**ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2023** The Trustees of the Dorridge u3a (“the Trustees”) are pleased to present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **1. Reference and Administrative Information** **1.1 Charity Name:** Dorridge University of the Third Age (“Dorridge u3a”, “the Charity”) **Charity Registration Number:** 1097335 ## **1.2 Office:** 5 Bushwood Drive, 6 Glendon Way, Dorridge, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8JL. Solihull, B93 8SY. _(to 16[th] October 2023) (from 16[th] October 2023)_ **Email:** u3adorridge@gmail.com **Website:** www.dorridgeu3a.co.uk ## **1.3 The Trustees:** The following Members, who are trustees for the purposes of charity law and who served during the year and up to the date of this report (unless indicated otherwise), are set out below: Chair: William Foster Vice-chair & Group Activity Advisor: David Brittin Vice-chair & Membership Secretary: Elizabeth Mansell Treasurer: Stephen Boulton Secretary: Robert Beckham _(to 16[th] October 2023)_ Secretary: Patricia Lawrence _(from 16[th] October 2023)_ Speaker Secretary: Robert Mansell Visits Coordinator & Village Hall Liaison: Patricia Lawrence Website Coordinator: Elizabeth Murray Minutes Secretary: Kay Ashley Member: Joy Harrison Member: Margaret Lilley Member: Jenni Ord _(co-opted 16[th] October 2023)_ ## **1.4 Independent Examiner:** Richard Savage, 388 Station Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8ES. ## **1.5 Bankers:** HSBC Bank plc, 34 Poplar Road, Solihull, B91 3AF. ## **1.6 Website & Crier:** Crier Editor: Peter Derrington Webmasters: Richard Arbuthnot & David Archer **Page 1 of 7** **ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2023** ## **2. Dorridge u3a** u3a is a UK-wide movement of locally run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun. Members explore new ideas, skills, and activities together. The u3a national body – the Third Age Trust – looks after more than one thousand u3as with nearly 400,000 members in the UK, providing educational and administrative support. Dorridge u3a is affiliated to the national body and has over 500 members participating in over 40 interest groups. ## **2.1 Objectives and Activities:** The charity’s object (“the object”) is the advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full-time work, using all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Dorridge and the surrounding area. ## **2.2 Policies and Values:** The Policies and Values of Dorridge U3A may be viewed by visiting the Dorridge u3a website, or by following this link: Policies and Values - Dorridge U3A ## **2.3 Constitution:** Similarly, the Dorridge u3A Constitution may be viewed here: Constitution - Dorridge U3A ## **2.4 Structure and Management:** Dorridge u3a members may be either _**Individual**_ or _**Associate**_ members. Both styles of membership enjoy the same rights, but _**Individual**_ members make financial contributions directly to the running of the u3A national body, whereas _**Associate**_ members do this via their membership of another affiliated u3a club, and consequently benefit from reduced annual subscriptions to Dorridge u3a. Dorridge u3a is managed by an elected committee of between 5 and 15 trustees who are paid-up members of the Charity and including, as a minimum, the following Officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary & Treasurer. Trustees are normally elected at the Annual General Meeting, but up to 3 may be coopted during the year. An Annual General Meeting will be called each year, within 15 months of the date of the previous AGM, for the purpose of reviewing the performance of the Charity during the previous accounting period, and for the election of Trustees and Officers of the Charity. Special General Meetings (“Executive Committee Meetings”) may be called at intervals during the year, at the prerogative of the Trustees. Other rules & procedures governing the management of Dorridge u3a may be found in the Dorridge u3a Constitution: Constitution - Dorridge U3A **2.5 Financial, Reserves Policy & Governance:** **Page 2 of 7** ## **ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2023** The trustees of Dorridge u3a are responsible for: - Safeguarding the assets of the Dorridge u3a. - Identifying and managing the risk of loss, waste, theft or fraud. - Ensuring the financial reporting is robust and of sufficient quality. - Keeping financial records in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation (e.g. Charities Acts, Companies Acts etc). - Preparing Annual Accounts in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation. - The accounts should show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of Dorridge u3a. Trustees are jointly responsible for keeping full financial records. These include those of the u3a and all the interest groups, sub-groups etc., where appropriate. To enable the trustees to carry out these responsibilities, the financial procedures detailed below will be followed. A copy of this policy will be given to all trustees on their election/appointment to the committee and made available to members on the website. The policy will be kept under review and revised as necessary. ## **2.6 Reserves Policy:** Dorridge u3a aims to keep a level of reserves that will cover six months of day-to-day expenses. This refers to the direct level of Expenses incurred and does include the selffunding elements of the various interest groups. ## **2.7 Governance:** At the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 18[th] May 2023, the meeting resolved to appoint Richard Savage as Independent Examiner for the year to 31[st] December 2023. ## **3. Achievements and Performance 2023** ## **3.1 Chair’s Review of the Year:** At the AGM on 7[th] March 2024, William Foster commented that the change of AGM date from mid-May to early March would mean that his second year as chair would be less than twelve months. Membership remains at over 500 (511), still the largest in the Solihull. This continues to provide a firm foundation and solid income, allowing good speakers to be secured for the twice monthly general meetings, which had attracted a good attendance throughout the last year. He expressed his thanks to the Speaker Secretary, Bob Mansell, for his sterling work in providing a good balance of speaker topics and also to those who have made refreshments, meeted and greeted, and helped with the chairs over the past year. One of the big successes had been, of course, the annual pantomime. Cinderella appeared to have found great favour with everyone, despite the last-minute reservations of the cast! Dorridge u3a has a wide range of activity groups, most of which remain popular, but with a few struggling with low membership numbers. As an experiment, group leaders had been asked to attend the AGM, so that they could talk to prospective new members after **Page 3 of 7** ANNUAL REPORT of tho Tru3te•8 of Dorridg• u3a, year ended 31 December 2023 the main business of the AGM had been concluded. He reminded members that ifthere wasn't a group for a topic oftheir interest. they could always start one! Representatives from allthe Solihull u3a's meet three orfour times a yearto share ideas. To help keep Dorridge u3a to the fore William had recentlyvolunteered to be chair of this cluster group, together with Bob M8nsell on its committee. Finally. he expressed his thanks to all the committee for all their hard work throughout the year to keep Dorridge u38 running smoothly. Obviously, the committee were on the lookout for new. enthusiastic people to replace those members who had served their nominalterms of office. 3.2 Speaker Secretary's Report: Dorridge U3A always seeks to engage good quality speakers for our general meetings of which we have Mo per month. in totalwe usually booktwenty-two speakers, with two of the dates being kept for the AGM and an in-house quiz. We regularly have an attendance of 70 to 80 members forthe general meetings. which is b8ckto where it was pre-covid. It has become noticeable since the Covid lockdown that speaker costs have started to rise. with a number of speakers now charging £100 plus, additionally more speakers charge travel expenses on top of theirfee. Our anticipated speaker costs forthe current year12024) will be in the region of £1600. although the cost for one of the talks {21 st November- £1501 will be paid out of the Louisa Jakeman bequest. 3.3 Tr8asurer'$ R8POrt and Fln8nclal Statement: al The Treasurer reviewed the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023, previously issued to all members, and attached below. b) The Treasurer proposed approvalforthe accounts forthe year ending 31 December 2023: seconded bysue Berridge and approved by those present. cl The Chair proposed the appointment of Chris Price as Independent Examinerfor du3a forthe accountingyear ending 31 December 2024. seconded by Robert Beckham and approved bythose present. d) The Treasurer proposed approval ofthe budget and annual subscription for the year starting 1 January 2025; seconded by Bob Mansell and approved by those present. The Treasurer, Stephen Boulton, explained that he was stepping down as Treasurer at this AGM. and advised that David Archer has offered to take up the position. if elected uncontested. Stephen recorded his thanks to the Committee and to the membership during his time in office. The Chair recorded his thanks to Stephen Boulton, David Archer. Richard Savage 8nd' Chris Price. Approved bythe Dorridge u38 Committee on 15" April 2024 and signed on its behalf by: William Foster Chair David Archer HonoraryTreasurer Page4 of7 R•o•lpls Aod Paym•nts 4Gcwrt{•x¢ludlw A¢fjvity Orow>& I￿1 Leg•¢les1 £8,4qO £2ts0 £1FA) ,J81 £1.41 £6.740 £2,032 £i,Jx* r2,1 £1,Th3 t521 £2.10) £1. £1.4 £17 £t.otyJ £1.401 £924 tl.070 £394 EXQ £1,715 fJ7S 43 £10 É144 ij￿¥ &125 £19) t190 £102 .E10 C￿￿.19(0 £144 e1&J ¢150 É245 £175 £1 1116 E1th) £1CQ £210 £279 7oi•l £V,191 E&310 8wpWII)•ftM)lorth•>Mr L•o•du 0￿U￿1 t21.W ÈS,413 £20.1¢4 £5.SBJ t1.744 -t170 £14.620 £is.?Is sès £2.416 £2.4d3 £135 6t•t•m•n¢ •nd ￿bIlly14 Itthe •lld¢ltM perto¢l Ca*hatb￿k￿￿d1kn hathj £1.490 nh•vJ T•wA•s•ts 3.157 Yrv41wftr3n 0￿1 £sis £7￿ £$37 ,744 4174 e1,941 4515 -¢135 4B 15 £10. E8,5ts7 1SJOV24 Th•tyu5tettha¥ea W•tsyowr￿ltsrf￿ TrtA*wfSho¥￿f*W¢]tt1d0mglI1¢￿￿￿md Is used¥•pr¢*￿lfityI￿10TthQChlrlV,sll￿1fj•S%￿rs1t thtrtstholtrsttywr. Thh15&)ht dw1nithetutt¢nt￿r, kYlry¥otheAGM.Wlththese lftf*ontcfffithetTUSt•QSe&Ddee&d¢ofi arty•¢Yon bywbv suburSptWor¢4•Trth*wEhiwofn*thl•qWthit DfSb*lE•5thrfwthèfolloWn¢wr. I hav•w*rinqdih•rerorthknJ •eWts0fO￿WujA$lXlflbIl￿IIl th•¥(u￿￿1¥ 11JVV14 Gru 8.70 S10.50 301￿7 431LV D•nr* 147.57 580.Q) 780QO .79).Ll) •ox4J 117.•] G•r¢*n*q 1600 -1¢. 138.00 -140 ITGro 6.11 579.00 42.Cx) JOAI P•rrt*th $2.06 1.713.95 77100 7.14 ojo .TTO io Aa¢k•ttsM 3440 3W.00 40200 J4AO 02.00 2Ji.NJ e7300 T*bk* I 1,121AO -1.120 C T*bl• 2 2,04Df)) 1,010U) 1.903 2,03e.L)) 3,040. Zl*.CQ 1.3b).ty) 40 T4AA• T•Mh 3 T*bk• 4 120 34.15 27.15 T*J• T•nn 4.ow CO 4.010.CO T4ts* T•nTh Tabl• Tenrts T -1￿IK• .1￿.C¢ -1XOA*J T*1• T•nr Nt*TTtsblHfr 20J TOTALJ 76&79 -20.115. Glltr. (Char) ChW$ and Tn￿le•S R*P￿ts Publk 8eTrtht All monies passlng through the ch3ritVs accountsare forthe purpose of the tharfty meetlry its obRcts- There are no dÈ5i8nated fiKK15 KKluded. The trustees have a budget prepared for the next year showkng projections of recLMpts arKI pa￿Tren￿ This is used to project fyures forthe tharirfs Ibwid assets at the endof that￿￿t. This is duruw the current year. pr¢orto the AGM. Wrth these in front ofthem. Ihetrustees can decHleon afryaction needed tyway of increasingor dec￿$11* memlxrf subsuwkns or plan the purthase otr*eded equbment or ser dur5ng tlje followireyear. are In Ilne %%ilh thÈ [K￿er￿￿¥d rBtxxds arKI Ih3t matters h￿e cryn8 lo myatten1x￿ Ihal sh￿th￿ bo Slgned Mr RKhard