2023-12-31-accounts - The Friends Of Pencarrow

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF PENCARROW

HELD ON WEDS. 6th. MARCH 2024

PRESENT: 38

APOLOGIES: 66
MINUTES OF THE LAST AGM 1[st] . MARCH 2023: Accepted
MATTERS ARISING: SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH’S WELCOME AND IDEAS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS:

Sir William opened the meeting by expressing his thanks to all the members of The Friends Of Pencarrow and the current committee who raise the money to pay for diverse projects in the House and gardens; notably the constant tarmac repairs and, last year, the new potting shed roof and fountain restoration. This will need a bit more work as it has been found that the ironwork at the top is rotting (maybe the project for 2024?). He also mentioned the revamped Christmas Fair 2023 and some of the problems that occurred and solutions that will have to be found for future events. His “Wishlist” continued with a request for funding for work to be carried out on the turning circle by the main door. Sir William then mentioned the various items that Friends have paid for over the past year – including driveway repairs, gardening equipment, café equipment and our regular donation of “start-up” money at the beginning of the season to the House for leaflet printing and other small projects.

He the mentioned that this is the 1[st] . AGM since the passing of Lady M., and he was sure she was still around ensuring all will be done as she would have wished!

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – given by Shirley Kent for year ending 2023.

The year began with our Snowdrop Weekend. The charities we helped were CLEAR based in Truro and the PEARL EXCHANGE based in Bude. It was a very successful weekend, even if a very tiring one. We had a stand at the Cornwall Flower Show in April to promote Pencarrow, we had a lot of interest and signed up quite a few new members. Our annual Bluebell & Garlic Sunday in May was another smaller scale fundraiser, helping to raise the profile of Pencarrow.

A new fundraising day was our Teddy Bears Picnic – a huge success, lots of fun, helped by great weather. We had a Teddy Bear hunt, a rehoming stall, advice & display of old teddies, storytelling and a life size bear in attendance. We will be relocating from the carpark area, due to the success of the event and safety factors. The Christmas Fair took on a completely different look with a new organiser. I would like to thank Jennie Milne for her dedication over the past years organising the event -enjoy your retirement. Although this is a House event, I would like to thank all the Friends of Pencarrow volunteers, as we certainly could not manage an event of that scale without your support and to say thank you to the committee and especially Pam Mulley for the endless phone calls that take place getting the rota together.

The Bookshed continues to be a very successful addition to the fundraising that we do and will be given a spring clean and repaint before re-opening on 25[th] . March. We welcome and donations of good quality books and jigsaws, these sell extremely well.

It is now time to say some Thank You’s. Firstly, to my fellow Trustees and Volunteers for all the hard work they do throughout the year on behalf of F.O.P. – too many tasks to mention. Another Thank You to the Housekeeper, Ali Francis, who is always to hand when needed and is very busy getting the House ready to open 25[th] . March. Yet again, another Thank You to Tracy Davies, the Administrator of the House for her work in the background in helping to support the committee.

TREASURER’S REPORT given by Peter Brandreth.

6. INCOME

All comments relate to the Income & Expenditure account (on seat)

SUBSCRIPTION: The support you give through membership up £1.338

FUNDRAISING: Up by £9,074 in 2023

With thanks to fellow trustees and an amazing group of volunteers who help to make these events work so efficiently.

BOOKSHED: holding steady -will cover costs in as little as 3 years.

GIFT AID: up as a direct result of increased membership.

INTEREST: nice to see some improvement

EXPENDITURE:

MEMBERSHIP EXPENSES: Reduced by £600 in 2023 due to increased use of e-mails- so reduce postage / printing costs.

DONATIONS: Most of this went directly to Pencarrow – up by £24,529 in 2023

List of Examples: Start up: £2,000; Potting Shed: £25,570; Blinds: £780; Marmalade: £286; Tarmac £4,467; Charities £4,000.

SURPLUS / DEFICIT

Therefore £8,476 Deficit, principally due to increasing donations to House & Gardens.

Thank you for attending our AGM and I hope you found some of this information interesting.

7. MEMBERSHIP REPORT – given by Jenny Brandreth.

We started 2023 with 737 individual members and had 744 paid up members by December. In 2014, when I took on this role, we had around 402 members, which shows how many more people have discovered how lovely Pencarrow is. I have been notified of 9 members who have sadly passed away in 2023, along with our dear Lady Molesworth, and our thoughts and condolences go out to their families. I appreciate that a few have let me know of change of address or e-mail. I realise that not everyone uses e-mail regularly, but I am trying to do as much contact with you that way as I can, and most of you will have received your invitation to this AGM that way. With the help of Jo Milner, we have managed to do a mass mail-out this year with our new e-mail address, but I can still be reached on my personal e-mail. New members – note that your renewal cards will be available for collection in the Shop on your next visit and I will acknowledge your payment by e-mail. Those without an e-mail address will continue to receive cards and notifications by post. Gift Aid – if your subscription is Gift Aided, please let me know if your situation changes -if you are lucky enough not to be paying UK tax anymore, for example. If you do not currently have Gift Aid in place, I have the necessary forms if you want one. I endeavour to remind you all of renewal date well in advance of expiry, but it is on your card if in doubt. Please contact me if you have any queries re. membership – my details are on the Pencarrow website and application form. Please remember to visit the website regularly for any information and updates on events being held this season. You are making a huge difference as to how the Friends can support Pencarrow. Please ensure you show your card at the Shop on every visit – we were able to monitor that Friends made 4023 visits to Pencarrow during last season. Thank you.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS / TRUSTEES:
Shirley stated that all the present committee were willing to stand for another year. This motion was proposed by John Rippe and seconded by Pat Lamper.

Therefore, the existing committee were voted in EN BLOC by unanimous show of hands.

Shirley thanked everyone for their votes.

PRESENTATION OF CHEQUES TO CHARITIES: We presented the Snowdrop fundraising cheques to Bodmin Hospital League of Friends, represented by Anne Gregan and Susie Gore and to Concern Wadebridge - the Sir John Betjeman Centre, represented by Emma Burt and Elliot Osbourne.
DATE & TIME OF NEXT AGM:

To be decided but will be end of February.

THE FRIENDS OF PENCARROW - CHARITY NO 1111885

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

For the Year Ended 31st December 2023

INCOME	2023		2022
Subscriptons	18082.5		16744.5
Donatons	844.44		2082.5
Friends Fundraising	23496.26		14422.42
Bookshed	3329.49		3801.4
Gif Aid	2137.97		1743.8
Interest	420.87		56.82
Misc			2442.5
	48311.53		41293.94
EXPENDITURE
Bookshed	521.15
Membership Expenses	2693.85		3301.6
Event costs	8476.15		7750.71
Trustee Expenses
Donatons	39179.45		14650
Charges	257.22		221.14
Misc	5660.32		2449.89
	56788.14		28373.34
Surplus/Defcit for year	-8476.61		12920.6
Bank balances 1st January	61452.81		48532.21
Bank balances 31st
December	52976.2		61452.81
Made up of
Current Account	30137.08		38872.61
Deposit Accounts	22839.12		22580.2
	52976.2		61452.81
Prepared by P J Brandreth		Date

The above statements agreed with the records and vouchers provided by T Mullis The Friends of Pencarrow for the year ended 31st December 2023

Date

Approved on behalf of the Trustees Shirley Kent Date