2022-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] April 2021 To 31[st] March 2022

Charity name: Knutsford and District University of the Third Age

Charity registration number: 1139427

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The object of Knutsford U3A is 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.
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 are a self-help learning organisation for all local retired people who wish to join activities that will develop learning, skills, personal development, enjoyment and friendship. We have three main kinds of activities. We normally hold monthly meetings, with speakers on a wide range of topics, followed by refreshments and social interaction. We currently have 52 Activity Groups, offering a wide range of learning experiences to suit different interests. They are led by Group leaders, giving their time, often supported by a planning group. They are supported by the Committee through networking and training sessions. We have subcommittees which organise our speakers and outings, including trips to places of interest, and to concerts and theatres. We produce regular newsletters to keep our members informed of our activities, and those of our wider u3a network (such as Summer Schools).
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

Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

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	Our membership at the end of March 2022 was 692, with an additional 41 Associate Members (those who are also members of other u3as). At the beginning of this period our activities were constrained due to the impact of Coronavirus with no indoor meetings. Committee meetings (meetings of the trustees) and Membership meetings were successfully conducted online using Zoom. Many outdoor groups were meeting as normal while following the appropriate government advice. We had a stand outside the Knutsford Methodist Church for u3a publicity day (2ndJune). Our first organised outing was to the new RHS Bridgewater in early July, which was so popular that it was followed by two further visits to the same location. Highly successful outings also were made to Adlington Hall and Chatsworth House. There were also several trips to cultural events including to see an Alan Ayckbourn play in September, and in December, the Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah. The Committee agreed guidance for the restarting of indoor groups on 27thJuly. In September our activities moved decisively towards normality with the restarting of indoor activities including our first face-to- face members’ meeting and a group leaders’coffee morning. We also held a

group “showcase” event in early September
which provided group leaders with an
opportunity to advertise their activities to a
wider audience to attract new members. Our
October committee meeting was the first to
be held face-to-face. This sense of getting
back to normality continued until January
when rising rates of the new Omicron variant
caused indoor groups to suspend their
activities and the January members’
meeting and Committee meeting to return to
Zoom. Fortunately, this interruption was
brief and by the end of this period our u3a
was fully open, albeit with a lot of testing and
some disruption as members had to self-
isolate at short notice if they had a positive
Covid test result.
Unlike the previous year we were able to
hold a face-to-face AGM this year in
December. During this time period we
recruited four new members to the
Committee who were duly elected at the
AGM. We now have a Committee of 11, with
one vacancy.
A significant achievement was our first
membership renewal drive (in April 2021)
using the software system Beacon which is
designed to streamline the administration of
our u3a and reduce the workload on
Committee members.
By the end of the period, we had 52 active
groups including some new additions such
as a Singing group and a Railways Interest
Group
.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41

Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Our ‘core’ income and expenditure relates to the income (principally from membership subscriptions), and the running costs of the charity. This is ‘unrestricted funds’ in the accounts. At the end of the financial year, our income was £6,964, and our expenditure was £9,020. Our other funds are ‘restricted funds’, and they relate to the Activity Groups and the outings, each of which are self-funded. This income was £26,499, and the expenditure was £26,355. Our financial situation is healthy, and at the end of March 2022, we held £9,418 in unrestricted funds, and £9,005 in the restricted funds.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Our reserves policy is to maintain a level of reserves at a figure of 6 months running costs for our ‘core’ organisation. This is to allow for contingencies, such as the need to replace or acquire necessary equipment, and unexpected expenses. For future years we will adapt the membership fee with a view to reducing the excess reserves gradually.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	n/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	n/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	n/a

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
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46

Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	We are governed by our Constitution, first adopted in 2010, and changed to a modified version of the u3a model constitution approved at our AGM of November 2020.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	We are an independent charity, which is 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

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	We carry out induction for new trustees, using written information, discussion, and observation at Committee meetings etc.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	We are an independent charity, and are members of the national body, the Third Age Trust. We maintain relationships with other local U3As, through the South and Mid Cheshire Cluster Group, and the North West Network.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Knutsford and District U3A
Other name the charity uses	Knutsford U3A
Registered charity number	1139427
Charity’s principal address	10 Beechwood, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 3DW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Mark Barley	Chair
	Adrian Long	Treasurer
	Susan Allan	Secretary
	Roger Brown
	Veronica Gordon		01.04.2021-22.04.2021
	Barbara Arnell		01.04.2021-25.11.2021
	WendyBrooks
	Stuart Allan
	Irene Hardy
	Helen Smith
	Robert Watson
	TonyAxon		25.11.2021-31.03.2022
	Georgina Blackburn		25.11.2021-31.03.2022

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets 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 Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional 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) Mark Howard Barley Adrian Long Position (eg Secretary, Chair Treasurer Chair, etc) Date 28/09/2022

KnutsfoNI & Dk8tiict UnNwsrty of the Third Age TOTAL 3282.00 143.OD PayPd &Go Cvdkn5 &6S&T3 3￿￿.73 22,Td1 22.721A2 10.14358 25.81 3,7T15T 3.803J8 1.709.65 6.W.54 26,499. ,462 I1￿9693 2445&L 22.45Y. 9.754.67 R(x)m Hire IRerrt 676.50 67630 190.39 1611.xl 2ts11SO 2￿59.00 725nJ 121.33 1.687.(2 1fj87.02 1.685.74 1,Y8.fAI 1W8.00 370.00 519.64 519.64 572.30 Equi[Xn￿t 11.37 YJIA7 &Vknb 1W.IX) o. 1W.00 3Y.97 T￿nIng& N&thu¥J 25920 0.00 OA) OA) 0.00 97MJ 97.1)0 89.08 rxlry 3m724 4.003A1 1,984.60 9.LVO.11 26h55a) 35a75.41 17.642_08 144( 1'.9',2.481 15.fA5.851 21Y21A2 1r22. 2021r22 9.41825 8217A9 17.6￿74 £ 14,SJT.81 787h2 787.62 7.34 9rt1&25 1Q42 15,745.15 1022158 £ 5x152 15.745.10 21.￿1.rI] 14d.r Is.￿15 8il 125124 3.$39.50 4￿.74 V1825 £ 15.745.15 OA) .00

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND A14D WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to th• trust members of KNUTSFORD u3a On accounts for the yoar 31 MARCH 2022 Chartty no (rfany) 1139427 Sot out on p•9eS I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe TnAn for ￿ year erKled 31103r2022. RespoMlbl1lli￿ and basls ol roport accounts in accordarK? With th8 requirements of the Charrlies Act 2011 I report in rw of my examination of ￿ Trusys accounts Carried out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I hw4e followed all the applicable Directions gtven by the Charity Commission urthr sedion 145(5Mb) ofthe Ac Independent oxaminerfs statement I have completed my examinati￿. I cx)nfirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that discjosed Ixlow") ￿lch ￿ me ￿uSe to believe that in, any material the a(￿untIng records ￿re not keFrt in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the a¢¢ounts did not comply with the applicable requ1￿ments concemirvJ the f(xm and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rep￿ts) Regulations 2t)08 other than any requirement that the accounts gNe a Inje and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an irKlependent examination. I have no con¢errts arKI have come across no other matters in Connection with the examination lo whith attention shoukl dra￿ in this report in order to enable a pryer understanding of the ac(x)unts to be reached. . Pleas8 d818te the Kyrts in the brackets ifihey not apply. Slgned: Dats: 14 JULY 2022 Name: Robert Beale Relevant professional quallfication(s) or body IER Oct 2018

Ilf any): 1 Styal Close CW9 8FG Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. IT￿ examinabw of charity xrnurts: diredions and guKlance for ex￿1￿3). Give hore brief details of any items that the examinerwishes to dlKIo IER Oct 2018