St Matthew’s Community Halls Highfield Road Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria LA14 5HZ Telephone 01229 871234 Email: stmatthews_halls@btconnect.com Web: www.stmatthewscommunityhalls.org.uk Registered Charity: 1094096
Annual Report for 2023
We began the year running our Warm Spot in conjunction with Cumbria Community Foundation. However it was poorly attended with only about half a dozen people per week. At the end of the Warm Spot period we ran at a loss of about £220.00.
Also this years’ service from Castle Alarms found several emergency lights needed to be replaced and batteries in others needing replacement totaling £915.20.
We had to unblock drains in the car park, gutters and a repair to the drain in the garden totaling £673.66.
Some plaster work was required in the scout den costing £250.
Also some repairs to the scout den roof costing £900.
We also had to replace the door in the scout den after the break-in costing £1461.
We also had LED lighting installed in the lower Hall costing £2100.
In May we received communication from EON advising us that we have been underpaying our energy bills over the winter and our direct debits will be increased accordingly.
Neal Andrews, the Property Manager has been in touch to let us know the lease for the church will be completed soon, with an increase from 30 years to 125 year lease. Neal also pointed out the planning permission has expired and we would have to reapply.
Barrow Borough Council has confirmed planning permission has expired and have sent the forms to fill in to renew them.
Barrow Borough Council have informed us of the Elections on 4[th] May in the upper hall.
Beaumont College have now left the halls for their new premises in Ulverston.
We had more leaks in the lower hall in June costing £290.
Our printer finally died and had to be replaced £1738.80.
The defibrillator donated by Imperial School of Dance has its pads out of date and new pads are about £90 each. Though there is a question of who should pay for them, as they would need replacing every two years & Imperial School of Dance are reluctant in covering the costs. Anthony Cullen said that he had access to some pads that we could possibly use to replace them.
We now have a diabetes prevention and chronic fatigue groups using the halls.
We have installed LED lighting in the upper hall to replace old fluorescent lights that no longer work costing £1280.
In December Adele Dean joined the committee representing the Nattering Knitters.
We have had some new phones installed, however it hasn’t been plain sailing from the beginning. We were originally told we would have cheaper bills being reduced from £169 per month to £116 per month also we would have no more phone charges and there would be a one off payment of £75 for the equipment. The equipment hadn’t arrived when BT phoned to ask how we were getting on with the new equipment which hadn’t arrived. We were told it would be re-ordered & a few days later it arrived, but didn’t work. So we had to have an engineer come out and fix it, which they charged us £811 for, although he did get it working. We then had an issue just before Christmas when we lost everything. No phone or broadband which lasted for a week. More engineers came out and apparently we had been disconnected at the green cabinet down the road. Then in January we received a letter asking us to return the equipment. Speaking to BT on the phone they said we weren’t paying the bills. We checked our bank statements to confirm we have as we were paying by direct debit. They insisted we haven’t paid and owe them in excess of £3000 for another account which we have no knowledge of. We have disputed their claim and lodged a complaint. They have in the meantime referred us to a debt collection agency and are now claiming £4500. We contacted the debt collection agency who offered us 90 days to pay. However we said we don’t know what we’re being asked to pay for. He said he would ask BT to provide us with an itemized invoice for the claim. This is still ongoing.
My final note for this year is that I reminded the committee at the last AGM that we need to find a new Treasurer to replace Paul Robson. As nobody stepped forward I offered to stand in as Acting Treasurer for the year. I have to be honest that I am not comfortable continuing with the role and ask that someone else takes it on. I should also remind the Trustees that it is a legal requirement under the Charities Act to provide a new Treasurer within 12 months of a vacancy. Failure to do so results in the closure of the charity.
St Matthew's Community Halls
St Matthew's Community Halls No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 1/1/2023 12/31/2023 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||
| Venue Hire | 38,015 | - | - | 38,015 | 29,058 | |||||
| Grants | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total | 38,015 | - | - | 38,015 | 29,058 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, | ||||||||||
| etc. | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Total receipts ** | 38,014.94 | - | - | 38,015 | 29,058 | |||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||
| Wages 14,566 - - 14,566 12,115 Rates 245 - - 245 1,380 Water Rates 208 - - 208 229 Heat & Power 14,057 - - 14,057 2,845 Insurance 2,696 - - 2,696 2,508 Repairs 15,435 - - 15,435 8,443 Telephone 2,107 - - 2,107 1,534 Accountancy 526 - - 526 472 Sundries 512 - - 512 101 Office/Premises 4,623 - - 4,623 - Sub total 54,975 - - 54,975 29,627 - - - - - Total payments 54,975 - - 54,975 29,627 A4 Asset and investment purchases, etc. ~~ge~~ |
||||||||||
| **Net of receipts/(payments) ** | - 16,960 | - | - | - 16,960 | - 569 | |||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | ||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 31,036 | - | - | 31,036 | 31,605 | |||||
| **Cash funds this year end ** | 14,076 | - | - | 14,076 | 31,036 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details Current Account Deposit Account Cash Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ 14,112 1 19 14,132 Agreement Error to nearest £ - - - - - - Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
to nearest £ - - - - OK to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds Restricted funds Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Print Name
Date of approval
St Matthews Community Hall
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of St Matthews Community Hall
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on page 2.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
As the charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiners Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanation form you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiners Statement
In Connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
-
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
-
To prepare accounts which agree with the accounting records and to comply with the
-
accounting requirements of the Act have not been met, or
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To which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
L Abenb ……………………………………………….. VA L Allonby TI Accountancy Ltd
74 Duke Street Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA14 1RX
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT St Matthews Community Hall For The Period Ending: 31/12/2023
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts: | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Hire of Halls | 38014.94 | 29057.70 | ||
| Bank Interest | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Other Income | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 38014.94 | 29057.70 | |||
| Less Payments: | ||||
| Wages | 11315.89 | 9240.30 | ||
| Stipend | 3250.00 | 2875.00 | ||
| 14565.89 | 12115.30 | |||
| Overheads: | ||||
| Warmspot | 507.07 | 1379.67 | ||
| Office Expenses | 4423.23 | 229.15 | ||
| Accountancy Fees | 525.60 | 2845.20 | ||
| Telephone | 2106.62 | 2508.27 | ||
| Refund | 0.00 | 8443.12 | ||
| Business Insurance | 2696.11 | 1533.77 | ||
| Bank Fees | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Rates | 245.43 | 471.90 | ||
| Repairs & Maintenance | 15434.85 | 0.00 | ||
| Water Rates | 208.01 | 0.00 | ||
| Sundries | 5.00 | 100.63 | ||
| Heat & Power | 14057.17 | |||
| Rent | 200.00 | |||
| 40409.09 | 17511.71 | |||
| Net profit | -16960.04 | -569.31 | ||
| Statement of assets at 31st December 2023 | ||||
| Cash Funds | ||||
| Bank Current Account at 31st December 2023 | 14112.33 | 30962.28 | ||
| Bank Deposit Account at 31st December 2023 | 0.62 | 0.62 | ||
| Cash at 31st December 2023 | 18.68 | 128.77 | ||
| 14131.63 | 31091.67 | |||
| Accumulated Fund | ||||
| Opening Fund Assets: | 31091.67 | 31604.98 | ||
| Unpresented Cheques | 56.00 | |||
| Net profit for the year | -16960.04 | -569.31 | ||
| Fund Assets for 31st December 2023 | 14131.63 | 31091.67 | ||
| 0.00 | 0.00 |