2026-03-31-accounts

MINUTES OF THE 21st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF

UP HOLLAND & DISTRICT U3A

HELD AT 10.00 AM ON 16[th] JUNE 2026 AT ST TERESA’S SOCIAL CLUB, UP HOLLAND.

Purpose:	21st Annual General Meeting	21st Annual General Meeting	21st Annual General Meeting
Date & Time:	16th June 2026 at 10.00 am
Meeting Place:	St Teresa’s	Minutes by:	Beth Turton
Distribution:	All current members of Up Holland u3a.
Date Issued:		Approved for Issue:	V Garner
Committee Members present:
Val Garner	Chair	Neil Stevenson	Vice Chair
Beth Turton	Secretary	Kathy Higgins	Assistant Secretary
Alan Hough	Treasurer	Pauline Occleshaw	Assistant Treasurer
Anne Scott	Publicity Team Member	Stella Connor	Asst. Membership Secretary
Mo Eccles	Group Co-ordinator	Barb Beesley	Accessibility
Maz Logan	Beacon Manager & Publicity Co-ordinator

Plus 75 members of Up Holland & District U3A

1. Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance and for voting. The system of voting was explained by the Secretary. We have continued the use of online, postal voting and via the ballot box. This allows all our members to participate. Members were given the opportunity to submit any questions prior to voting – none were received. 183 votes have been received therefore all decisions are quorate. As the votes for all items were 182 For and 1 Against, the votes will not be read out for each item.

2. Minutes of the 20[th] AGM held on 17[TH] June 2025

The minutes, which had previously been circulated, were approved as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Proposed: R Anderson Seconded: A Harrison

3. Matters arising from the minutes of the AGM 2025

There were no matters arising

4. Trustees ’ Report & Chair’s Remarks

The Trustees’ Report had been circulated to all members . No queries had been received. The Trustees’ Report was ACCEPTED and APPROVED (FOR: 182, AGAINST: 1)

The Chair explained that, although from the figures within the report, it appeared that membership had remained almost the same, we had many new members. Unfortunately, we had also lost members due to bereavement, ill health or moves out of the area. We have had changes in Group Leaders but fortunately when Group Leaders have stepped down other members have come forward to take on that role.

The Chair thanked the Group Leaders, Committee members, Refreshment teams and RUG members and many more who work behind the scenes to support the u3a.

5. The Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2025

The accounts and the examiner’s report had been circulated to all members prior to the meeting . No questions or queries were received. Overall, the finances are in a healthy position with the contingency fund in line with charity commission recommendations.

The Accounts were ACCEPTED and APPROVED. (FOR: 182, AGAINST: 1)

6. Independent Examiner’s Report

The Independent Examiner was not present but confirmed that the accounts had been compiled accurately and efficiently by the Treasurer and Secretary and had been inspected, approved and signed by the Examiner.

The Report was ACCEPTED and APPROVED. (FOR: 182, AGAINST: 1)

The Chair thanked the Independent Examiner in his absence for taking on this task for our u3a.

7. Appointment of Independent Examiner

An Independent Examiner for 2027 has not yet been appointed. The Treasurer will ask for committee approval when the new examiner is appointed.

8. Election of Honorary Officers to the Management Committee:

As there were fewer nominations than posts available the following were elected as Honorary Officers. (FOR: 182, AGAINST: 1)

Honorary Officers Elected to the Management Committee 2026/2027	Honorary Officers Elected to the Management Committee 2026/2027	Honorary Officers Elected to the Management Committee 2026/2027	Honorary Officers Elected to the Management Committee 2026/2027
Val Garner	Chair	Neil Stevenson	Vice Chair
Alan Hough	Treasurer	Beth Turton	Secretary

9. Election of Members of the Management Committee

As there were fewer nominations than posts available the following were elected as members of the Management Committee. (FOR: 182, AGAINST: 1)

Voting Members elected to the Management Committee	Voting Members elected to the Management Committee	Voting Members elected to the Management Committee	2026/2027
Stella Connor	Membership Secretary	Pauline Occleshaw	Assistant Treasurer
Marion Logan	Beacon Administrator Publicity Co-ordinator	Barb Beesley	Publicity & Social Media Support

There are vacancies on the committee for the post of Assistant Secretary, Group Co-ordinator and Website Support & Social Media.

The new chair explained that we have one person who has expressed interest in the position of Assistant Membership Secretary and that Lesley Day, a fairly new u3a member, will be appointed to fill this casual vacancy at the next committee meeting.

10. Date of the Annual General Meeting 2027:

Tuesday 15[th] June 2027

11. Closing address from the Chair

The Chair explained that we will now be a much smaller committee than last year, and that the Secretary will temporarily take on the role of Group Co-ordinator and other committee members will share responsibility for some of the other roles. The Chair explained that although Kathy Higgins was stepping down from the committee she will taking over from Mike Crickett as Webmaster and from Linda Hand as Speaker Secretary. Other committee members standing down have also offered their support whenever needed. The Chair asked them all to come forward and receive thanks from the members. The Chair continued to explain that we are exploring ways of increasing our involvement in the local community and instead of having information stands each day during u3a week we are trying to promote the u3a and what it has to offer at local events. We h ave already visited a ‘Chatty Café’, held a plant sale at a local church and our next planned event is the Greenfayre in July. We are grateful for all the support we have been given to run these events.

Meeting closed at 10.22 am.

15.06.27

Signed: Chair

UP Holland & District u3a TRUSTEES REPORT 2025 - 2026

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 2025 – 2026 are:

Chair	Val Garner	Vice Chair	Neil Stevenson
Secretary	Beth Turton	Assistant Secretary	Kathy Higgins
Treasurer	Alan Hough	Assistant Treasurer	Pauline Occleshaw
Membership Secretary	Hazel	Asst. Membership	Stella Connor
	Pemberton	Secretary
Group Co-ordinator	Mo Eccles	Equality & Diversity	Barb Beesley
Beacon Administrator &	Maz Logan	Publicity Support	Anne Scott
Publicity 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 21[st] 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.

In accordance with the resolution passed at the AGM in 2024, Members who wish to receive the u3a matters magazine pay an additional fee of £4.00 to cover postage. Existing members who do not renew before the 31[st ] May will also be charged the 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.

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 in line with our current policy guidelines, and the effect of any potential changes will continue to be monitored by the Trustees during 2026/2027.

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 2025 to 31[st] March 2026 membership has increased slightly and at the end of March stands at 758. The affairs of the u3a are administered by the management committee, elected annually, 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 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, Douglas Valley.

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 bar-coded 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.

Although we were officially 20 in February of last year, we delayed our celebrations until May. The week-long celebrations started off with an afternoon tea and entertainment. We held a Past, Present and Future event where members had the opportunity to say what they liked most and

Trustees Report 2025/2026

Charity Number: 1119682

2

what they would like to see in the future. All suggestions were discussed by the Management Committee and have been acted on where feasible. The week culminated in a social evening. This year, we marked u3a week in September with a series of manned information stands in 5 local villages and our singing group entertained the Community Lunch patrons in our local Hub café. We held an open event on the Saturday where visitors could chat to group leaders and participate in activities. Each group displayed information boards and photographs. All the events gave us the opportunity to promote our own u3a and the movement itself. Unfortunately, we only recruited 7 new members during the week and are in the process of looking at how we approach our recruitment this year.

Throughout 2025/26 there have been numerous day trips, evening outings, group holidays, variety shows and increased social events, along with a varied programme of speakers. As our Group Leaders asked if we would make changes to our annual thank you lunch for themselves and our Volunteers, which we normally hold in January, that event is now only taking place mid-April.

We have furthered links to the local community as part of the newly established Cleaner, Greener, Up Holland group formed by the Parish Council. Our singing group has entertained the residents of a local nursing home and our Rubbish Friends litter picking group, continue their good work in the community.

There has been an increase in the number of interest groups, now having 60 in total. These groups provide a range of activities. We also have several suggestions for new groups. We continue to encourage and support our members in forming new groups.

THE FUTURE

Looking back, this has been an incredibly good year. We have taken tentative steps into the community and will continue to build on this. Just like in other u3as some challenges do still exist for Up Holland and are being addressed. We are doing this by listening to our members and encouraging them to attend committee meetings as visitors to raise awareness of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Hopefully, this will encourage more members to come forward and offer their services and provide new and innovative ideas. This will enable us to continue our succession planning.

The Trustees have approved the Trustees report as above.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees

V Garner

Chair Date: 28.04.2026

Trustees Report 2025/2026 3

Charity Number: 1119682

UP HOLLAND u3a AGM FINANCIAL REPORT 2025/2026

Up Holland u3a holds 3 bank accounts, and a minimal amount of petty cash.

In total we had funds of £40177 as at 31[st] March 2026, compared to £36825 as at 31[st] March 2025, an increase of £3352.This increase is explained later in this report.

An amount of £12168 is held in a reserve investment fund. This has increased in the year by £475 due to interest received on this account, as interest rates continued at slightly lower levels to last year.

An amount of £3371 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 increased in the year by £2191. Major income derives from membership fees amounting to £7689 in the year, an increase of £350 compared to last year. The surplus has mainly arisen however due to the decision to avoid u3a national magazine postage costs by no longer providing the magazine freely but asking members who require this to pay for the postage. This has resulted in a cost saving of £1553 compared to the previous year.

An amount of £24633 is held in the bank by the various groups in the Upholland u3a, Increasing by £686 in the year. This represents 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. and assistant treasurer. Online banking is now used for both the current and groups accounts. Direct online payments by bacs still require dual authorisation.

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 £12800 at the end of the year (based on expenditure in 2025/2026). Actual reserves are £15500.

We are therefore now in excess of reserve requirements, compared to last year when we were in deficit of requirements.

Overall, therefore the accounts as forecast last year have returned to a healthier position, the deficit on the current account being reversed. This provides a 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 30[th] April 2026.

UPHOUAND AND DisfRICT U3A AccouKfs 202512026 Balance5 •t 3V03120Z6 3110312025 CURRENT 3371.01- 1179.67 GROUPS 24632.54 • 23946.93 CHARMES INVESTMENT FUND 12168.07 11692.89 TOTAL 40176.66 36824.53 ci.&f A HOUGII SECRETARY E TURTON ol.o£.I INDEPENDENT EXAMINER R¢)8ERT &IGE

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGL4ND AND ￿￿E5 Independent examinerfs ￿port on the i accounts Soction A Independent Examiner's Report UPHOLLAND AND DISTRICT U3A On K¢tyJnts for the year 31 ¥r MARCH 2026 Cl￿rity Tro 1119682 Set out on page¥ lar￿ 2 I report to ihe tnjstees on my exaffti)iabon of the accounts of the abDve eknarrty Trhe TvJStI ft)r the year erKled 3110312026. Responslbililies and basis of r•port As the Ixwrttys trustees, you are responSIb￿ for tho prèparation of tt accoLmts fft %co(dan¢• wbth th• r•quir•Yw)t$ of th• Ch•rrtw AGt 2011 rthe Act-) I rep)rt In re4Ct of My exarnina￿n of the Tntst's accounis carried out under sethon 145 of the 2011 Act and in caryyinq out my examinatlon, I have followed all the appl￿t￿ t)irectlcYw given by Ihe Charty Commissl unoer seclim 145(5){b) of Act. Ind•p•nd•nt I Completed ry eXarnit￿t)ft. l ¢orrftrm that no matenal matter& ha oxamlnefs statement come to my attention in connec.(￿ wrth thé examknalon which giv&s m• cause to believe that In. any matwial resped.. attounting rocords not kept tn 8¢c¢rdar•r soQion 130 of the Charltles Act. or thè accwnts dKI not accord wlth the a¢counts'ThJ re¢ords. tx accounts dld not compty wlth It￿ ap￿iCable requirements conc•mlrrfJ the fomi and conlent of accoun15 set In the ChafitN?5 (A￿tsun16 and Reports) RwJatK)n3 2008 other than any rwirement that the accounts give a Yrue arHI falrf vlew which is not a matter consbjefed as part of an Independent examinAtitin. I have no cortcerrra and havè tome auoss no rAh¢r matters in wnnedion th th? •xamlnatbon to whi¢h atteTht￿n shou￿ be drawn m th￿ report in ordor to en a Fyoper under¥landlng of the accoun15 to be reached. ROBERT SAGE R•levant pmfessional 4ualificationl3) or tKxIy (rf any): Addr•ss: 126 CHURCH WALK . EUXTON. CHORLEY. PR7 6HL . IER Oct 2018

Sectlon B Disclosure Only compie If the exafflinei r￿ed$ to h￿k,,￿h1 nlalerial riiatleKs ol conxrn (see CC32. Indeperxlent examirth4Jn DI chanty account3.. rfirectyJn5 and 'darsce examiner51. Glvg I￿r• brlef dotslls of any tt•m$ that th• in¢r wi•hH to disclo¥e. Oct2018