TRUSTEES REPORT 2023 – 2024
On 15[th ] June 2007 the Up Holland & District u3a was registered as a Charity and is administered by Trustees who are also the members of the Management Committee. The u3a is subject to the Charities Act and associated regulations, and the Trustees are accountable to the Charity Commission, as well as members, for the administration of the u3a.
The Trustees (Management Committee) for the year 2023 – 2024 are:
| Chair | Julian Finch | Vice Chair | Vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary | Beth Turton | Assistant Secretary | Vacancy |
| Treasurer | Alan Hough | Assistant Treasurer | Pauline Occleshaw |
| Membership | Hazel Pemberton | Asst. Membership | Stella Connor |
| Secretary | Secretary | ||
| Group Co-ordinator | Kevin Griffin | Communications/Publicity | Viv Newman |
| & Beacon Manager | Co-ordinator |
The Objects and Activities of the u3a are set out and governed by the amended (model) Constitution, adopted by the membership at the AGM held on 15[th] June 2021 and amended at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose on 16[th] April 2024.
OBJECTS
The charitable purpose of the u3a is:
The advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Up Holland and its surrounding locality.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
The membership fee for the year has proved to be adequate to meet the u3a running expenses.
At the end of our 19[th] year, Up Holland & District u3a is again in a reasonable financial position. As a result, the Trustees have decided to keep the membership fee for 2024/2025 at £10 pa, with an additional admin. fee of £2.50 for all new members. Existing members who do not renew before the 31[st ] May will also be charged this admin. fee as they will be deemed to be a new member. Members who can show current membership of another u3a are charged a reduced fee.
The accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis, and therefore any
surplus/deficit on the group accounts arises solely from the timing of receipts and payments. Capital expenditure within the general accounts is fully written off in the year of purchase. Balances in the General Account and the Investment Funds are healthy, as the Annual Accounts show. The principal source of income this year is from subscriptions. The main items of expenditure are Capitation Fees payable to the Third Age Trust, licences, insurances, printing and postage for ‘u3a Matters’ and voting papers and the cost of speakers at monthly meetings etc.
Financial reserves are however slightly higher than our current policy guidelines, and the effect of any potential changes will continue to be monitored by the Trustees during 2024/2025.
Money surplus to immediate requirements is invested in the Charities Official Investment Fund (COIF) where interest is paid without deduction of tax. In common with most investments, the returns of interest have improved this year.
ACTIVITIES
Up Holland & District u3a was started in 2005 by a small group of enthusiasts. During the year from 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024 membership has increased very slightly and at the end of March stands at 729 The affairs of the u3a are administered by the management committee which meets regularly. The committee also meets with group leaders every six months. Up
Holland & District u3a is affiliated to the Third Age Trust, the provider of Third Age Matters (now u3a matters) magazine, insurances, resources and advice. We are associated with other u3as in Lancashire, Merseyside and other areas through the NW Region of u3as and our local network.
Up Holland u3a members have been pro-active in the NW Region and the wider u3a movement. The Region provides contacts and information flow and study days for committee members and members of the various u3as within the region. The Beacon Management System enables us to manage our membership information, financial systems and group records, as well as providing secure record storage. Members are issued with a plastic barcoded membership card which is scanned at coffee mornings, speaker meetings and some of the larger group meetings, and speeds up entry to the hall. Attendance numbers can also be monitored. This year we have expressed interest, and work is ongoing, with regard to the potential migration of our website content to a new “Siteworks” website system which has been specifically designed by a team of volunteers from u3a’s across the country.
We have actively sought ideas about keeping our u3a vibrant and increased the opportunities to inform members about what is happening in our u3a and how it is managed. This is done at our monthly coffee mornings, through consultation at biannual meetings with all group leaders Trustees Report 2023/2024 Charity Number: 1119682
and through our monthly Newsletter.
On May 4th, Up Holland u3a marked the occasion of King Charles Coronation, with a very special event at St. Teresa’s showcasing an array of entertaining talents, planting trees, and creating a large commemorative raised bed of flowers.
This year also, we marked u3a Week in September with a series of manned recruitment stalls over two weekends in principal shopping areas: the Concourse in Skelmersdale and the Galleries in Wigan. This was complemented by other well-presented displays of photos and publicity, strategically placed in shop windows and a local church. Just over 40 members volunteered their help in some way. Only a small number of new people joined, but it raised our profile and awareness of the u3a movement within the wider community.
On January 31[st] the committee organised a very successful Volunteers Lunch and Quiz as a thank you for Group Leaders.
Other highlights in 23 /24 included numerous day trips, evening outings, some fantastic group holidays, excellent variety shows, and an interesting programme of speakers.
Although there were some changes during the year we have 58 interest groups providing a wide range of activities for our members. We continue to encourage the formation of new groups.
THE FUTURE
In summary, this has been a very good year, but some challenges persist for Up Holland u3a which we are now endeavouring to address. We are aiming for a teamwork approach to the various functions of the committee, secretarial, financial, publicity and communications, group development and co-ordination, membership administration, logistics, catering, technology, policy development, special events etc. In this way, work can be shared out and we can avoid over-reliance on just one person.
The Trustees have approved the Trustees report as above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees
Julian Finch
Date: 30 April 2024
Chair
Trustees Report 2023/2024
Charity Number: 1119682
UPHOLLAND AND DISTRlCt U3A ACCOUNTS 202312024 Balances •t 311031Z024 3V0312023 2978.88 3159.10 CURRENT 19617.10 17447.71 GROUPS 10624.47 CHARfflES INVESfMEKf FUND 11140.97 33741.99 31236.32 TOTAL A H¢XJGH SECRETARY E TURTON INDEPENDENT EXAMINER G SMITH Q< 4P 2014
UPHOLLAND AND DISTrICT U3A ACCOUNTS 202312024 YEAR TO 3VO¥2024 1473JlJ 7517.50 &ft Pwthie vl .SU X] kni •rvJ . )i .1557 93535 43.?4 4115 31.IS .rAfy3 .739. .SYIA9 .131.44 .1139.17 749 -37J.17 -IJISAI. -•yD) EWtrk4 i•rtir PILMIL its ihe .1 10..40 6714h Ls.yl U3A Cty¥ .Jn.PJ -35.>1 43)25fj7 L78 Group .24723.70 .yS4£XXJ .9571.22 -11523 11 H•ll 47ffj.56 -Y7,ry) TIA6 6474&Y.> .63)1 . 151&17 )UJ6J2 •AiAIKL AT JyJ11014 3J741.•9
UPHOLLAND AND DISTRICT U3A ACCOUNTS 202312024 YEAR TO 3110312024 INCOME 17JO o. 375 Sal ol bc¥)kJ salo of urd5 1458.95 884.73 1535 4oJ qtnt and ¥Afi- teresaslw Stafjonery Ind .2$57.07 J7.75 -749.IXI .2JU4 .1131.17 R1ch o.(x) o. -17Q.30 GrDUP trlnslws 1 s•E uJAt Ji 0.1 OA4) o. Tatsls yid Fl ¢ablr•et Ilnd k**sl Pkklèball eoJlpmwbt 113.99 1gY.98 59.xl J73.A7
UPHOLLAND AND DISTRICT U3A ACCOUNTS 202312024 YEAR TO 3VO¥Z024 Ll 44474J17 ?ii.Jo 4J911.81 1.78 p £YEni (wye CuKlI Il** 951122 -y3,J) o. SU61 V4mlJ •AlA1 AT JVY1•14
UPHOLLAND U3A AGM FINANCIAL REPORT 202312024 Upholland U3A holds 3 bank accounts, and a minimal amount of petty cash. In total we had funds of £33742 as at 31" March 2024, compared to £31236 as at 315t March 2023. an increase of £2506. This increase is explained later in this report. An amount of £11141 is held in a reserve investment fund. This has increased in the year by £517 due to interest received on this account. appreciably higher than previous year5 due to interest rate changes. An amount of £2979 is held in the current account. This account includes income from membership fees. payments to the Third Age Trust. and other income and expenditure associated with the general running of Upholland U3a. It has decreased in the year by £180. Payments to the Third age Trust have been made in the year amounting to £4960. re membership fees, Beacon licence, and postage costs re the distribution of the U3A magazine. Other significant expense was for rent from St Teresa's club re usage for the monthly coffee and speaker meetings amounting to £2557. Major income derives from membership fees amounting to £7473 in the year (similar to the previous year). An amount of £19617 is held in the bank by the various groups in the Upholland U3A. Increasing by £2169 in the year. This represent5 the timing differences between group activity receipt and payments. In particular a surplus was recorded in the final month for a number of groups who organised events for the Spring and received monies for events which have not yet been paid for.
Bank balances are reconciled monthly. No payments can be made without authorisation by the treasurer and one other member of the committee. Accounts are reported monthly to the committee, and the bank balances and transactions are available to view online at any time by the chairman and secretary in addition to the treasurer. Online banking is now used for both the current and groups accounts. Direct online payments by bacs still require dual authorisation. Payment of membership fees direct to our current account continued to be used in the year (approx. 33% uptake) and proved successful with less dependence on cash and cheques. This facility will continue in 2024/5. In 2020 we more clearly stated the policy for financial reserves, being more specific on how the amount required in reserve should be calculated. Based on this calculation reserves of cash should be £12300 at the end of the year (based on expenditure in 2023/2024). Actual reserve5 are £14125. This means we are over the requirement. Overall therefore the accounts are in a healthy position, with contingency for any unforeseen circumstances, yet being financially able to improve facilities and support existing and new interest groups where required. As a final point please can I thank all the volunteer group leaders and their treasurers for reporting all their financial transactions so timely to myself. Thanks also to the membership team for their efforts in collecting fees. A Hough Treasurer h April 2024.
CHARtTY COMMISSION I Independent examinerfs report on the FOR E[A) AND WAL£5 | accounts Section A Indèpendenl Examiner's Report UPHOLLAND AND DISTRICT U3A On xcounts for the year 31- MARCH 2024 Chartty no (rf any) 111 1arKI 2 I rory)rt to the trwtees my ex(HninalKm of tho acnts of the above anty (Ihe Trust") for year ended 3110312024. Rosponsibilities and basls of r•port As" Ihe chantys trusteos, you arc reS[X)S1ts1e tor Ihe wewdlk)n of thg. accounts in a(xYxdance wllh the requiremorts of the Chanties Acl 2011 rthe Ad"). I rew)rt in rospcd of my examination d Ihe Trus1'S arjrtS lOd (xrt under sth 145 of the 2011 Act arKI in C¢irrybrKJ (xrt my &xarninatK)n. I havg folkmcxl all thc applicable DireclKJn5 gven by Ihe Chty C(xrwntss urKler 1445Xb) of thc Al Independent I havo Clpleted my examination. I conflm) that M matarial matters have examlnefs statement CAY to my att&ntK)n in conncctK)n wrth the eXam1rlk>D wes r cause to believe Ihai In, any matarial rospcd: of Ihe Charilies Aix: the accounl5 did noi (xynply ¥Mth tha applicable requirernents" oncemiry form and ttjntént of a(xx)unts set (xrt in the Chwllbes (Accounts and Rep(xts) Regu1)nS 2008 othor than any requirrnl that thc a(nts give a arKI lair, view is not a matt cfx)sKler8d as part of an inwident examinatth. with the examinalion to whKth aiienlion SIMXd bo drawn in this rEPL¥t in der to enable a FXDper understarKling of tho acnts to be readd. Signed: Nam•: James Gerald Srnilh Relired Banker qualification(s) or body (If any): Addrnss: Flat 4. 249 Wgan Road. SI*Msh, WN12RF IER Oct 2018
Sèction 8 Disclosure Only c(xnplete if the exarniner lo highlighl rnalerial mallepi ol (saa CC32, Indopondont 0xaminabl of chanty aCCots. th'rections arKI guKlanGe for exluniners). Glve her• brkl datalls of any Items that th• examlner wlsh•s to dosclose. IER Oct 2018