Registered Charity: 1070636 www.thamesidewallingfordu3a.org contact@thamesidewallingfordu3a.org
Report and review Looking back at last year 24/25 and forward to 2026 Chairman’s Report
This has been my first year as Chairman and I am happy to report that our U3a continues to grow as we now have over 520 members. This is largely owing to your encouraging friends to come along and just try some of the many things we do.
Our current subscription rates give excellent value for money: we are able to offer such a low rate partly due to our large membership. The central u3a organisation is slowly increasing its charges to us, however we are endeavouring to keep the rate at its present level and see no reason for an increase at the present time. We will keep the subscription level under review during the next financial year and report again.
Rising costs have also had an effect on our outings, mainly because of the increased coach hire costs. We are currently looking carefully at possibilities to ensure that we are still able to provide good value trips
There was a very successful trip to Normandy this summer and a trip to Kent was planned for 2026. Unfortunately this has had to be cancelled as the cost has risen dramatically. A holiday to Wales organised by the Crowmarsh U3a has however been offered to our members as a replacement for our own trip.
The summer party held in August was blessed with good weather and was very well attended and the celebration lunch held in January at Badgemoor Golf Club was also a great success. We have also held an enjoyable New Members Tea Party and a Conveners/Volunteers Thank You Evening, both well attended.
The Committee has also been hard at work writing a new constitution for the organisation which you will be asked to approve at the AGM. Changes were needed to reflect the increasing membership; the number of committee members allowed has been increased as well as changing rules on the length of time a member can remain in post.
I have a duty to report every year that we have written policies on Finance and Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. These are available on our website. They have been reviewed and updated for 2025. We are also required to keep first aid kits. These have also been inspected for 2025.
Several members have been on the committee for more than 9 years – Neil Kelly, Anna Gordon, Hilly Bailey and Yvonne Griffiths.
A big thank you to Anna, the membership secretary who is stepping back after 10 years in the job and taking a well deserved rest. Fortunately someone has offered to take on the role and hopefully will keep recruiting new members.
As Chairman I would not have been able to do any of this work without the support of the whole committee and other members who work extremely hard to make our
Registered Charity: 1070636 www.thamesidewallingfordu3a.org contact@thamesidewallingfordu3a.org
organisation so welcoming and successful. A big thank you, also, to all the Conveners, Tea makers, Volunteers, and to both the Speaker and Outings subcommittees. Remember though, we are all volunteers, and we always need fresh blood to invigorate us. So, please, if you feel you could contribute in any way to your u3a, then contact any of the committee. You would be very welcome to join us.
The monthly newsletter has undergone a change this year after Sarah the editor for the last 6 years stepped down. During her time as editor she made the newsletter the prime method of communicating with you. She will continue to maintain the website as our public front for our U3a. for which we are very grateful.
The core activities of our U3a are the speaker meetings, activity groups, and trips all of which continue to thrive but as always we are open to suggestions as to how we can improve and any offers of help are always appreciated. Please just contact us by email on our committee emails (found on
http://www.thamesidewallingfordu3a.org/contact-page).
On behalf of myself and your committee, may we offer a huge thank you to you all for your continued support.
Ian Shipton (Chairman)
21 May 2025
THAMESIDE {WALUNGFORD} U3A ANNUAL ACCOUNTS PERIOD: 1ST APRIL 2024TO 31st MARCH 2025 YEAR ENDED 3110312024 13,457.62 Opening Balanc• Income 2,013.50 Events- Celebration Lunch 599.68 Events- Coffee Mornings 1,057.76 Gift Aid 1,410.00 Groups 786.40 Hospitality- Garden Party 14,367.00 Outings 1,177.89 Outings venue refund 127.50 Rent refund 77.79 Savings account 6,325.00 Subscriptions 0.00 Payment errors 300.C Suspense 28.242.52 Totsl Incom• Account Name A¢count Numbor Main Savings 819147 1066533 YEAR ENDED 31103125 13.696.20 6.313.51 7,382.69 2.336.00 426.34 1.010.67 17,106.00 892.00 14.238.50 2,336.00 426.34 1,010.67 17,106.00 892.00 14.238.50 0.00 4.114.60 6.471.00 1.232.82 0.00 47.827.93 0. 4,114.60 6.471.00 1.232.82 43,713.33 4,114.60 Expenge• 1,940.00 Capitation 3rd Age Trust 0.00 Computer hardware 805.40 Computer software and Ilcences 1,246.74 Third Age Mag8zine 2,181.85 Events- Celebration lunth 312.00 Events- Coffee mornin85 27.99 Furniture & Fittings 1,649.26 Groups 1.392.90 Hospitality 676.40 Office expenses 11,730.80 Outings 1,753.81 Outings venue refund 1.091.35 Hire 0.00 Payment errors 2.364.80 Speakers 137.50 Subscriptions 300.00 Suspense 0.1 Transfer to main 0.00 Transfer to savings account 393.14 Website 28,003.94 Total out 2,008.00 286.98 252.1)0 1.498.24 2,496.93 572.50 2,008.00 286.98 252.00 1,498.24 2,496.93 572.50 0.00 17.193.86 1.409.08 656.35 11,629.10 17,193.86 1,409.08 656.35 11,629.10 260.30 1.214.82 3,149.39 25. 260.30 1,214.82 3,149.39 25.00 0.00 4.000.00 440.60 47,093.15 4.000.00 440.60 47.093.15 238.58 Not In or out in the year Uncleared cheques 4.379.82 4,114.60 734.78 13,696.20 Closlng Balaneo 1933.69 11,497.29 14,430.98 I, Doreen Pinnell. the Appointed Inspettor of Accounts. have examined the above accounts and found them to be corrett. Signed: Dared. 7 V .302 Dated: Signed- (Hon. Tre urer
THAMESIDE {WALUNGFORD} U3A ANNUAL ACCOUNTS PERIOD: 1ST APRIL 2024TO 31st MARCH 2025 YEAR ENDED 3110312024 13,457.62 Opening Balanc• Income 2,013.50 Events- Celebration Lunch 599.68 Events- Coffee Mornings 1,057.76 Gift Aid 1,410.00 Groups 786.40 Hospitality- Garden Party 14,367.00 Outings 1,177.89 Outings venue refund 127.50 Rent refund 77.79 Savings account 6,325.00 Subscriptions 0.00 Payment errors 300.C Suspense 28.242.52 Totsl Incom• Account Name A¢count Numbor Main Savings 819147 1066533 YEAR ENDED 31103125 13.696.20 6.313.51 7,382.69 2.336.00 426.34 1.010.67 17,106.00 892.00 14.238.50 2,336.00 426.34 1,010.67 17,106.00 892.00 14.238.50 0.00 4.114.60 6.471.00 1.232.82 0.00 47.827.93 0. 4,114.60 6.471.00 1.232.82 43,713.33 4,114.60 Expenge• 1,940.00 Capitation 3rd Age Trust 0.00 Computer hardware 805.40 Computer software and Ilcences 1,246.74 Third Age Mag8zine 2,181.85 Events- Celebration lunth 312.00 Events- Coffee mornin85 27.99 Furniture & Fittings 1,649.26 Groups 1.392.90 Hospitality 676.40 Office expenses 11,730.80 Outings 1,753.81 Outings venue refund 1.091.35 Hire 0.00 Payment errors 2.364.80 Speakers 137.50 Subscriptions 300.00 Suspense 0.1 Transfer to main 0.00 Transfer to savings account 393.14 Website 28,003.94 Total out 2,008.00 286.98 252.1)0 1.498.24 2,496.93 572.50 2,008.00 286.98 252.00 1,498.24 2,496.93 572.50 0.00 17.193.86 1.409.08 656.35 11,629.10 17,193.86 1,409.08 656.35 11,629.10 260.30 1.214.82 3,149.39 25. 260.30 1,214.82 3,149.39 25.00 0.00 4.000.00 440.60 47,093.15 4.000.00 440.60 47.093.15 238.58 Not In or out in the year Uncleared cheques 4.379.82 4,114.60 734.78 13,696.20 Closlng Balaneo 1933.69 11,497.29 14,430.98 I, Doreen Pinnell. the Appointed Inspettor of Accounts. have examined the above accounts and found them to be corrett. Signed: Dared. 7 V .302 Dated: Signed- (Hon. Tre urer