Douglas Centre Trust
Chair's Report for 2025
2025 saw a continuance of the process I reported on last year and the year before – the gradual expansion of activity and income. Income and audience figures surpassed all previous figures. Fuel costs remain a challenge which led us into planning to improve our boiler and heating system and to investigate and plan for solar panels. We also made improvements to the flooring and lighting systems. A great deal of the work is carried out by volunteers, including an encouraging number of new people. However, we ensure that any complex work is carried out by professionals. Our reserves have continued to rise, putting us in a strong position to meet future needs in maintenance, investment, emergency resources for unexpected events and meeting the growing needs of the community. The increase in income has also allowed us to consider a major piece of planning to install more toilet facilities. The panto in 2025, a key element in in our income, had good audience numbers. For the first time since 2020 we were able to include children on stage for this. Other in-house activities produced positive results.
There was an expansion in our visual arts work and the trend of bringing in children and families for events aimed specifically at them continued to be successful. The diverse nature of the community was reflected in attendees at the film club and in our Singalong initiative for suffers of dementia and their supporters. Comedy featuring locally and nationally known performers was again an important part of our offering. Poetry, both through our own poetry group and from visiting poets, including Roger McGough, was a strong feature. Folk music continued to expand and to draw large audiences.
All in all, it was another highly successful year.
We are now embarking on a number of changes to management and governance structures, leading to a successful transition to a new Chair of Trustees.
Once again, we owe a debt of gratitude to our willing and resourceful volunteers, to our generous landlords, St Matthew’s Church and to our inspector of accounts, Tim Lucas.
Jeremy Thorn
Chair of Trustees
April 2026
3
The Douglas Centre Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2025
| Fixed Assets Current Assets Stocks Accounts Receivable Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Current Liabilities Creditor amounts falling due within one year Net Assets Charity Funds Unrestricted funds Total Funds |
2025 £ 0 1,560 3,317 178,719 183,596 -197 183,400 183,400 183,400 |
2024 £ 0 1,596 2,391 172,444 |
|---|---|---|
| 176,431 -1,773 |
||
| 174,658 | ||
| 174,658 | ||
| 174,658 |
The trustees are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption under section 477(1) of the Companies Act 2006 and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
The company’s annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by the Board on 15 April 2026
Signed on its behalf by
Jeremy Thorn Director
Company Number: 3057887
THE DOUGLAS CENTRE TRUST
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities For the Year ended 31 December 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total 2025 | Total 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOME | ||||
| Box Office | 28,946 | 0 | 28,946 | 28,046 |
| Hire | 21,053 | 0 | 21,053 | 22,033 |
| Donations & Fund Raising | 510 | 0 | 510 | 660 |
| Bank Interest | 3,693 | 0 | 3,693 | 2,583 |
| Bar Takings | 30,334 | 0 | 30,334 | 33,875 |
| Miscellaneous Income | 141 | 0 | 141 | 0 |
| Gross Incoming Resources | 84,676 | 84,676 | 87,197 | |
| Less Cost of Goods Sold - Bar Supplies | -15,899 | -15,899 | -16,347 | |
| Net Incoming Resources | 68,777 | 68,777 | 70,850 | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||||
| Utilities | 8,089 | 8,089 | 10,076 | |
| Cleaning | 2,275 | 2,275 | 2,218 | |
| Maintenance & Sundries | 1,294 | 1,294 | 2,632 | |
| Electrical Work | 3,977 | 3,977 | 2,315 | |
| New Equipment | 24,144 | 24,144 | 6,750 | |
| Production Props & Costs | 1,106 | 1,106 | 1,345 | |
| Insurance | 1,371 | 1,371 | 2,336 | |
| Licences | 832 | 832 | 604 | |
| Photocopier | 122 | 122 | 213 | |
| Volunteer Expenses | 1,948 | 1,948 | 2,359 | |
| IT & Website | 2,431 | 2,431 | 1,897 | |
| Office and Accounts Supplies | 652 | 652 | 15 | |
| Marketing and Publicity | 5,070 | 5,070 | 3,707 | |
| Inhouse Performance Costs | 575 | 575 | 772 | |
| Charcomm, Comp House & Audit | 0 | 0 | 139 | |
| Medical Training | 0 | 0 | 1,215 | |
| Box Office Split | 6,031 | 6,031 | 0 | |
| Miscellaneous | 120 | 120 | 35 | |
| Long Term Liability Write offs | 0 | 0 | -6,452 | |
| Total Resources Expended | 60,036 | 60,036 | 32,176 | |
| Net Income | 8,741 | 8,741 | 38,674 | |
| Net Movement in Funds | 8,741 | 0 | 8,741 | 38,674 |
| Fund Balances brought forward from 20 | 174,658 | 0 | 174,658 | 135,984 |
| Fund Balances carried forward 2025 | 183,400 | 0 | 183,400 | 174,658 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examIneS report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the trusteesldirectorsl members of The Douglas Centre Trust On accounts for the year ended 31112r2025 Charlty no.: 1047038 3057887 Set out on pages I reF¥)rt to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ihe Company for the year ended 3111212025. Responslbllfties and basls of report As the charity's trustees of the Company {who are also the directors of the company for the purp08es of company law). you are resFon$ible for the preparation of the accounts in wrdance with Tequirem8nts of the Companw Act 20(fj (Ihe 20C6 Actl. Having satisfied myself that the acc4)unts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2(KJ6 Act and are el1g1b for Indèpendent examinatic, I report in respect of my examination of your ehanty's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charilies Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'}. In carying out my examinatton, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145{5)(b) of the 2011 *£L Indepondent examinevs statsment I have Completed my examination. I conffimi that no material matters have come to my attenthm which gNes me cause to believe Ihal: ' accounting reetyds were not kept in accordance wrth section 386 of Ihe Cornpan Act 21)06', or . the accounts do not accord with such records; c . the accounts do not compty wth relevant a¢UntIng requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any Tequiremenl th81 the accounts give a Irue and fairf vithv whith 1$ nol a matter considered as part of an independent examination: or .the accounts have not been prepw&J In accordance wlth the Chantie SORP {FRS102). I have no concems and have come across no other matteTS in conneclion vmh the exarninatn to which attentlon sl)ould dr8wn in th1$ report Sn order to enable a proFer understanding of the &counts to be reached. Signed: Date: 131C612026 Name: Timothy Lucas Relevant professional qualification(s} or body {rfany): ACA Address: 10. Presbury Road. New Malden. Surrny. KT3 SAH
Section B Disclosure Only ¢omptete rf the examiner needs to hohlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charty lunt$.. directions and guidance for exIners}. Give herè brief detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclos•. NIA