Chair's Report to the AGM 201h November 2024 First, my apologies for not being able to present this report in person: when the NHS - eventually - calls to offer me a new hip. 'yes of course, is the only answer. My thanks to my predecessor, who is left with the task of presenting what I hope will be a shorter report than last year's. It has been another successful year: we continue to offer a wide range of popular and well supported activities, ranging from those which work very successfully in a group leader's sitting room to those which stretch some of our venues to capacity. Venue space permitting, we aim to broaden the range of new groups so that new members can join their group of choice. We have had some success in this area this year - is there anybody who does not yet know what pickleball is - but we hope to do even better. We aspire to recruiting members to reach, then exceed, pre-COVID levels. We are getting closer, but we're not there yet. It would seem that the pandemic caused a significant shift in priorities and activities for some people. In addition. the rise in pension age has meant that there is a cohort of people still in the world of work who might well have joined our ranks by now. And then there's the need to 'spread the word.: only this week I found myself answering the question 'What is the U3A?' What I could have said was that Fleet and District U3A is all of us. We are a shared endeavour, the best sort of partnership in which everyone plays a significant part. I hope that a member attending a U3A event for the first time will get a friendly welcome and will be encouraged to become more involved. Nothing could happen without our Group Leadership teams. l am pleased that sharing of roles and responsibilities is becoming the norm; the 'hero model, of a lone Group Leader quickly crumbles under the impact of family, health and life events. l am pleased to applaud and recognise the hard work which keeps the groups, and hence our U3A, thriving. Another very special team is Carole Matthews, Visits Team. You've really not experienced the best of what our U3A can offer if you've not been on one of their memorable and lively visits. You get a flavour of them in the Newsletter articles, but only a flavour. You will have read, in our October Newsletter, contributions from the members of the committee, the trustees of our charity, and gained an insight into their responsibilities. It has been a privilege to work with such committed, hard-working and friendly people. It is their input- not just the cake- which has made my three years in the Chair a pleasure. On your behalf I thank them all: when we hear that neighbouring U3As have folded through an inability to recruit trustees. we are fortunate to have people ready and willing to take their turn. Over 30 years that has been one of the strengths of Fleet and District U3A'. when a job needs doing, there has been somebody to step in and take it on. We say farewell - again - and thank you to Fiona Godfrey. who returned as temporary Membership Secretary to help avoid a crisis. dedication indeed. Thanks too to Adrian van Klaveren, Publicity Secretary and to Pam Openshaw who has been running the Events team.
Fleet and Dlstrlct U3A Charlty Number 1055104 Recelpts and Payments Accounts Yur •rmI 31st Auyst 2024 Total Funds Funth Totsl Funds RECEIPTS Membershl fees Tax reclalm Members venue contrfbutlons Tutor fees aidb 3E members Other member events Bank Interest Miscellaneous Income Vlslts Total recel 678 926 926 125 875 PAYMENTS hird e Trust- 8eacon Thlrd e Trust - Ca Itatlon Thlrd Age Trust - Ma azlne enue Hlre Costs utor fee pa ments Monthly Meetln8 expenses Other Member Events Admlnistratlon Prlntln and Posta Bank char e5 Equlpment Vislts Total Net ments 119 622 112 318 557 816 Cash funds last Cash funds thls ar end ear end CAF 6405 HSBC CAF GOLD PAYPAL PETTY CASH CAF VISITS TOTAL ASSErs 939 24 27 11
IndepRndent examlner"s report to the trustees of Fleet and Dlstrlct U3A Re8lstsred charlty number 1055104 I report to the trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the above charlty for the year ended 31° Au8USt 2024 Responslbllltlrf and basls of rnport As the charfty trustees of Fleet and Dlstrlrt U3A you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charltles Act 2011 {"the Act) I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the Charlty"s account carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my examlnatlon I have followed all the appllcable Dlrectlons 8lven by the Charlty Commlsslon under sectlon 145(5)(b) of the Art. Ind•pend•nt •xamln•r's st•t•m•nt I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrni that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon (other than those dlscloséd below) In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon whlth 8lve me cause to belleve that In, any materlal respect: accountlng records were not kept In accordance wlth Sectlon 130 of the act. or the accounts do not accord wlth the accountln8 records Followln8 the Issues ralsed In my report for the year endlng 31° Au8USt 2023, whlch reco8nlsed the unlque clrcumstsnces of a lar8e voluntsry or8anlzatlon processln8 hlgh numbers of relatlvely small value transactlons, I make the followlng polnts for conslderatlon by the Trustees: l. The proportlon of accountln8 records comptylng wlth Sectlon 130 of the Act Is Increasln& Steps should be taken to ensure that measure5 In hand contlnue that Improvement. 2. Conslderatlon should be 8lven to carryln8 Out a wlde rnngln8 revlew of accountln8 and flnanclal procedures wlth a vlew to Introducln8 a planned pro8ramme over a number of years to mlnlmlze/ellmlnate cash/cheque transactlons/paper record5 and move to electronWdl8ttal systems • maxlmlze the amount of Informatlon held on the accountln8 records and streamllne the flnandal reportln8 system. reduce thè number of bank accounts wlth one exduslvely used for Incomlng payments and one(Ilnked to an Interest payln8 account) exclusfvely for out8oln8 payments I have no concerns and have come across no other matter5 In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understsndlng of the accounts to be reached. Date /}, Im Davld Glyn Powell Fleet Hants