DUNCTON VILLAGE HALL
ANNUAL REPORT 13 OCTOBER 2025
We are pleased to report that the Hall has again been used during the year for a variety of activities including six weddings in this calendar year (and one already booked for 2026), wedding anniversaries, birthday parties, family get-togethers, reunions, funeral receptions and wakes, camping, caravan, cycling and Croquet Club events, First Aid and Emergency Life Support courses, dog scent training, election days, company training, and team building days (including overnight camping). There were also weekly bookings for art, qigong, and a local choir.
The Parish Council, Duncton school, Catholic Church, Rother Valley Croquet Club, and Petworth Cottage Nursing Home use the Hall for their meetings. Local community events have included village coffee mornings, a Fun Dog Show last July (with another planned for August 2 next year), Macmillan Coffee mornings, a TableTop sale for Macmillan Palliative Care Midhurst in September, and Fireworks last November (this year it’ll be on October 31). The touring Rude Mechanical Show held on the recreation ground on Thursday June 26 was again a welcome treat, with over 120 people in the audience enjoying whimsical theatre on a lovely warm Summer’s evening.
Our financial year runs to May 31. In 2024/5 turnover was £28.2k, with expenditure at £18.0k, so a declared surplus of £10.2k. At the year-end our reserves (excluding damages deposits held) stood at £49.8k. So, the charity’s finances continue to be in very good shape, though we are mindful of wide-ranging inflationary pressures on our cost base and a noticeable reduction in wedding bookings for next year.
After many years of capital improvements, we have in the past year focussed on repairs, maintenance and refreshing the paintwork. But over the past six years our investment programme has been a major commitment. The projects completed include a new floor, windows and doors, curtains and tracking, a fire door, a heating system upgrade, internal repainting, a refurbished decked area at the rear of the Hall with a fine view across to the South Downs, acoustic panels to improve sound quality, a new fire protection system, a replacement shower unit, new doors for the bin storage area, and a 5G wi-fi hub to improve internet and mobile phone reception. And in August this year we installed a new boiler and thermostat.
During this time we have also invested in a new set of crockery, additional glassware, a new cooker, coffee machines, a replacement water boiler, a table-top freezer, display cabinets, a new computer, a set of new round tables and grey chairs suitable for weddings and other major hires, storage trolleys, and new picnic benches. That truly is quite a list, with each of the projects managed in-house.
These investments have certainly enhanced the appeal of the Hall and been wellreceived by hirers and the local community. Our ongoing improvement programme will benefit all for many years to come. We see our task as Trustees as threefold – to ensure DVH remains financially sound, to keep the fabric of the building wellmaintained, and to encourage wide use of the Hall. We are pleased to report all these objectives have again clearly been met.
We wish to thank Rob Knight (Hall Manager since October 2019) for his considerable efforts in managing the Hall, dealing with enquiries and bookings, and being very involved in all these projects, as well as undertaking most of our maintenance work. Also, many thanks to Becky Francois for cleaning and housekeeping; Andy Gadd for mowing the recreation ground; Sioux Allen for gardening: and of course, all Committee members who freely give so much time to ensure our valuable community asset is kept in good order and the business managed properly.
All members of the Committee are willing to stand for re-election and no other nominations have been received. The team comprises Tom Cole (Chairman, general management), Andy Beadsley (finance and corporate), Peter Thomas (liaison with Parish Council, projects), Helen Clifford and Sue Thomas (organising village events). Two long-standing members – Alison Pindell and Hilary O’Sullivan retired, having moved away from the area. So we would welcome new members to help with the management of the charity, especially with arranging local events and seeking grant opportunities to support further investment.
We look forward to working with all our hirers and the local community. We will continue to offer very generous discounts for locals, especially those wishing to organise community and charity events. We can help with the cost, organisation, and publicity for any worthy cause.
We have a great venue with wonderful views, and easy access and parking, and wish to see this used and enjoyed by everyone in the local community.
Tom Cole cole.tom1111@gmail.com
TC/131025
:
Duncton Hall & Recreation Ground Registered Charity No 1076256 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2025
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Y/e May|2025|Y/e|May 2024|
|INCOME|£|£|
|Weddings|13,000.00|8,425.00|
|Classes,|meetings,|etc|5,545.50|5,195.00|
|Camping|508.00|1,153.00|
|Other|functions|5,178.25|4,730.25|
|Croquet|Club|2,648.20|3,097.13|
|Grants|0.00|0.00|
|Garage|rent|900.00|825.00|
|Damages|deposits c/fwd|0.00|400.00|
|Damages|deposits|retained|323.78|124.00|
|Interest|91.08|78.28|
|Miscellaneous|0.00|0.00|
|28,194.81|24,027.66|
|EXPENDITURE|
|Hall|manager|3,200.00|4,120.00|
|Rates|251.02|214.59|
|Electric|2,229.22|2,430.02|
|Water|368.38|757.48|
|Oil|0.00|0.00|
|Sceptic tank/bins|1,866.60|1,843.60|
|Cleaning|3,039.96|4,124.29|
|Grounds|maintenance|2,827.00|2,586.99|
|Decorating|0.00|0.00|
|Repairs/servicing|1,610.35|3,359.95|
|Misc|equipment|0.00|194.73|
|Phone/broadband|620.54|599.02|
|Insurance|1,035.54|1,036.47|
|Subscriptions/licenses|225.00|620.44|
|Sundries|200.00|82.25|
|Fixed|assets|0.00|0.00|
|Advertising|140.00|140.00|
|Website|322.79|280.80|
|Functions|0.00|134.78|
|Bank charges|60.00|96.00|
|17,996.40|22,621.41|
|Surplus|of income|over|expenditure|10,198.41|1,406.25|
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Cash book summary Balance b/fwd @ 1/6/24 39,633.21 ~ Receipts 58,701.03 ExpenditureBalance c/fwd @ 31/5/25 (48,502.62)49,831.62 pinn Fisher (IndependentP,19:995Examiner) Allocation of funds Cash book balance 49,831.62 Med.Andy Beadsley (Trebsurer) 10, (9 2S Capital reserve 15,000.00 Maintenance reserve 5,000.00 Village events 65.00 Damages deposits held 1,100.00 General Reserve 28,666.62 49,831.62
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Duncton Hall & Recrea�on Ground
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 May 2025 to which this report is a�ached.
Respec�ve responsibili�es of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required this year under sec�on 144(2) of the Chari�es Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examina�on is needed. It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under sec�on 145 of the 2011 Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Direc�ons given by the commission under sec�on 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
to state whether par�cular ma�ers have come to my a�en�on
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examina�on was carried out in accordance with the general Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission. An examina�on includes a review of the accoun�ng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considera�on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explana�ons from you as trustees concerning any such ma�ers. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those ma�ers set out in the next statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connec�on with my examina�on, no ma�er has come to my a�en�on:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accoun�ng records in accordance with sec�on 130 of the 2011 Act and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accoun�ng records and comply with the accoun�ng
-
requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or
(2) to which, in my opinion, a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of
the accounts to be reached
Name: John Fisher
Address: 24 Welden Drive, Chichester, West Sussex
Date: 10 October 2025