Chatton Village Hall Trust
Chairman’s Annual Report 2023/2024
General overview
Income generation and projects have been the main themes of this reporting period. Both have proved successful and have enabled the Trust to make some major improvements to upgrade our existing facilities.
Finances remain healthy and an extension to the lease, funded in conjunction with Tillside Parish Council, has enabled the Trust to undertake some much-needed refurbishments as it has opened the door to the Hall being eligible to receive external grants.
Chatton Village Hall is now integrated with the other Northumberland Village Halls and Community buildings through a Community Action Northumberland (CAN) web portal. Closer liaison between Trustees and representatives of both CAN and Northumberland Communities Together has had a significant benefit to the way we conduct business and how we apply for funding grants.
Projects
The Play Area was completed by Streetscape in October 2023 and officially opened by Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland in March 2024
The Village Hall Heritage Project has also been completed during this reporting period. It is the culmination of a partnership project delivered by CAN and Northumberland Archives together with 30 Village Halls and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. A display of heritage material can be seen along the walls of the main corridor in Chatton Village Hall and was also officially unveiled during the Duchess’s visit in March.
The Kitchen has undergone a major refurbishment, albeit some minor decoration still needs doing, at a total cost of approximately £37K. The majority of the funding came from the National Lottery Communities Fund and a grant from ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England). In both cases, our applications were very actively supported by CAN who were critical to our success in being granted the awards. The shortfall will be provided from the Village Hall Trusts own funds.
A new bespoke front door and frame has also been ordered and will be made and fitted in early October by Eddy Olah a local carpenter. The cost, approximately £4K will be paid from the Village Hall Trust funds.
Additional planning and grant applications continue at a pace for future projects which include upgrades to: heating and lighting system, toilets, roof and Hall accessibility and hopefully, also the return of the stained-glass window.
General maintenance work continues at a steady pace.
Income generation
Successful grant applications have provided some much-needed income. In particular the Trust has received £29K from National Lottery Communities Fund and £5K from ACRE towards our now completed kitchen upgrade project.
Gym users continue to provide the Village Hall with a constant source of income, as do the other regular users including; The North Northumberland National Autistic Society, Yoga and Pilates groups, Carpet Bowls, Speaker Nights, Quiz Nights and Coffee Mornings.
There has also been an increase in the number of bookings for private events, particularly for children’s parties which make good use of the new outdoor play area and covered BBQ.
A Friends of Chatton Village Hall scheme has been introduced as a result of the survey conducted in 2023. Take up has initially been slow with further advertising planned.
A ‘Bring Your Own’ gathering around the BBQ area on the third Friday of the month has also proved popular.
Acknowledgements
It is also worth acknowledging other valuable members of our community who volunteer their time to support the Village Hall Trust. These include;
Gill Rollings and Helen Brewin for organising and running a very successful programme of speaker nights throughout the Autumn and Winter of 2023 and Spring of 2024. Along with Andy Middleton, Tony Harrison and Michael Brewin for their help setting up and running the bar.
Michael Rathbone for securing the heavy weights frame and Tony Brown for volunteering to oversee and repair the gym equipment.
Ian Fiddes, Christine Lawson, Ruth Gibson and Richard Allen for their dedication and hard work on the Village Hall Heritage Project.
Geoff and Michael Cairns for their general building work and invaluable advice.
Henry Prytherch and Peter Morgan for delivering the refurbished kitchen on time, in budget and as planned and for their general support throughout the year.
Julie McNish who continues to provide an excellent cleaning service.
Finally a vote of thanks must go to the other Trustees for their invaluable input and support throughout this reporting period.
Look Forward
By way of a look forward there is another full programme of activities through to the end of this year and into early 2025 as follows;
A Mother and Toddlers group, called Chat ‘n’ Play, will be starting every Friday from the 6[th] September.
A full programme of Speaker Nights starting on the 26[th] September and running each month through until April 2025.
The Harvest Supper on the 28[th] September.
Theatre productions from the Northumberland Theatre Company and Coffee Mornings are planned for both October and December.
A Ceilidh night on the 8[th] November.
In Summary
It has been a very productive year. Income from regular and occasional users along with some generous grants has enabled the Trust to both maintain and improve the facilities at Chatton Village Hall for the good and benefit of the whole community. Another full programme of events bodes well for the future.
Chatton Village Hall Trust Year Ended 31st March 2024 Receipts and Payments Account FINAL Recelpts and Payments Notes 2023-24 Unrestrlcted Restricted Fund Fund 2022-23 Total Funds Totsl Funds Recelpts - routlne Income Bank interest Friends scheme Hire Charges Feed-in-tariff Fundraising Events Gym Membership Other 152.81 56.00 3,854.00 152.81 56.00 3,854.00 (3) 3,177.50 750.20 1,238.91 4,618.00 {4) 902.99 6,590.50 902.99 6,590.50 Sub total 11.556.30 11,556.30 9, 784.61 Recelpts - non routlne Income Donations Gift Aid Grant Funding (6) 20.00 5,000.00 52,597.86 52,617.88 5,000.00 10,300.00 67,917.88 23,659.00 (5) 10 300.00 62,897.86 15,000.00 38,659.00 Sub totals 5,020.00 Asset Sales Total Recelpts 140.00 16,716.30 140.00 79,614.16 62,897.86 48,443.61 Payments - routlne expondlture Cleaning Services Donations Eleclricity Gas {bottled) Health & Safety Insurance & Licenses Internet Maintenence Miscellaneous Professional Fees Rent Subscriptions Water 1,131.06 100.00 1,770.65 50.00 1,341.16 1,798.71 398.86 1.350.00 103.65 1,131.08 100.00 1,770.65 50.00 1.341.16 1,798.71 398.86 1,350.00 103.65 1,045.71 2,496.82 215.04 675.05 242.19 471.95 (7) (81 (91 1,098.00 10.00 288.00 9,440.09 1,098.00 10.00 288.00 9,440.09 80,994.57 600.00 10.00 192.00 5,948.76 7,920.00 Sub totals ProJeGts {10) 80,994.57 Asset Purchases Total Payments 111) 79.99 9,520.08 79.99 90,514.65 3,167.03 17,035.79 80,994.57 Surplu$ l (Deficitl for year 7,196.22 118,096.711 110,900.491 31,407.82 Opening Current account balance Opening Reserve account balance Transfers from general to restricted fund projects Total funds at year end 7,209.99 50,000.00 7,209.99 50,000.00 5,802.17 20,000.00 2,067.58 1.740.60 64,406.21 46,309.50 57,209.99
Chatton Village Hall Trust Year Ended 31st March 2024 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March 2024 FINAL 2023-24 2022-23 Current Assets Current Account Reserve Account 5,156.69 41,152.81 46,309.50 7,209.99 50,000.00 57,209.99 Represented by: General Fund Restricted Fund Committed funds Total funds at ear end 13,568.90 1,740.60 31,000.00 46,309.50 39,440.26 17,769.73 (2) 57,209.99 Approved by the Trustees on: 3rd September 2024 at the AGM and signed on thelr behalf by: ggic). ly g/,.1 ZL)Z* Alan Hardy - Treasurer Sebastian Moss - Secretary
The Old Manse
New Road Chatton Northumberland NE66 5PU
Tel: 01668 215712 ian.catchpole@chatton.uk
Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees/members of Chatton Village Hall Registered Charity No. 1137433
On accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st] March 2024
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Name: Ian Catchpole
Date: 24[th] October 2024