**Charity number: 1077058**
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
**(The Northampton U3A)**
**Trustees’ Annual Report and Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026**
1
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Legal and administrative information**
## **Registered charity number: 1077058**
## **Trustees:**
Stephen Brame (Interim Chair/Vice Chair) Jonquil Lowe (Interim Treasurer) Jackie Brame (Webmaster and Communications) Jane Evans (Group Liaison Officer) Pat Isaacs (Group Liaison Officer) Tony Kellett (Membership Secretary) Sue Marshall (Social Events) Susan Shurville
## **Contact address:**
6 Naomi Close Northampton NN3 3PG
## **Independent examiner** :
Natalie Green Natalie Green & Co Chartered Accountants 7G Mobbs Miller House Christchurch Road Northampton NN1 5LL
## **Bankers** :
The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
2
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2026**
The trustees present herewith their report and the annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026. The accounts consolidate all of the financial activities of the charity, comprising the main account (all general income and expenditure), the social account (trips and outings) and all group leaders’ summary accounts (individual study and leisure groups).
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a registered charity constituted as a trust, and is governed by its constitution adopted on 29 June 1999 as amended on 1 April 2025.
The management of the charity is vested in a Committee of trustees, consisting of at least five and not more than 12 members. Trustees, including the principal officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected annually by the membership at the annual general meeting.
All eligible persons interested in supporting the objectives of the charity are admitted to membership at the approval of the Committee and upon payment of an annual subscription.
## **Objectives and activities**
The Northampton University of the Third Age is part of the Third Age Trust (a national registered charity 288007). The objects of the charity, which is a public benefit entity, are:
- (I) To advance the education of the public and in particular the education of middle aged and older people who are not in full time employment in Northampton and its surrounding locality.
(II) The provision of facilities for leisure time and recreational activities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the above persons in the interests of their social welfare.
The charity enables members to share mutually-educational, creative and leisure activities. This is achieved through over 110 study and leisure groups, a monthly meeting with guest speaker, leisure and educational visits, theatre trips, national benefits from the Third Age Trust including magazines, courses and events, a local newsletter three times a year and regular social events.
In planning activities, the trustees keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Achievements and performance**
The charity has continued to fulfil its objectives by means of the activities as summarised above. Details of the income and expenditure for the year are set out in the statement of financial activities on page 4 of the annual report. Total income from all sources for the year amounted to £62,077 and total expenditure was £64,367. The deficit arising of £2,290 has been covered by reserves.
## **Policy on reserves**
Reserves are held to either meet specific identified liabilities, to fund special projects or for use as a contingency. The year end reserves are disclosed and analysed in note 8 to the accounts.
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by
**Stephen Brame** (Acting Chair) **Jonquil Lowe** (Interim Treasurer)
25 May 2026
25 May 2026
3
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Northampton University of the Third Age**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2026, which are set out on pages 4 to 9.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Natalie Green**
Chartered Accountant 7G Mobbs Miller House Christchurch Road Northampton NN1 5LL
Date: 26 May 2026
4
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2026**
|||**Un-**|**Restricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**restricted**|**Income**|**Total**|**Total**|
|||**funds**|**funds**|**2026**|**2025**|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from:**||||||
|Subscriptions||19,363|-|19,363|18,974|
|Events||2,225|-|2,225|2,101|
|Monthly meetings||-|-|-|-|
|Gift Aid||2,505|-|2,505|2,691|
|Miscellaneous||-|-|-|-|
|Investment income - bank||||||
|interest||1,211|-|1,211|1,141|
|Social activities|2|-|11,282|11,282|23,292|
|Subscriptions to individual||||||
|groups||-|25,491|25,491|21,731|
|**Total income**||25,304|36,773|62,077|69,930|
|**Expenditure on:**||||||
|Capitation and licences||7,852|-|7,852|7,896|
|Monthly meetings and events|3|8,542|-|8,542|7,544|
|Committee expenses|3|3,426|-|3,426|3,368|
|Other|3|7,322|-|7,322|6,149|
|Social activities|2|-|11,163|11,163|23,204|
|Expenditure by individual groups||-|26,062|26,062|20,054|
|**Total expenditure**||27,142|37,225|64,367|68,215|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**||(1,838)|(452)|(2,290)|1,715|
|Net income/(expenditure) for the||||||
|year (as above)||(1,838)|(452)|(2,290)|1,715|
|Total funds brought forward at 1||||||
|April 2025||23,097|11,583|34,680|32,965|
|Transfers between funds||5,000|(5,000)|-|-|
|**Total Funds carried forward at**|8|26,259|6,131|32,390|34,680|
|**31 March 2026**||||||
5
## **Northampton University of the Third**
## **Age**
## **Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2026**
|**Note**
**Current assets**
Debtors
5
Cash at bank and in hand
6
Creditors: amounts falling due
7
within one year
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity**
Unrestricted funds
8
Restricted funds
8
**Total funds**|**Un-**
**restricted**
**funds**
**£**
2,996
37,272
40,268
(14,009)
**26,259**
26,259
-
**26,259**|**Restricted**
**Income**
**funds**
**£**
-
6,574
6,574
(443)
**6,131**
-
6,131
**6,131**|**Total**
**31**
**March**
**2026**
**£**
2,996
43,846
46,842
(14,452)
**32,390**
26,259
6,131
**32,390**|**Total**
**31**
**March**
**2025**
**£**
4,477
46,042|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||50,519
(15,839)|
|||||**34,680**|
|||||23,097
11,583|
|||||**34,680**|
These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees on 5 May 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Stephen Brame (Acting Chair)
Jonquil Lowe (Interim Treasurer)
Date 25 May 2026
Date 25 May 2026
6
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026**
## 1 **Accounting policies**
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts, for periods starting before 1 January 2026, in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 (SORP 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102, September 2024), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The funds of the social account and the funds held by group leaders are restricted funds.
## **Income recognition**
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Subscriptions received during the financial year pertaining to the next financial year are not reflected in the current year statement of financial activities, but are carried forward as deferred income (shown on the balance sheet) to be reflected in next year’s statement of financial activities. For interest income which is paid periodically or on maturity, any part that was earned (but not paid) in the previous year is carried back to that year and any part earned this year but not yet paid is recognised this year as accrued interest.
Where income has related expenditure, the income and related expenditure are reported gross in the statement of financial activities. The exception is fees charged by payment service providers for subscriptions paid online or by credit card, where income is reported net of such fees.
## **Expenditure recognition**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where payments are made in the financial year which relate to the next financial year, the payment is not reflected in the current year statement of financial activities, but is carried forward as a prepayment (shown in the balance sheet) to be reflected in next year’s statement of financial activities.
## **Volunteer help**
The value of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.
7
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 - continued**
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised (and hence not shown in the statement of financial activities) if they have an expected useful economic life in excess of one year, and cost in excess of £2,000. Assets which do not meet these criteria are shown as expenditure in the statement of financial activities. An asset register is nevertheless maintained for all tangible fixed assets, regardless of cost, for the purpose of internal control.
## **2 Social activities**
|**Income**
Theatre
Trips
Group events
Annual holiday
_less_receipts in advance
**Expenditure**
Theatre
Trips
Group events
Annual holiday
Expenses prepaid
Surplus for the year
**3 Expenditure analysis**
**Monthly meetings and events**
Speakers
Room hire and refreshments
Events other than monthly meetings
**Committee expenses**
Telephone
Postage (including for Newsletters)
Travel
Printing and stationery
Room hire|**2026**
**£**
8,027
3,588
110
-
(443)
11,282
7,860
3,193
110
-
-
11,163
119
**2026**
**£**
936
5,318
2,288
8,542
5
3,090
64
166
101
3,426|**2025**
**£**
8,329
2,453
-
13,438
(928)|
|---|---|---|
|||23,292|
|||8,277
1,554
-
13,408
(35)|
|||23,204|
|||88|
|||**2025**
**£**
725
4,550
2,269|
|||7,544|
|||5
2,851
37
474
-
3,368|
8
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2026 - continued**
## **Other**
|**Other**|||
|---|---|---|
|Training
Equipment
Newsletters
Web and IT
Miscellaneous
Independent examination fee|2,025
506
3,277
509
375
630
7,322|-
372
4,178
409
560
630|
|||6,149|
## **4 Trustees Remuneration**
The trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year. Two trustees (2025: two) had mileage expenses reimbursed by the charity. The total sums reimbursed during the year amounted to £64 (2025: £37). The charity had no paid employees.
## **5 Debtors**
|Prepayments
Other debtors
**6 Cash at bank and in hand**
Current account - main account
Deposit accounts
Current account - social account
Monies held by group leaders|**2026**
**£**
2,986
10
2,996|**2025**
**£**
1,622
2,855|
|---|---|---|
|||4,477|
||**2026**
**£**
12,272
25,000
2,453
4,121
43,846|**2025**
**£**
8,535
30,031
2,784
4,692|
|||46,042|
9
## **Northampton University of the Third Age**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 - continued**
## **7 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year**
|**7 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Deferred income (receipts in advance)
Accruals|**2026**
**£**
13,298
1,154
14,452|**2025**
**£**
15,209
630|
|||15,839|
## **8 Statement of funds**
|**8 Statement of funds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds|**At**
**1 April**
**2025**
**£**
23,097
11,583
34,680|**Net income/**
**(expenditur**
**e) £**
(1,838)
(452)
(2,290)|**Other**
**movemen**
**ts**
**£**
5,000
(5,000)
-|**At**
**31**
**March**
**2026**
**£**
26,259
6,131|
|||||32,390|
The unrestricted funds represent the free funds of the charity which are not designated for specific purposes. The restricted funds related to unexpended income intended for specific purposes.
In 2013, a loan of £5,000 was made from the unrestricted fund to the social account (a restricted fund) to provide working capital. As the loan is no longer required, it was repaid to the unrestricted fund during the 2026 year.
The restricted funds comprise:
|Social account fund
Group leaders' funds|**2026**
**£**
2,010
4,121
6,131|**2025**
**£**
6,891
4,692|
|---|---|---|
|||11,583|
## **9 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions requiring disclosure during the year (2025: none).