2024-12-31-accounts - Wokingham University Of The Third Age

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024

Charity name: Wokingham University of the Third Age (Wokingham u3a) Charity registration number: 1049995

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objectives and principal activities of Wokingham u3a are: The advancement of education for people who are retired from full time work, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development. The committee continues to take account of these objectives in its management and stewardship of Wokingham u3a’s affairs and finances.
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	What?  Education/Training  Arts/Culture  Sport/Recreation Who?  People no longer in full time employment How?  Provides interest groups on a variety of subjects for members  Arranges events and activities for members  Holds monthly speaker meetings for members
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees confirm they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

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	Wokingham u3a, established in 1990, is one of the largest u3a organisations nationally. Our membership continues to increase and the trustees are delighted that membership stood at 2640 on 31 December 2024. Activity groups number around 190. Activities covered by groups include education, arts & culture, research, sport/recreation, and support for single members. The trustees would like to thank the excellent group convenors for their contribution to the success of our u3a. Due to our healthy financial position, membership subscriptions for existing members were waived for 2024. The cost for new members joining during the year remained at £8.00 per annum.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Membership subscriptions are our main source of funds. 2024 membership renewal rate continued at a high rate, in line with expectations. Subscription fees to the national body, the Third Age Trust, represent our major cost item at £4 for each of our members, which was allowed for in our 2024 budget. Communication costs in the year were again at a low level as we rely on electronic communication for the majority of our members. Funds are held with the bank. The financial situation was monitored constantly & reported regularly to the trustees.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The Charity’s policy is to have sufficient reserves to:  Meet unexpected outlays required for the operation of the charity in accordance with its charitable objectives.  Hold a prudent amount of cash reserves to provide for working capital requirements.  Replace obsolete equipment.  Fund the development of new groups within the charity.  Fund approved activities carried out by a group that are available to all members of the charity.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£17,907
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/a

Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/a

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution adopted 1995: amended 2005, 2009, 2013, 2018 & 2021
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Trust
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	Trustees elected annually by ballot at the Annual General Meeting

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Wokingham University of the Third Age
Other name the charity uses	Wokingham u3a
Registered charity number	1049995
Charity’s principal address	PO Box 3664 Wokingham Berkshire RG40 9PA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
1	Juliet Hanfling	Chair
2	Glynis Leeson	Vice Chair
3	Linda Penny	Secretary
4	Juliet Hurwitt	Treasurer
5	Mike Luff	Speakers’ Secretary
6	Rodney Fox	Groups Coordinator
7	Libby Good	Events Coordinator	Elected 12 March 2024
8	Sylvia Mason	Social Media Coordinator	Elected 12 March 2024
9	Aline Rogers	Website Coordinator	Elected 12 March 2024
10	Gill Gardner	Finance & Systems Coordinator	Retired 12 March 2024
11	Jim Callaghan	Website Coordinator	Retired 12 March 2024

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	N/a
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	N/a
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	N/a

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)	Juliet Hanfing	Glynis Leeson

	Juliet Hanfling	Glynis Ann Leeson

Date 4/3/2025

Wokingham-u3a Annual Reports 2024 FINAL

Wokingham u3a

Receipts and Payments Account for year end:
Notes:	£	£
Wu3a Main Receipts	2024	Increase/D
		ecrease
Subscriptions	3,064	18,704	-15,640	Free membership in 2024 from March to reduce Wu3a's reserves, in line with charities commission guidelines.
Gift Aid	1,618	1,999	-381	Reduced due to free year, partly offset by new members and timing between 2023/24 subs receipts and reclaim.
Donations	33	259	-226	Duplicate receipts of subs/other over payments that can't be allocated elsewhere.
Interest received	84	74	10	Consistent year-on-year.
Meetings receipts	1,419	1,461	-41	Mainly speaker meetings x12 at £2 pp which varies per meeting.
	6,218	22,496	-16,278
	0

Free membership in 2024 from March to reduce Wu3a's reserves, in line with charities commission guidelines. Reduced due to free year, partly offset by new members and timing between 2023/24 subs receipts and reclaim. Duplicate receipts of subs/other over payments that can't be allocated elsewhere. Consistent year-on-year. Mainly speaker meetings x12 at £2 pp which varies per meeting. Increase in Groups activities, days out, theatres etc. Many new groups, and new members joining groups.

Wu3a Group Receipts Subscriptions 95,883 93,645	-1 CAF monthly fee £5/mth x2 accounts, no cheque processing fee in 2024. -217 Dell Inspiron 15 (3520) laptop. Various small items Asset Sales. 663 Annual AGM & Subs Mailing increased postage to more members. -895 Cancellation of monthly Zoom fee. 814 First Aid Course (Cylcing Groups), Independent Examiners. -35 Room hire trial session in 2023 186 Consistent YoY - Room hire, external speaker meeting fees, refreshments. 139 Consistent YoY - Timing difference on year end members v when the invoice is paid to TAT. Increased members. -159 1,725 -940 3,212 3,837 Meeting expenses, mainly recruiting new helpers. Consistent YoY - eg. Prizes, equipment (pickleball bats), licenses (zoom, radio). Increased number of Groups and Events team activities. Deposits for future events eg. 35th Anniversary party 2025. Increased members participation. Timing - some invoices paid early some in advance, and monthly v quarterly. Tai Chi, Pilates etc, increase in fees and number of tutors. Events Group - Xmas lunch catering £1,800 28 682 2,238 -14,040
Total Receipts (Difference is Bank Interest) 102,101 116,141
Wu3a Main Payments Bank Charges 120 121 Capital Equipment purchase/sale 224 441 Communications 3,135 2,472 Computer, website, IT 2,080 2,975 General expenses 936 122 Group development 0 35 Meetings expenses 1,564 1,378 Third Age Trust Membership subscription 9,723 9,584 Trustee expenses Wu3a Groups Payments General Outings Room Hire Tutors 51 17,833 0 5,442 24,817 50,246 12,547 93,052 23 17,151 5,601 23,093 51,186 9,335 89,215

Wu3a Group Receipts
Subscriptions
95,883
93,645

-1
CAF monthly fee £5/mth x2 accounts, no cheque processing fee in 2024.
-217
Dell Inspiron 15 (3520) laptop. Various small items Asset Sales.
663
Annual AGM & Subs Mailing increased postage to more members.
-895
Cancellation of monthly Zoom fee.
814
First Aid Course (Cylcing Groups), Independent Examiners.
-35
Room hire trial session in 2023
186
Consistent YoY - Room hire, external speaker meeting fees, refreshments.
139
Consistent YoY - Timing difference on year end members v when the invoice is paid to TAT. Increased members.
-159
1,725
-940
3,212
3,837
Meeting expenses, mainly recruiting new helpers.
Consistent YoY - eg. Prizes, equipment (pickleball bats), licenses (zoom, radio).
Increased number of Groups and Events team activities. Deposits for future events eg. 35th Anniversary party 2025.
Increased members participation.
Timing - some invoices paid early some in advance, and monthly v quarterly.
Tai Chi, Pilates etc, increase in fees and number of tutors. Events Group - Xmas lunch catering £1,800
28
682
2,238
-14,040

Total Receipts (Difference is Bank Interest)
102,101
116,141

Wu3a Main Payments
Bank Charges
120
121
Capital Equipment purchase/sale
224
441
Communications
3,135
2,472
Computer, website, IT
2,080
2,975
General expenses
936
122
Group development
0
35
Meetings expenses
1,564
1,378
Third Age Trust Membership subscription
9,723
9,584
Trustee expenses
Wu3a Groups Payments
General
Outings
Room Hire
Tutors
51
17,833
0
5,442
24,817
50,246
12,547
93,052
23
17,151
5,601
23,093
51,186
9,335
89,215

Mainly due to free memberhip in 2024, reduced mailchip costs, Zoom cancellation.

Receipts and Payments self funding the groups' activities.

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/	Charity Name Wokingham University of the Third Age	Wokingham University of the Third Age	Wokingham University of the Third Age	Wokingham University of the Third Age
members of	(Wokingham U3A)

On accounts for the year	31 December 2024	Charity no		1049995
ended		(if any)

Set out on pages
		1 and 2
	I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above	I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
	charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2024.		charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I 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, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 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.

06/03/2025 ~~oe~~ Date:

Signed:

Name:	Rob Melhuish ~~Cs~~	Rob Melhuish ~~Cs~~
Relevant professional		ICAEW
qualification(s) or body (if
any):
Address:
		Accountwise Ltd
		Innovation House, MollyMillars Close, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2RX