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