2021 Annual Report from the Chair
For obvious reasons this last year 2020 / 2021 has seen little activity other than necessary maintenance. There was of course work related to making the facilities as covid safe as possible using guiding advice given out by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England).
With government lockdowns and restrictions, we were only allowed regulated organised fitness groups to use the hall, but some of those resorted to Zoom type lessons and continue to do so.
Initial concern over loss of income was made secure during the period by generous government grants amounting to some £20,500 in support of village halls.
This has put us in a position of some £5,000 over our costs for the period but this excess will be needed as it is likely to be many months before income is restored. While since the end of the last lockdown in April there has been a slow and sustained increase in hiring’s they are currently still under our sustainable level.
Our greatest income source has been weddings and private parties. Despite a healthy rise in enquiries, evidence suggests that weddings are being downsized and private gatherings parties are suffering from covid caution. Some events, postponed from last year are now known to have been lost.
During the Covid lockdowns, Mike leary our Caretaker and Booking secretary Melanie Powell have been active on a lesser scale and they agreed for us to maintain lower fixed payments for their continued significant loyalty. However, their previous contract terms have been restored as their workload has restored to significant levels. Out thanks to them for their support.
The gardens do not stop needing attention or needing equipment maintenance and we are indebted to our regular volunteers for their efforts and commitment
Going forward our attention must be to restoring and increasing utilisation, not only to restore financial viability, but ensure wider diverse use for the benefit our expanding communities.
Finally, the trustees trust, support and efforts are always important to any Chair, so my thanks and appreciation to our members that this has always been extended to me especially during this prolonged difficult period.
Ian Blackmore
Chair
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