BELMONT PARISH HALLREPORT: 2025
With an annual footfall of over 19,000 I think it’s fair to see we continue to be very busy! The hall is used by thirty groups/organisations on a regular basis and often has bookings for parties, etc on a weekend.
While our financial basis remains sound, increases in running costs are rising all the time. It currently costs £33k per year to run the hall, including salaries and ongoing costs. This amounts to £133 per day on a five-day week. In any given week if every group was in there would be a shortfall of £315 per week. It was therefore reluctantly agreed that hire charges be increased from January 2026, although this still leaves us with a shortfall. We are fortunate to have received two substantial legacies over the years that gives us a buffer to sustain this and enable maintenance work to continue.
Throughout the year the path lights have been repaired at a cost of £1250, a new fire alarm system installed, the electric water supply replaced, external window shutters replaced, electrical circuits tested. Thanks to a grant from Councillor Lesley Mavin, the dish washer, fridge and freezer have been replaced. The MPLC has been renewed allowing live or recorded music, but users are reminded we do not have a television licence so if they stream any television, they are responsible for any fines! Our largest expense was replacing the chairs with the old ones going to Durham Orthodox Church.
Various fund-raising events were held to help with running costs and encourage community use. Sadly, the regular music recitals have stopped but the ever-popular Cardiac Dodgers returned to entertain us and there was a one-off recital given by two superb guitarists There were two very successful fashion shows and, of course, our ever-popular quiz nights. A huge thank you to all who have supported these events throughout the year – and if anyone has suggestions for something new, we’d love to hear from you.
As we enter our twentieth year I think we can be justifiably pleased and proud of what we have achieved. In his speech when opening the hall, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Innes said: “The Management Committee wanted this place to be a resource, a centre, a spiritual home even, for many kinds of people. Throughout the project we have tried to bear in mind the needs of young people, of elderly people, of disabled people……The name of the building reflects this: it is a parish hall for everyone who lives in the parish.”
Jean Foulds, Management Committee
BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
Balance Sheet At 31 December 2025
| FIXED ASSETS - Note 2 Property Fixtures and Fittings CURRENT ASSETS Cash on Hand Debtors and Prepayments Bank Accounts: Barclays current Barclays deposit Virgin Money CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors Advanced Payments and Deferred income: Donations Reserve - note 3 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY Income Reserves Restricted Funds: Music Reserve - note 4 TOTAL FUNDS Mrs Jean Foulds Chair of Trustees May 2026 |
187 0 4,964 49,267 46,309 |
2025 389,023 0 |
187 0 9,599 70,431 45,709 |
2024 402,400 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 389,023 £83,199 |
402,400 £109,478 |
|||
| 100,727 332 406,219 |
125,926 320 418,528 |
|||
| 406,551 -305,824 |
418,848 -292,922 |
|||
| 83,199 0 |
109,478 0 |
|||
| 109,478 | ||||
| Page 2 | ||||
BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
Income and Expenditure Account
Year to 31 December 2025
| INCOMING RESOURCES Bank interest Rental income, donations, events and memberships DCC grant Legacies Grant amortisation TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES EXPENDITURE Office and sundry administration costs 288 Telephone and internet 718 Rent 0 Bad debt / refunds 0 Water 667 Gas 3,076 Electric 2,720 Manager's salary 11,007 Pension contributions 347 Cleaner's salary 5,642 Repairs, maintenance and equipment 29,141 Music and events expenses 1,474 Insurance 2,015 Depreciation 13,377 Accountancy 300 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOMING RESOURCES FOR YEAR NET INCOMING RESOURCES BROUGHT FORWARD FORWARD TRANSFER FROM MUSIC / SPECIAL RESERVE NET INCOMING RESOURCES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 |
2025 1,334 27,100 3,750 0 12,309 |
234 452 0 0 815 2,641 2,649 9,830 241 5,195 17,435 1,814 1,947 13,377 300 |
2024 467 27,542 0 76,619 12,309 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44,493 70,772 |
116,937 56,930 |
||
| -26,279 £109,478 |
60,007 £49,471 |
||
| 0 £83,199 |
0 £109,478 |
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BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts
Year to 31 December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
These accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities.
2. FIXED ASSETS
Land and Buildings - Expenditure on the hall has been capitalised as follows:
| Brought forward Depreciation brought forward Depreciation charge for year Depreciation carried forward Per Balance Sheet |
668,850 |
|---|---|
| 266,450 13,377 |
|
| 279,827 | |
| £389,023 |
This will be depreciated via the income and expenditure account over the expected useful life of the asset of 50 years from 2005.
Fixtures and Fittings
| Brought forward Depreciation brought forward Depreciation charge for year Depreciation carried forward Per Balance Sheet |
19,701 |
|---|---|
| 19,701 0 |
|
| 19,701 | |
| £0 |
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BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts
Year to 31 December 2025
3. DONATIONS RESERVE
Restricted income towards the building of the new hall in the form of donations and gifts was received in the year as follows:
| Total brought forward Total received to date Amortisation brought forward Amortisation for year Amortisation carried forward Per Balance Sheet |
668,591 |
|---|---|
| 668,591 | |
| 250,063 12,309 |
|
| 262,372 | |
| £406,219 |
This will be amortised to the income and expenditure account over the expected useful life of the hall of 50 years from 2005.
4. MUSIC RESERVE
The Music Reserve is a separate fund for extraordinary expenditure on musical equipment and activities. In 2016 the Trustees decided to transfer the balance to the general reserves of the Association on the basis they are sufficient to meet any future extraordinary costs.
| Balance Brought Forward Transfer to general reserve Balance at 31st December 2024 |
0 0 |
|---|---|
| £0 |
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BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts
Year to 31 December 2025
5. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Fees of £300 (2024 £300) were paid in the year to Mr T J Hardman for preparing the annual accounts and in his position as Independent Examiner of the Charity's accounts.
6. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
No remuneration or expenses was paid either directly or indirectly out of the funds of the Charity to any Trustee or any person or persons known to be connected with any Trustee during the year to 31 December 2025.
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION
I report on the accounts of the Belmont Parish Hall Association for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on the enclosed pages.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustee and Examiner
As Trustees of the Belmont Parish Hall Association you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
-
examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
-
to state whether any 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 Commission. 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 a consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from 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 no opinion is as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
1) 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 2011 Act;
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
2) to which , in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
T J Hardman CTA 7 Elvet Waterside Durham City DH1 3DA
10th March 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE BELMONT PARISH HALL ASSOCIATION I report on the accounts of the Belmont Parish Hall Association for the year ended 31 December 2025 which ara set out on the enclosed pages. Respective Responsibilities of Trustee and Examiner As Trustees of the Belmont Parish Hall Association you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and - to state whether any 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 Commission. 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 a consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Trusiees concerning any such maiters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examinor's Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1) 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 2011 Act; - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2) to which , in my 01n[on, attention of the accounts to be r6ac ould be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding T J Hardm 7 Elvet Waterside Durham City DH13DA 1 Oth March 2026 Page 7