## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From** 1[st] February 2024 **To** 31[st] January 2025 **Charity name:** FURNESS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (u3a) **Charity registration number:** 1118002 ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|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 the Furness area
and its surroundinglocality.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Furness u3a, part of the nationwide u3a
organisation, exists to help its members
make new friends, develop their interests
and enjoy social activities.
Furness u3a raises funds through an annual
membership fee [in the reporting period,
this was £14 if the monthly newsletter was
received by email, and £30 if the
newsletter was printed and posted].
Furness u3a covers the whole of the
Furness area and has about 50
interest groups which meet regularly
and are led by the u3a members
themselves. These cover a wide
range of activities, including: reading
groups and walking groups, history,
photography, drawing, painting,
table tennis, philosophy, theatre
visits and board games. Any member
whose interest is not catered for can
start a new group. We have a
Groups Liaison officer who helps
with the setting up of new groups.
Some interest groups meet in
members’ homes; others meet at a
venue which may incur a small
charge and others meet outside.| |||Throughout the reporting period,
Monthly Meetings open to all
members took place each month,
normally in the Coronation Hall,
Ulverston, with a speaker, coffee and
an opportunity to socialize. A
Christmas Social was also held, in the
same venue.
Throughout the reporting period, Furness
u3a also ran a Drop-In each month, where
our groups introduced themselves and
their activities. As well as providing an
ideal opportunity to find out what the u3a
can do for members, members could also
get help with computing problems at the
Computer Helpdesk, which is run by
volunteers.
Throughout the reporting period, the
Trustees of Furness u3a met on a monthly
basis to ensure the smooth running of
Furness u3a. The meetings involved
reviewing finances, organising Monthly
Meetings and Drop-ins, dealing with
matters related to the smooth running of
existing groups and the setting up of new
groups, and developing and monitoring
strategies and policies for enabling the
charity’s activities to continue effectively
and appropriately. The Trustees also
worked to ensure good communications
with its members, through a monthly
Newsletter and an up-to-date website.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|All trustees have regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity Commission on public
benefit.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|_[Not relevant.]_| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|_[Not relevant.]_| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All of our activities were run by volunteers
from within the membership of Furness
u3a.| |---|---|---| |Other||_[None.]_| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Overall, this was another good year for
Furness u3a. Attendance at Monthly
Speaker meetings was good, and the
number of our members was very similar
to last year. 41 of our members are
“Associate Members”, which means that
they are full members of another u3a, but
have decided to join us as well. Most of
our Associates are from Grange and
District u3a, with whom we have a
reciprocal agreement not to charge fees.
The Christmas Social for members in
December was successful. Once again, the
food was delicious, and members enjoyed
a festive quiz and a magician gave a well-
received performance. We also held a
successful event for Group Leaders in the
summer.
The Committee, and other volunteers
again staffed a stand at the Ulverston
Retro Rendezvous Festival in June and the
Ulverston Charter Day in September.
Furness u3a was also very heavily involved
in Silver Sunday in the Coronation Hall,
Ulverston on 6thOctober. No fewer than 7
of our groups participated [the Drawing
group, the Craft group, English Country
Dancing, the Recorder group, the String
Chickens and the Uke Troupe], several
Committee members staffed a publicity
stall, and the u3a Secretary acted as
compere for the afternoon. We are
planning to be involved in all these events
again in 2025.| Our website and Newsletter are both running successfully, and we are very grateful to the volunteer who ensures that the website is up to date and the Newsletter is produced each month. The Committee has produced several new policies and guidance documents, now available from the website. These include: • how activity groups can apply for grants and loans; • an updated safeguarding policy; • an insurance disclaimer form for non-members who wish to participate in u3a walks, The Committee decided in December 2024 to trial, starting in March 2025, a new procedure in which, instead of holding separate Drop-ins and monthly speaker meetings, we would have a single extended meeting in the Coronation Hall each month, to include group presentations, the IT Helpdesk and other Drop-in features as well as a guest speaker. This initiative will be reviewed regularly by the Committee. Committee members have been actively participating in the wider u3a movement, by attending the Third Age Trust AGM, the North West Region AGM and Conference, and other North West Region events. The Committee also participated in numerous online votes, including voting on a proposal to establish a new national Board of Trustees and a u3 Council. These bodies have now been established and the Committee has participated in elections for the inaugural trustees on the new Board. We are grateful to so many people who have done so much to keep our u3a going over the past year! Also, we are immensely grateful to all our Group Leaders, walk leaders, volunteers who organise trips and talks, volunteers who book members in at meetings, volunteers who serve refreshments, and many others who selflessly offer their time to our u3a. ## **Additional information (optional)** |**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|| |---|---|---| |You may choose to include further statements||where relevant about:| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|_[Not relevant.]_| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|_[Not relevant.]_| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|_[Not relevant.]_| |Other||_[Not relevant.]_| ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|We ended the year financially in very good
health.
At the end of the reporting period, our
Reserve stood at £12,134.28. This is
somewhat in excess of our target (£7000),
but has enabled us to freeze membership
subscriptions despite an increase in costs.
We have embraced online finance - for
membership subscriptions as well as our
general business We have also acquired a
card reader to enable payment by credit
and debit cards.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|A reserve level of £7000 has been
identified as an appropriate target to cover
the month-on-month variations in liquidity
and to allow for financial cover in the
(unlikely) event of Furness u3a ceasing to
operate.
This reserve level is a judgement based
largely on the normal annual subscription
income.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|End of period balance is £12,134.28 with
no current liabilities; future outgoings are
budgeted to be covered by member
subscriptions and meeting door charges.so
this balance is taken as our reserve.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|_Not applicable._| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|_Not applicable._| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|The trustees judge that the charity is likely
to be able to continue as a going concern
for the foreseeable future.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The primary source of income is
membership subscriptions (including Gift
Aid)
We do not routinely arrange 'Fund Raising'
events| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|We have no investments.| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|1.
A significant reduction in membership
numbers, leading to a significant
reduction in income. However, this is
highly unlikely in the short term:
membership numbers are growing in
u3as across the UK.
2.
A significant increase in costs,
especially room hire costs for
meetings. However, the cost of hiring
our main hall have been reduced
recently, and we are confident that we
will be able to handle likely increases
over the next fewyears.| |---|---|---| |Other||_[None.]_| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Description of charity’s trusts:** |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution| |---|---|---| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|A Member of the Third Age Trust as an
Unincorporated Association.| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Elected by members at Annual AGM which
is in March.| ## **Additional information (optional)** |**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|| |---|---|---| |You may choose to include further statements||where relevant about:| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|New trustees are inducted via meetings
with the Chair; this induction uses, inter
alia, training documents issued by the
Third Age Trust.| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|We belong to the North West Region of
u3as which enables us to liaise with other
u3a groups in our region.
We are also part of the national u3a
movement, under the auspices of the Third
Age Trust.| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|None.| |Other||We have an up-to-date Safeguarding
Policy.
We have an up-to-date Data Protection
Policy.| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charityname|Furness Universityof the Third Age(U3A)| |---|---| |Other name the charityuses|Not applicable.| |Registered charitynumber|1118002| |Charity’s principal address|18 Lyndhurst Road, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0EG| **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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11|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Richard Lewis|Chair||Not applicable| ||Ann Wilson|Vice Chair||| ||Neil McLaughlin Cook|Secretary||| ||Gary Thompson|Treasurer||| ||Julie Amos|||| ||Janet Barlow|||| ||Christine Butler|||| ||Harry Knowles|||| ||Linda Marshall|||| ||Duncan Platts||8thOctober 2024 to
31stJanuary 2025|| ||Julie Wilson||1stFebruary 2024 to
10thSeptember 2024|| ## **Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved** **Director name** _[None]_ ## **Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity** |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year **| |---|---| |_[None]_|| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** > Description of the assets _Not applicable._ held in this capacity > Name and objects of the _Not applicable._ charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects > Details of arrangements for _Not applicable._ safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** None **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** None ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details Not applicable. ## **Other optional information** Not applicable. Declarations The trustees declare that t￿Y have approved the trustsos. r•port above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustees Signatures COi Full name Position Richard Lewis Chair Anthony Neil McLaughlin Cook Date 11 November 2025 11 November 2025 Financial Report for year ended 31 January 2025 For Furness U3A Independent Examinerf5 Report to the Trustee5 of Furness U3A I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 January 2025, which are set out on page Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner As the charity's Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act} does not apply. It is mv responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145151{bl of the Act. whether 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 Commissioners. 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 consideration of any unusu31 items or disclosures in the account5 and seeking explanation from you as Trustee5 concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent Examiner5 Statement In Connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention: 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 Act,. and To prepare accounts which agree with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met, or To which in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mrs L Piechura Ma2uma GB Ltd 05/02/2025 74 Duke Street Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA14 1RX Financial Report Furness U3A For The Year Ending: 3110112025 Receipts and Payments 2025 2024 Income Subscriptions Groups Monthly Meetings Christmas Orop In Gift Aid Svndries Total 8476.00 36523.33 2480.50 1020.00 160.60 8471.60 15807.25 2368.40 1140.00 170.25 2529.45 49.03 438.58 51238.91 28396.08 Less Expenditure Room Hire Group5 Advertising Printing Committee Expenses Speaker fees Third Age Trust Equipment Actountancy Bank Fees Drop In Sundries Christmas Party Total 2210.40 38195.95 202.72 4710.80 14779.10 50.00 506.47 407.33 616.05 105.40 4854.20 676.75 1405.87 i io.i)o 4362.00 99.99 504.(K) 504.00 180.60 473.(K) 462.60 213.69 507.23 179.98 1477.59 50250.43 1434.88 28980.17 Net Surplus 988.48 -584.09 Statement of Assets Cash Fund5 Bank Subscription Account Bank General Account Bank General Online Account Paypal Unpresented Cheques Cash in hand Total 96.50 11218.75 641.77 82.60 5259.87 5789.73 13.60 0.00 177.26 0.00 0.00 12134.28 0.00 11145.80 Accumulated Fund Opening Balance Net surplus for the year C105ing Balance 11145.80 988.48 12134.28 11729.89 -584.09 11145.80 G Thompson Treasurer 0510212025 List of Assets I Compaq Laptop Computer I Sanyo Digital Projector I Projection Screen Numerous Display Boards 2 Roving Microphones l Dell Inspiron Laptop & Accessories l IOCHOW 104 Mini Projector & Stand 1230-6301 VONSHEF Hot Plate 2 Pull Up Banners Financial Report for year ended 31 January 2025 Financial Report Furness U3A Groups Funds For The Year Ending.. 31101/2025 2025 2024 Accumulated Fund5 Digital Photography Drawing English Country Dancing Friday Walkers Industrial History Ireland Local History Love To Read Pickleball Questers String Chickens Theatregoers & Visits Ukulele Unallocated Total 95.00 79.00 163.00 61.00 206.00 0.00 201.14 75.00 38.25 238.00 0.00 209. 14 375.00 -28.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 34.00 156.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2042.54 10.00 -34.42 0.00 2796.93 1124.31