2025-07-31-accounts - Shoreham & Southwick U3A

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 01 08 2024 To 31 07 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Shoreham & Southwick U3A Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1117982 Charity's principal address 16D Ham Road Shoreham by Sea West Sussex Postcode BN43 6PA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Susan Lawrence	Chair
Karen Hewitt	Vice Chair
Joanne Matthews	Treasurer
LesleyScarff	Secretary	29 November 2024
Ross Workman
Laura Watson
Sheila Brady
Liz Gibbs		11 February2025
LesleyMason		29 November 2024
Frances Olivier Kay		11 March 2025

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

March 2012

TAR

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser	Name	Address




Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B	Structure,	governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution adopted 24 November 2006 as amended on 29 June 2018 as Type of governing document amended on 21 September 2018 as amended on 29 June 2018 as (eg. trust deed, constitution) amended by resolution dated 17 November 2023 Unincorporated association How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Trustee selection methods Meeting held in November (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Membership is open to people no longer working and residing in the You may choose to include Shoreham and Southwick locality. additional information, where The trustees oversee the day to day running of the Charity with reference relevant, about: to advice and resources from the National U3A. Trustees regularly seek • policies and procedures the views of members. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received adopted for the induction and no remuneration or other benefits. training of trustees; Activity groups are run by members this can be in member homes, outside • the charity’s organisational the charity’s organisational venues or community venues where rooms are rented. Policies include:

the charity’s organisational the charity’s organisational Policies include:
structure and any wider network with which the charity • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
works; • Complaints policy and procedures
• relationship with any related • Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and
parties; procedures
• trustees’ consideration of • Financial reserves policy and procedures
major risks and the system • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures and procedures to manage • Internal risk management policy and procedures them. • Risk management
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures

This charity does not own and/or lease land or property

March 2012

TAR

Section C Objectives and activities

The advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work, by all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development, in Shoreham, Southwick and the surrounding district. Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

In planning our activities for the year, we kept in mind the Charity commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. We aim to advance education for people not in full time employment with the study of a variety of topics, organised, led, and where applicable researched by the members. Provide the opportunity to pursue learning Summary of the main activities undertaken for the for sheer enjoyment. Provide the facilities for leisure time and recreational activities with the object of improving the conditions of life for public benefit in relation to older people in the interests of social welfare. these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

We are grateful for the many hours that volunteers, including member volunteers, spend in coordinating activity groups, supporting with organisation or development of new groups and activities and supporting the organisation of the monthly meetings. Without the input of members’ time, energy and expertise the Shoreham & Southwick U3A would not be able to continue to flourish and grow.

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

March 2012

TAR

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The past twelve months have seen many changes and improvements for our u3a, with an expansion in our interest groups and steady membership numbers. This has been made possible by the time and effort of all our volunteers, and our sincere thanks go to them all for keeping our u3a so vibrant and interesting. We held a special ‘Thank You’ event for all volunteers on 17 October – a social afternoon with tea and cakes at The Barn Theatre in Southwick. The event was very well attended and proved a great success. Our annual Open Day on 6 June 2025 at The Shoreham Centre gave all existing groups the opportunity to display their activities and talk to those interested in discovering more. Members were able to select groups for the next session beginning in September, and potential new members could see what we have on offer. Over 50 new members signed up on the day, showing how impressed they were by the range and scope of our interest groups. Members were also able to renew their membership on site, which many took advantage of. We currently have 650 members and 88 interest groups (October 2025). Nine new groups started in the past 12 months: Chess, Daytime Disco, Encaustic Wax Painting, Knit and Natter 2, Life Story 2, Mahjong 3, Murder Mystery Books 5, Quizzes, and Walking 4.

We have also had several Pop-Up Groups in the past year, including a film screening of ‘Six Inches of Soil” and Getting to Know Tech (1–4) and Shoreham Banking Hub Information Events, all of which have proved both popular and practical additions to our programme. Our well-attended Friday Monthly Events continue to attract around 100 people, with a full programme of illustrated talks and music. We have been able to renew and replace some of our equipment for use by interest groups and at Monthly Friday Events. The storage facility for our equipment at The Shoreham Centre is regularly monitored, and a new storage cupboard has been purchased, improving access and organisation. Thanks also to all those on the Committee for their hard work and commitment over the past year. The level of skill, teamwork and good humour keeps us all on track. The Committee has seen some changes in personnel during the past year and three new members were co-opted onto the Committee and will be seeking election at this AGM. The Chair and Vice Chair will be standing down at the AGM as it is the end of their three year term of office, as required in the Constitution.

Section E Financial review

Cash at the bank at 31.07.2025 was £16381 in unrestricted funds. The Brief statement of the main financial risk to the charity is loss of income from membership charity’s policy on reserves subscriptions. We aim to hold funds to cover 6 months of operational costs in the event of loss of income and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur. We are currently budgeting to reduce our reserves in a sensible planned manner (about -£3k in 25-26)

March 2012

TAR

Details of any funds materially Not applicable in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information) Our main source of funding is membership subscription. You may choose to include The increase in the number of members and groups meeting in paid additional information, where venues, and the collection of room fees from members, has been a major relevant about: task for our Group Coordinators and Treasurer, with a significant amount • the charity’s principal of cash being collected each week. After a great deal of research and sources of funds (including following a membership-wide consultation, we introduced a new any fundraising); membership fee structure in June 2025. We now have an inclusive • how expenditure has membership fee at two levels: supported the key objectives - Full Membership (£45 per annum) – giving access to all groups and of the charity; events. • investment policy and - Limited Membership (£20 per annum) – giving access to groups in unpaid venues (e.g. members’ homes, cafés, pubs) plus the Monthly objectives including any Friday Event and Pop Up Groups. ethical investment policy We are open to supporting members, who are struggling financially by adopted. subsidising membership where appropriate. We always aim to keep membership fees as low as possible. ~~_~~ Section F Other optional information The Committee continues to work on succession planning for our u3a and encourages members who would like to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of Committee members, officers and group coordinators to get in touch. Our u3a is based on participation and sharing, and it can only continue if members are willing to put in time and effort to keep us going. It can be great fun and very rewarding work. We aim to be a friendly and welcoming team, all working towards providing an atmosphere where we “live, laugh and learn” together. ~~—~~ Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Susan Lawrence Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 23.10.2025 TAR 5 March 2012

March 2012

SHOREHAM & SOUTHWICK u3a

Registered charity number 1117982

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st JULY 2025

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||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2024/25|2023/24| |£.p|£.p| |RECEIPTS| |Subscriptions|received|for the|year|12,531.48|9,225.79| |Contributions|to:|Friday|monthly|meetings|2,031.17|2,202.21| |Group|meetings|13,580.60|10,875.20| |Donations|0.00|119.23| |Reserve account|interest|184.33|128.12| |Gift|Aid|1,503.10|928.83| |Total|receipts|29,830.68|23,479.38| |PAYMENTS| |Speaker|Fees-|Monthly|meetings|1,130.10|1,478.45| |Room|Hire|(Groups|&|Monthly|Meetings|etc)|14,934.50|12,969.63| |Printing|& Stationery|(includes|Newsletters)|1,686.65|1,215.32| |Postage|650.03|754.19| |Refreshments|1,514.33|1,427.58| |Equipment|1,017.87|2,414.52| |Licences|&|Fees|1,447.93|1,653.96| |Affiliations|2,772.00|2,424.00| |U3A|Magazine|Mailshot|1,910.56|1,548.76| |Miscellaneous|157.93|189.25| |Group|support|467.78|350.10| |SUM|UP /Bank|Charges|13.42|0.00| |Total|payments|27,703.10|26,425.76| |RECEIPTS|LESS PAYMENTS|FOR YEAR|2,127.58|-2,946.38| |Trips,|Outings|&|Theatre|Group|0.00|0.00| |Excess|of|Expenditure|over Income|for|the|year|2,127.58|-2,946.38| |Reserves|at|beginning|of the year|14,253.25|17,199.63| |Reserves at end|of the year|16,380.83|14,253.25| |BALANCE|SHEET|AT|31|JULY|2025| |£.p|£.p|£p|£.p| |Assets:| |Bank|accounts:|Current|9,637.01|4,386.86| |Membership|23,062.40|10,818.38| |Reserve|15,836.82|48,536.23|12,152.49|27,357.73| |Cash|float for|Friday|Events|50.00|50.00| |SUM|UP|pending|CIH|50.00|0.00| |Cash|in|hand|0.00|22.00| |Total|Assets|48,636.23|27,429.73| |Liabilities:| |Creditors|and|accruals:|Subscriptions|and|donations|in|advance|23,062.40|10,818.38| |Trips|&|Outings|8,811.00|0.00| |Gift|Aid|2024|0.00|1,503.10| |Other creditors|382.00|855.00| |Total Assets|less|Liabilities|16,380.83|14,253.25|

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Shoreham & Southwick u3a owns various items of audio/visual, IT equipment & activities equipment. All equipment is expensed on purchase.

All receipts reported are unrestricted.

Jo Matthews

Treasurer

| have examined the above statements, without audit, from the books and vouchers supplied together with such further information and explanations as | required.

Tony Boume Independent Examiner

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity’s Name members of Shoreham & Southwick U3A On accounts for the year 31/07/2025 Charity no 1117982 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 & 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 07 / 2025 .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

23 October 2025 Signed: ~~~~] UL~~ Name: Anthony Alfred Bourne ~~Cs~~ Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 10 Nursery Close, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6GJ

October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER