CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 1st January 2024 To 31st December 2024 Charity name: Rayleigh University of the Third Age Charity registration number: 1134068 Objectives and Activities SORP refew Para 1.17 Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its goveming document The objects of Rayleigh u3a are: The advancement of education and in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full-time work, in varied ways including activities conducive to learning and personal development. 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 We held our AGM in May 2024, all paperwork was emailed or posted to all members in advance. Accounts were filed as income was above £25K. The Committee of the Trustees met in person on 12th January. 9th February. 8th March, 12th April ,1 Oth May, 12th July, 13th September. 11th October and 8th November 2024. Membership of a u3a is open to all in their third age. which is defined not by age but by a period in life in which full time employment has ceased. Members promote the values of lifelong learning & the positive attributes of belonging to a u3a, particularly at a time of life when social contact may have decreased. Trustees & members do all they can to ensure that people wanting to join the u3a can do so. We provide a Newsletter to our members on a regular basis along with access to our dedicated Rayleigh u3a website, which has contact details for the Officers and Committee. We hold monthly meetings open to all members (except for August and December) with a variety of speakers. Members form interest groups covering as wide a range of topics & interests as are desired. Members organise their own activities & offer their skills, knowledge & experience for the benefit of fellow mernbers. There are 53 active groups at the end of 2024, a list of these, together with contact details, is available on our website. We are constsntly trying to set up new groups and some groups cease over time as members move on. The Groups. Coordinator, who is a trustee, keeps a record of unfulfilled requests for specific groups & helps to facilitate the setting up of new groups. Advice is given on venues, & the setting up of a new group. Each group has a Group Leader who liaises with the Groups Co-ordinator. We continue to use a u3a backed database called Beacon, which enables the Trustees to be able to work with their data in a more secure environment. ststement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and work to further our Charity's objectives. whilst having regard to changing legal requirements. Additional infonnation {optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP referen We do not make grants Para 1.38 Policy on grant making We have no investments Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment We particularly value the fact that our members, who give of their time and expertise in different capacities, are all volunteers. Members are more than willing to help their fellows if they are in need of assistance. In 2024 Ra Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers u3a held a volunteer celebration event to thank all the volunteers that give so much time and energy to supporting Rayleigh u3a. This was greatly appreciated by our volunteers. Other Achievements and Performance SORP reference Our main achievement this year has been to run our monthly meetings, groups and educational events on a regular basis and we have attracted more new members and provided additional interest groups. Summary of the main achievements of the charity. identrfying the differen￿ the charity's work has made to Ihe circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. Para 1.20 We hold our main monthly rneetings in Rayleigh Mill Hall. This venue allows us to welcome MO￿ members. This year the annual cost of membership was maintained at £20 and we have been able to hold meetings and social events as normal during 2024. Our membership fee allows members to access groups, and includes the following= I: A full and varied programme of monthly meetings, which are detailed on both the newsletter & the website. These have continued to attract a wide audience together with the opportunity to socialise more widely. They are held at a venue with disabled access & amplification for those hard of hearing. We held main members meetings in every month apart from August and December. 2= A newsletter, published every 213 months, continues to be sent to all members by e-mail or post. This helps keep members infonned & is particularly beneficial to those without easy internet access. This year we continued holding New Members meetings and fonned a specific group for new members. The aim of this is to ensure new members are fully orientated to the u3a and their attendance and involvement is encoura ed. The New Members rou leader, Membership Secretary and Groups Coordinator work closely together to ensure our new members feel welcomed and are able to join interest groups or fomi new interest groups as required. Feedback from new members suggests that this approach is much appreciated. 3: We held regular Talks for All educational events and visits during the year which have been well attended. There is a nominal cost for members to cover expenses. 4: Social Events are also available to all members on a cost basis - these have included quizzes, outings and visits. 5: Membership also includes subscription to the national u3a publication "Third Age Matters" Additional infonnation (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 Perfomiance of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41 Investment perfomian against objectives Para 1.41 Other Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 The Charity has had its accounts audited and will submit these to the Charity commission as required. The charity remains in a sound financial osition. The Charity Commission recommends maintaining a level of reserves sufficient to fund 12 months core expenditure to cover fluctuations in receipts or payments. The Trustees accept this advice and have met this requirement in 2024. statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1.22 Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materially in deficit Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity conb'nuing as a going concem Para 1.22 £6000 NIA Para 1.22 Para 124 NIA Para 123 There are no financial uncertainties. Additional information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: Each u3a is self-funded with membership subscriptions & costs kept as low as possible. The charivs principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.47 This is particularly important given the sector of the public we serve who are no longer in fu114ime employment. We do not have any investments including social investments. Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 The main risk is the difficulty in finding members willing to tske on Trustee Roles. If we find we are unable to find individuals willing to take on key roles i.e. Chairman, SeGretary and Treasurer we would be unable to continue to run our charity. It is increasingly hard to find individuals willing to engage with the complexity of running a charity such as ours. A description of the principal risks facing the charity Para 1.46 Other Structure, Govemance and Management Description of chariWs twsts: Type of goveming document . ust (Jeed, royal cnarter) We do not hold any Trusts. Para 125 We are governed by our Constitution which was formally adopted on 1st February 2008. It was amended on 612109, 614117. 5110117, 315118 and 3111121. How is the charity constituted? i L'.g unincorporated Pard 125 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 125 Elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Two new Trustees can also be COwOPted between AGM'S if required, and then stand for election at the next AGM. Additional inforniation (optional) You ma choose to include further statements Whe￿ relevant about: Trustees are inducted using a Trustee Pack which includes our constitution. Principles of the u3a Movement, The Essential Trustee guidance, Summary of Trustee Duties and Responsibilities and Trustee code of Conduct. A role descri tion is included if relevant. The charity is a member of the Third Age Trust which provides additional help, information & advice. The Trustees take their responsibilities seriously and are mindful that they exercise due diligence and care. Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 The charity's organisational structure and any wider network wth which the charity works Para 1￿1 Rayleigh u3a, like other u3as, is a mutual aid organisation, operationally independent but a member of the Third Age Trust. which requires adherence to the guiding principles of the u3a movement (to be found on the Trust's website www.u3a.org.uk ) The Trustees consider risks and will take professional advice if appropriate. We have adequate insurance cover through our national body. We do not employ staff, hold leases or property. No payments are made to members for services rendered to any u3a. Rayleigh u3a is a member of the East of England Association of u3a which is set up the exchange good practice and coordinate re ional events. We also Relationship with any related parties Pata 1￿1 liaise with other local u3as to share ex eriences and advice. Other Reference and Administrative details Chari name Other name the cha uses istered chari number Charity's principal address Ra h Universi Ra hu3a 1134068 clo the Secretary Jane Reeve 11A The Chase Rayleigh Essex SS6 8QL of the Third A Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates acted rf not for whole ear Trustee name Office (rf any) Name of person (or body) entiti toa int trustee ifan Ray Lowe Chairman May 2021 to date Gillian Cann Treasurer 04105122 to date Jane Reeve Secretary Membership Secretary 04105122 to date Debbie Bamber 03105123 to date Paul Reeve 04105122 to date Julie Fowles 03105123 to date stuart Evans 03105123 to date Amanda Lowe 01105124 to date 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Co orate trustees - names of the directors at the date the re Director name ortwasa roved Name of trustees holding title to propety belonging to the charity Trustee name Dates acted rf not for whole ear Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets NIA held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity's objects NIA Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets NIA Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional infomiation) Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke personnel details Other o tional information Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Ray Lowe Chaimian Jane Reeve fec Date 71f/zo 2J- OEOoOO￿K<1rOOO tn O LTh O qt ep5 O O OOEri 0¢ crtri QQ14no ￿?￿00c)*o 0017h0￿04Tr Co￿00 o ¢rk LNI OOC4i 4t rt tst TJ> odoo ooo Vk O fX¢ Lf> c¢y 07 ¢L? ¢tr t￿¢00￿-0 ¢bLth ￿ts¢L￿ No r 000000 - 0 m4DO t 00 o ¢Tt e4 DÉ Ci P- tn o rr rl In o ui 41 oos pkno0￿-O0tsf￿0 ooo Orr0￿00r￿￿O o o O E7* ro ￿ ¢31 o ts ¢> L ri 41 (N fil J O 4L 41 pl c< O O