Emery Down & Bank Village Hall Trustees Report October 2022
Our relatively small group of trustees have continued to accurately interpret and uphold the founding principles of governance first established when the hall established, thanks to the generosity and foresight of Mary and Charlotte Chamberlain (whose uncle Joseph was the pioneering mayor of Birmingham and whose first cousin was the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain) who had drawn up a Deed of Gift transferring hall ownership to Trustees: If the hall ‘ceased to be used for the purposes for which it was founded’ (as a meeting place for the newly formed Emery Down and Bank Women’s Institute) it was to become either a village hall and/or something that would benefit the villages of Emery Down and Bank. In due course a new Village Hall Trust was established and land titles transferred to the Charity Commission in 1998 and from that time successive Trustees have assiduously ensured the hall fulfils its prescribed purpose.
There are currently six trustees, plus a dedicated bookings clerk, who have a variety of skills and knowledge to help deliver the overall task of preserving the building and ensuring that it exists for the purpose originally intended. These talents comprise legal, construction, accounting, adjacent land ownership, project management and business, plus other attributes.
Income has mostly come from a steady stream of hirers divided into those (1) who regularly attend and pay in advance (e.g. artist groups, dancers, keep fit, musical band practice, flower arranging classes etc.) and (2) those who use the hall for single occasions (e.g.weddings, parties, public talks, meetings etc.). We are especially grateful to our bookings clerk, Jo Wateridge, for her dedication and perseverance in supporting all of our hirers and answering their numerous questions. She works in close collaboration with our equally hard working (and colleague Trustee) Mrs Ann Crabbe who keeps a very close eye on our accounts.
Hourly rates are deliberately modest compared to some other halls to uphold the purpose of our existence without being rapacious, and applied on two tiers depending on whether the hirer lives locally or not (this being a recent modification to further ensure compliance with the founding objectives).
During COVID lockdowns we were very grateful to the local authority (New Forest Council) for allocating central funds for organisations such as ours. This not only kept us afloat in terms of paying utility / upkeep bills
etc., but also enabled the Trustees to host a significant post lockdown village BBQ specifically to help bring the community back together (at no cost to attendees) after such a long period of isolation. In addition, the Trustees are currently in the process of planning another free to attend event in the Spring of 2023 for local residents to once again meet each other to enhance community spirit, and very much to also welcome those who have recently moved into the neighbourhood. This complies with the condition of the grant(s).
Moreover, these funds also helped us to promptly restore the roof that was damaged in strong winds a few months ago and to carry out a series of other internal/external repairs. Further income comes from a regular donation of £1000 from a generous resident. Our next maintenance project is to once again pay for complete repainting of the interior, most likely towards the end of next year.
In summary, the current Trustees see themselves as the custodians of this much loved hall and are united in sharing a collaborative purpose to preserve and continue the near 100 year old legacy of this very popular village hall.
Peter Power JP Chairman Emery Down & Bank Village Hall.
Emery Down & Bank Village Hall
Financial statement as at 31st December 2021
| Income Grants Bookings Donations Parking Electric - refund Gazebo Hire Total income Expenditure Refunds Cleaning & Cleaning materials Electric Insurance Maintenance / repair / Service Gardening gas Water Hall booking chage Transfer To reserve a/c Misc Fire Guard -Testing Pat Testing - Testing Broadband BBQ Total expenditure Net movement for the year |
£ 18,636.57 7,800.00 2,000.00 50.00 148.54 20.00 28,655.11 1,340.00 686.51 371.19 791.80 1,220.20 - 1,326.79 80.14 367.50 2,000.00 221.22 178.50 50.00 1,809.23 5,638.48 16,081.56 12,573.55 |
|
|---|---|---|
Financial statement as at 31st December 2021
| Natwest Business Current account : 09829504 | Natwest Business Current account : 09829504 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening balance 1ST JAN 2021 | 1,275.69 | ||
| Income | 28,655.11 | ||
| Expenditure | (14,081.56) | ||
| Transfer to Reserve account | (2,000.00) | ||
| Balance of Bank31§st December 2021 | 13,849.24 | ||
| Reserve account | |||
| BALANCE 1ST JAN 2021 | 109.04 | ||
| Trans from Current account | 2,000.00 | ||
| Payment | - | ||
| Interest | 0.21 | ||
| Bankbalance 31st December 2021 | 2,109.25 | ||
| CASH | |||
| Opening balance | 30.00 | ||
| Rosemary (refund water) | 30.00 | ||
| Segita (Christmas gift) | (30.00) | ||
| Balance as at 31st December 23021 | 30.00 |
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