ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2025
The Trustees of the Dorridge u3a (“the Trustees”) are pleased to present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
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: 6 Glendon Way, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8SY.
Email: du3asecretary@gmail.com Website: www.dorridgeu3a.co.uk
1.3 The Trustees:
The following Members, who are trustees for the purposes of charity law, served during the year and up to the date of this report (unless indicated otherwise):
Chair: William Foster Vice-chair & Group Activity Advisor: David Brittin Vice-chair & Membership Secretary: Elizabeth Mansell Treasurer: David Archer Secretary: Pat Lawrence Speaker Secretary: Robert Mansell Visits Coordinator: Kate O’Hara Website Coordinator: Elizabeth Murray / Stephen Boulton Minutes Secretary: Elizabeth Murray Member: Joy Harrison Member: Margaret Lilley Member: Jenni Ord Member: Stephen Boulton Member: Stephen Cheshire
1.4 Independent Examiner:
Christopher Price, 8 Gilbury Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 8JZ.
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
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ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2025
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
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ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2025
2.5 Financial, Reserves Policy & Governance:
The trustees of Dorridge u3a are responsible for:
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Safeguarding the assets of the Dorridge u3a.
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Identifying and managing the risk of loss, waste, theft or fraud.
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Ensuring the financial reporting is robust and of sufficient quality.
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Keeping financial records in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation (e.g. Charities Acts, Companies Acts etc).
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Preparing Annual Accounts in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation.
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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 6[th] March 2025, the meeting resolved to appoint Christopher Price as Independent Examiner for the year to 31[st] December 2025.
3. Achievements and Performance 2024
3.1 Chair’s Review of the Year:
We again held our AGM in March rather than May and the move has proved successful in encouraging more members to attend. Attendance figures have also been swelled by the committee’s decision to continue to provide an activity group fair at the AGM whereby group leaders can talk to prospective new group members after the conclusion of the main business.
Dorridge u3a has a wide range of activity groups and several new groups have started this year including cycling and photography, and another has been resurrected, classical music appreciation.
Membership continues to grow and we are now approaching 600 members. One reason for this is the popularity and increasing number of outings arranged by our Outings organiser. A number of members of other local u3as have joined Dorridge in order to take advantage of priority booking.
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ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2025
We continue to secure excellent speakers for the twice monthly general meetings, which attract a good attendance throughout the year, sometimes reaching three figures. Once again, a small group of members performed a pantomime in November for the benefit of the rest of the membership, which was well received. This year’s production was Jack and beanstalk.
Several members of the committee are approaching a decade of committee membership, and this continuity has helped to make Dorridge u3a the local success that it is. I remain grateful for their support and hard work throughout the year.
Additionally, I continued to chair the Solihull Cluster of u3as although it struggles to recruit members to its committee.
3.2 Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statement:
2025 concludes another successful year for Dorridge U3A.
Our General Fund (i.e. excluding Group Funds & Legacies) showed a significant increase in Income, with both subscription income increased as a result of a larger membership, and an unexpected source of income form the Riviera Travel scheme.
Expenditure was broadly as forecast with no significant capital expenditure although the Committee has allocated £700 for the purchase of a new laptop. Overall, our General Funds showed a surplus of £2,928 compared with £177 in 2024.
The various group have all been very active during the year. Worthy of comment are the Outings Group which included visits to Burghley House & Stamford, the Malvern Spring Festival, the National Memorial Arboretum and Blenheim Palace at Christmas, and, of course, the Panto Group, which put on another successful production (Jack & the Beanstalk).
Net General Fund Reserves £10,310 (compared with £7,382 in 2024)
The budget for 2026 was based on the following assumptions:
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a) Membership as per 2025 (530 full members, 60 associate members.
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b) 5% increase in Third Age Trust subscription, Third Age Matters and Beacon Licence fee.
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c) General Meeting speakers’ fees as provided by the Speaker Secretary.
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d) Modest increases in line with inflation elsewhere. £700 allocated for the purchase of a new laptop.
To achieve a balanced budget in 2026, our forecast indicated that we did not need any increase in annual fees. The Committee considered this in October 2025 and resolved to keep 2026 subscriptions at their 2025 levels, namely £17 per full member and £11 for Associate Members. This has been implemented.
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ANNUAL REPORT of the Trustees of Dorridge u3a, year ended 31 December 2025
The Treasurer offers his sincere thanks to the following:
Christopher Price for his role as Independent Examiner. Stephen Boulton for his assistance during the year and in the preparation of the 2025 Annual Accounts.
The various Group Leaders for their punctuality in payments of their funds. Chairman William Foster and other Members of the Dorridge u3a Executive Committee.
The Chair recorded his thanks to Stephen Boulton, David Archer, and Chris Price.
Approved by the Dorridge u3a AGM on 5[th] March 2026, and signed on its behalf by:
William Foster Chair
David Archer
Honorary Treasurer
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Poslllon at 31.Dec.25 R•¢•tptsaThJ PayMts acc¢tht1oxcknllffj Aclmty Group4 Outtrysal L•91•) 2024 21 £9.670 •rn•£I7••£lj ¢422 EI0.7 £tM £1328 £iwJ £1.4eD £1.521 £1.70J swa£11ih#d ÉI.OY7 £1,302 £1 £1 £173 £37 £ir £1th) É1 £1CQ %219 £191 É120 £107 £1 £7, £gM47 ei.928 E17T 7) Qroup £24.498 £8. t23. £6,778 El $70 4124 2024 £S.241 £1.810 £1 £J,l( £2231 T&AlcMh•tbY•ndlnhnd £12rt41 £f42eg £12 £10 £11 DU1 t11 £7W4 £in £7 £424 £7AI8 £1Q5111 Q.170 £ 4570 4124 £515 i¥0 £3.Ot5 £J2 £2.170 £9315 £12.831 ¢10,7 £11.L411 £11m4 tothÈA6M WththE5e1nfvLldihth.th*llIttS(ndOtIéQOftlY1ttnEÈdd6yWayOf
ACTIVITY GROUP BALANCES
| 01-Jan-25 Receipts Payments Art Group 23.20 426.00 -450.00 Ballroom Dancing 1.00 318.50 -319.50 Bridge 241.57 520.00 -488.00 Choir 74.00 825.76 -1,007.89 Film Group 122.00 945.00 -600.00 Gardening History Group 32.00 IT Group 399.11 196.00 -450.00 Musicals 660.00 -720.00 Opera 214.41 240.00 -93.30 Panto Group 424.72 1,375.52 -1,801.11 Pickleball 0.90 Racket ball 34.40 400.00 -400.00 Science 214.00 372.00 -490.00 Short Mat Bowls -61.51 796.26 -798.50 Table Tennis 1 1,350.00 -1,300.00 Table Tennis 2 48.00 2,452.00 -2,450.00 Table Tennis 3 1,200.00 -1,200.00 Table Tennis 4 48.00 2,452.00 -2,500.00 Table Tennis 5 48.00 2,402.00 -2,450.00 Table Tennis 6 2,450.00 -2,500.00 Table Tennis 7 96.00 2,567.00 -2,500.00 Table Tennis 8 2,550.00 -2,550.00 New TT tables fund 210.33 TOTALS 2,170.13 24,498.04 -25,068.30 Outings 480.21 8,808.00 -8,932.05 CHARITY COMMISSION REPORTING FIGURES 2025 Income £10,780 Legacies Groups £24,498 Outings £8,808 Total Income £44,086 Expenditure £7,852 Legacies Groups £25,068 Outings £8,932 Total Expenditure £41,852 |
31-Dec-25 -0.80 273.57 -108.13 467.00 32.00 145.11 -60.00 361.11 -0.87 0.90 34.40 96.00 -63.75 50.00 50.00 -50.00 163.00 210.33 1,599.87 356.16 2024 £8,708 £23,785 £6,778 £39,271 £8,530 £150 £24,115 £6,665 £39,461 |
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