Annual Report Pershore & District Pershore & District u3a 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
It has been another lively year for Pershore & District u3a and I am pleased to report, once again, that membership has grown and our finances are in good shape.
Thanks to our amazing Group Leaders, we are fortunate to enjoy an impressive range of stimulating interest groups covering physical activities, study opportunities and social engagement. The number of groups remains in the mid 90s. Some groups have closed, whilst new exercise, dancing, study and walking groups have started up. The Trips group has proved extremely popular, organising coach trips to Port Sunlight and St Fagan’s National Museum, and is planning a full list of destinations for the 2024-5 year.
Our Group Leaders are the heart of u3a, organizing activities for everyone to enjoy. To thank them, we hosted a Group Leaders’ lunch in June, where around 50 leaders got together to socialise and celebrate their efforts. Our Groups Coordinator, John Wright, has also done an amazing job supporting existing groups and helping new ones to get started.
Helping new members to find their feet continues to be a focus and thanks go to Ingrid Fox for organising New Members’ meetings, and to our "Buddies" team who look out for new members at Monthly Meetings and help them to feel comfortable and connected. In future, our CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) meetings will give new members the opportunity to meet committee members and learn about the u3a, as well as providing a chance for long-standing members to share ideas and socialise.
Monthly Meetings have been a highlight on the u3a calendar, thanks to Sally Whyte’s excellent work as Speaker Coordinator. Attendance continues to grow and the interesting subject matter of our talks often attracts guests in the audience, raising the profile of the u3a locally and even recruiting new members. For those unable to be present in person, we offer virtual attendance via Zoom. Thank you to Peter Burnham for managing our Zoom sessions smoothly, when the technology at Number 8 has allowed us to offer them. When this has not been possible, meetings have been recorded and made available online. Peter’s technical skills have also been applied to managing Beacon, our administration system, and will be missed when he steps down from the committee in January.
Following two years as Newsletter Editor, Rosie Chandler stepped down in September to take up a new position as Accessibility Officer, helping the committee to be conscious of equality, diversity and inclusion issues, an area that we are committed to prioritising. We feel that it is important to do everything we can to help members remain connected with our u3a.
The monthly newsletter remains a key way to stay in touch with members and share news about our groups and activities. Thanks go to Helen Baldwin for stepping into the role of Editor and continuing to produce engaging newsletters. Our website is also a key communications tool and has recently undergone a major migration to a new platform, ably managed by our web team, Mary Greer and Sally Whyte.
A social highlight on the calendar, our u3a Quiz nights, organized by Ian Smith, have been lively and full of good-natured competition. Thank you to Ian for the wide assortment of interesting and amusing questions he keeps us entertained with each Quiz Night.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an essential event each year and thanks to Jill Wilson, it runs smoothly and complies with all legal requirements. To abide by our
Reg. Charity No. 1093328 – Charity Address: 107 Farleigh Road, Pershore, WR10 1JY
constitution, after nine years of service Jill is stepping down from the committee at the next AGM. On behalf of all members, I sincerely thank her for her thoughtful leadership during her time as Chair, her dedication and significant contribution to the success and smooth running of our u3a.
We started the financial year with 763 members and ended it with exactly 800. Whilst this marks growth, the rate has fallen slightly from that of recent years. We held just one Open Day event this year, supporting the national “u3a Day” campaign in September. Thanks are due to Ingrid Fox for organising a welcoming and successful Open Day, and to Mary Greer for the excellent job she has done to manage new memberships and renewals.
Financially, we are in a strong position. Treasurer Ian Smith has provided clear reports, ensuring we can support Interest Groups with equipment and startup costs. His Annual Accounts report explains any year-on-year differences and I encourage you to read it.
As my three years as Chair come to an end, I am mindful of the significant challenge our u3a is facing: encouraging members to volunteer. Despite several appeals for help, we have been unable to find people to take on some key committee roles. As a result, we need to propose a change to our constitution to extend officer terms from three years to four. If this resolution is passed, we will be deeply grateful to those committee members who have kindly agreed to continue beyond their original term. However, some committee positions will remain unfilled, and more will become vacant in the next 12 months. If volunteers do not come forward to take on these roles, our u3a could be at serious risk of closure.
Recruiting more Group Leaders is also a key part of this challenge. Unfortunately, some popular Interest Groups have had to close when leaders have stepped down and no replacement could be found. On a positive note, those who have stepped forward as new leaders often share how much they’ve enjoyed the role and how it has positively contributed to their lives.
None of our u3a activities are possible without contributions from members who volunteer – a founding u3a principle of “by the members, for the members”. If your life has been enriched by your u3a activities, but you haven’t yet volunteered, please take a moment to consider how you might contribute to the ongoing success of our u3a. To everyone who has given their time over the last 12 months, thank you — you make u3a the wonderful organization it is.
Jackie Jolley, Chair, December 2024
A big thank you to our hardworking committee for keeping everything running smoothly over the last 12 months. They are a conscientious team and I hugely appreciate their dedication and support.
Sally Whyte – Vice Chair and Speaker Coordinator Ian Smith – Treasurer
Mary Greer - Membership Secretary Jill Wilson – Business Secretary John Wright – Groups’ Coordinator Ingrid Fox – New Members’ Facilitator
Peter Burnham – Beacon Administrator and Zoom Technical Support Rosie Chandler – Accessibility Officer Helen Barrett – Business Secretary Deputy
Reg. Charity No. 1093328 – Charity Address: 107 Farleigh Road, Pershore, WR10 1JY
rshore & District u3a. Finanelal Statsm Règistarsd Charity No. 1093528 Yea¥ Ended . 30 Septem1 2024 Yar tv 30K19r2024 Incomè and EXyltsjV• Incon GrouF6 Grgu Don'ons Memt)ership HMRC Funcljons Bank Interest - u3a man•JwJ - 8ell man&god 8,528.04 12,520.20 479.15 10.185.60 1.580.66 5,105.08 17,391.89 74.08 9.458.77 2.377.93 89.00 94.41 244.03 Total Income 33.595.28 28.591.22 Exp8ndrtwg Groups. - u38 manageo Gioups . 88if managgJ Group Contributions Nwl momr$ Meelin Stationery Nabonai Postage Printing MM- Roorn Hire MM- SFeaker3 MM - Zoorn Monthly Meetlngs Room Hire 8ank Charges mcellOne0Us Funclons 21ST cdebrattjn Trainfftg EoiiyntY)t 8,877.51 12.439. 70.07 51. 3,788.29 11,476.77 171.41 196.54 117.09 5.348.82 194.38 255.11 5.795.80 258.54 197.80 525.80 876.50 187.08 987.60 789.20 268.68 1.529.18 436. 128.84 324.C6 1.681.38 256.00 125.19 120 23 705.75 50.00 330.00 28.98 75.tij 1.051.85 T¢)tsl Expenditure 31.792.08 24,843.94 Net IncomellExppndllure) 1,803.20 3.747.28 Net GTOUP Incomd(Exw¢thir•l (268 531 1,231.91 Net Retalne4J IncoM(EXpend1rnj 2,071.73 2,515.37 8aJanc• Sheql Cash 8t 8enk andm Sa¥in9S Currenl Cosh hdd by Groups Pety Cash 11.5(NJ.97 351.75 1,749.7T 201.81 9.281.34 518.14 1,151511.YJ 577.59 13,804.30 12,045.90 Relned Funds Brought Forward Net Incom&(ExwiibJrel 8.670.50 2.071.73 6.155.13 2.515.37 10,742.tJ B.670.50 CFe¢ 4260 87.40 Hekl for GThp$ Drought forwerd Net in year movement 3.2a6.00 288.53} 2,056.09 1,231.91 3.019.47 3.288.LVJ 13.804.30 12.045.90 Sioned.. Jackne Jol, Ch¥ Per3hore & lan Sm , Troasuw Pernhore & DtTl u38
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Persh0 & District u38 On accounts forthe year ended 30 September 2024 Charity no (if any) 1093328 Set out on pages .'mpmbw kn inca&de the page nufrkn of 3ddiliDnaF sheel¥l I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3010912024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charrty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (llhe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's ac£ounts camed out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Direth'ons given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I cotffirm that no material matters have examiner'8 8tatement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disdosed belcw ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the a(Lounts did not ard with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements Conming the fomi and content of acuntS set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concem5 and have corne acr055 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. Signed: Name: Mary Kingdon Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 4 Huntsman Close. Drakes Broughton, Pershore Worcs IM110 2BQ IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018