot to resurrect the role of publicity officer. Efforts are continuing to optimise our online presence on Google searches, for example.
We have updated various policies, particularly on health and safety, and are in the process of revamping role descriptions which will be put on our website. The committee also sought to revamp our constitution, as times have changed since our last amendments in 2016. It was hoped to bring this for approval to the AGM but, as of August 31, this is looking unlikely, The committee has agreed the rewrite as has the Third Age Trust. However the Charity Commission has yet to give the go-ahead on three small parts which it has to approve.
We have as always continued to monitor our finances closely. There is more detail in the financial report but it is good to report that despite rising costs eating into our reserves this year, it was decided to keep the subscription charge and most group fees the same as in 2024-25.
The success of our u3a in 2024/25 is down to all the volunteers we do have. As well as the committee and Group Leaders, there are others who work in the background. These include our u3aTimes Editor, Nicole Scully, Speaker Secretary Martin Clark, Webmaster Kevin Wallace, Chris Bunyan and the IT team, Web Administrator and tea rota coordinator Tricia Breen, the AV guys, photographer Bob Holmes and the team who put together the Guide for Members. We owe them all a vote of thanks.
Looking ahead
Following the AGM there will be significant changes to our committee including both a new Chairman and Secretary. New people will of course bring new insight on how
best to manage our u3a but our priorities will remain the same of providing a vibrant u3a with enough volunteers to maintain our organisation in a changing world.
Financial
The attached accounts set out the financial position of Woking Area u3a as at 31* August 2025. The accounts show a deficit of £9,391 compared to a surplus of £6,223 for the previous year which is mainly as a result of reducing most meeting fees to £1 per session.
Income received from meetings was £42,955, a reduction of £16,062 from the previous year. Also, even though our membership has increased this year, so have our costs; primarily, venue hire, printing and postage and payments made to the Third Age Trust.
The accumulated funds for Woking Area u3a as at 31% August 2025 were £60,973 compared with £70,364 for the previous year.
The accumulated surplus will finance the continued reduction in the membership fee to £10 and the reduction in most meeting fees to £1.
Peter Grieve, Secretary (on behalf of the committee)
26" September 2025
Independent Examiner's Report
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Woking Area U3A, Charity number 1031717 (‘the charity"), set out on pages 4 to 6, for the year ended 31 August 2025,
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). | report in respect ofmy examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and, in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination that give me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of[the] Act; or
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« ‘the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations2008 other than any requirement that the accountsgive a “true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
P Smitham Chartered Accountant 107 Old Woking Road West Byfleet Surrey KT14 6GHY
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Woking Area U3A Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31st August 2025
| Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Incoming Resources | |||||
| Member subscriptions | 16,050 | 13,570 | |||
| Gift Aid and donations | Z | 2,694 | 2,420 | ||
| Group meetings contributions | 3 | 41,955 | 58,017 | ||
| Outings contributions | 4 | 47,561 | 31,968 | ||
| PPS | : | 3 | |||
| Commission | 719 | - | |||
| Interest | 2,245 | 992 | |||
| Other | 60) | - | |||
| Total incoming resources | 111,284 ————— |
106,970 SSS |
|||
| Resources Expended | |||||
| Third Age Trust and Membership system | |||||
| Capitation fees and Beacon | 5,188 | 7,422 | |||
| PayPal andSumLp fees | 384 | 5,572 | 296 | 7,718 | |
| Meeting Costs | |||||
| Venue hire charges | 48,353 | 41,527 | |||
| Monthlymeetings expenses | 1,364 | 1,688 | |||
| GL Expenses | 357 | 1,847 | |||
| Speakers | 802 | 50,876 | $90 | 45,652 | |
| Communications with members | |||||
| Third Age Matters | 6 | 6,451 | 7,484 | ||
| Printing | 3,503 | 2,391 | |||
| Postage, Phone&Website | 6,125 | 16,079 | 4,896 | 13,771 | |
| Cost ofOutings | 4 | 46,915 | 30,146 | ||
| Equipment | 198 | 198 | |||
| CLA | - | - | |||
| Retirement presents | 59 | 30 | |||
| Group LeaderandZoom Costs | 170 | 218 | |||
| 30th Anniversary Expenses | - | 187 | |||
| 30th Anniversary Meals | - | 2,045 | |||
| Bannersand Badges | 101 | - | |||
| Sundry expenses | 269 | 234 | |||
| Examiner's Honorarium | 100 | 100 | |||
| Depreciation | 336 | 48,148 | 448 | ||
| Totalresourcesexpended | 130,675, ——————— |
33,606 100,747 pe |
|||
| Net incoming resources | 9 | (9,391) | 6,223 | ||
| Funds at start ofyear | 70,364 | 64,141 | |||
| Funds atendofyear | 60,973 SaaS |
70,364 a |
26/09/2025
Woking Area U3A
Balance Sheet as at 3ist August 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Fixed | Assets | 7 | ||||
| Equipment | 1.008 | 1.344 | ||||
| Current Assets | ||||||
| Cash | 10 | 78,783 | 83,010 | |||
| Prepayments | 1 | 4815 | 83,598 | 2,920 | $5,930 | |
| Less: Liabilities, amounts falling | ||||||
| duewithin one year | {2 | 23,633 | 16,910 | |||
| 50.965 | 69,020 | |||||
| Net Current Assets | ||||||
| Total | Assets less Liabilities | 60,973 Saas |
70,364 oe |
|||
| Represented by | ||||||
| Funds | ||||||
| General Fund | 8 | 60,973 | 70.364 | |||
| Total | Funds | 60,973 eee |
70,364 —[——_= |
Barbara Nicholson, Chairman
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Susan Galliflent-Holmes, Treasurer
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For and on behalfof the Committee
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Woking Area USA Notes to the Accounts for the year ending 31 August 2025
1 Accounting Policies
Ceneral ‘These accounts have been prepare on the accruals accounting basis under the historical coal convention in accordance with Applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Practiog on Accounting fie Charities, Depreciation Depreciation is provided on equipment in tse at 24% par annum on the reducing balanog basia.
2 Cm Ale
Gift Ald increased due to increase in membership
4 Group Meeting Contribations Group receting contributionsdecreased die to reductionof fee to 21 per meeting.
4 Outings Chitings include visite to places of histories! and cultural interest, theatres and ‘visits in connection with spocifke group interests. “The costs are funded by the members pantbcipating in the outings
3 Expenditure Substantiallythe whole of the exponditureis direst chariiable expenditure, 4 ‘TheCommndcationpayment for Thirdwith AgeMember.Matters relaies 10 the year 2024/25
T Fixed Assets
| T Fixed Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coil AQ beginning of year Adhiitiona |
2025 tf 17,825 = |
2024 c 17,825 . |
| ALena of your | Uifa5 | 7,825 |
| Depreciation = Atbeginning ofyear Charge foryour Alend of year |
16,481 BR 16.817 |
14003 ade 16481 |
| Welhook value | 1a | Ladd |
| 8 Funes | ||
| ‘The fiance sire eminlyiianestrictedd | ||
| 9 Net Incoming Kesoances ‘Thenetincressa/{decrense) in funds during th yearla made up-ax follow 2025 |
q024 | |
| Maun flinel ‘Curings ‘Total |
é (MONT) 646 B3)) |
4 4a70 1344 622) |
| 10 Cash | ||
| Caah is made up nefollows: | ||
| 202s | 2024 | |
| Comm«mnlty Acecunt Husiness Saver Awoounit ‘Groupe Account Renewals Account (formerly Chitrngs acoourt) MOTO Acvournt Metro Flank Skipton ES Bond Metro Hank Bond PayPal Petty Cash Sum Lp Total |
é 60] a7326 1441 3,206 4522 7 20,3644 - L196 . a TATRA |
t Bald 19008 16s 31m aM |
| 1 Prepayments | ||
| 2023 | 24 | |
| Payments for2024/26outings and theatre |
i ans |
2.920 |
| 12 Creditors | ||
| a025 | 2024 | |
| 2023/26 sabnoriptionsreceived inadvance Advance paymeenia foroutings Advance me t for meetings Examiner'shonoraria Toanl |
i 14610 Aad Bh 100 23,633 |
é 12,534 4276 “ i) 16.910 |