## South Brent Old School Community Centre Ltd. ## Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31st August 2024 m h Br **REJUVENATING THE CENTRE** South Brent Old School Community Centre, Totnes Road, South Brent, Devon TQ10 9BP www.theoldschool.org.uk info@theoldschool.org.uk Charity Number 1146269 Company Number 07593522 1 R ## Contents |Company and Charity Information|4| |---|---| |Chairman's Introduction|5| |Aims and Objectives|7| |Structure, Governance and Management|9| |Activities and Achievements|12| |Rejuvenating the Centre|18| |Income and Expenditure Account|19| |Balance Sheet|20| |Financial and Accounting Policies|21| |Independent Examiner’s Report|22| **Page 3** ## Company and **01** Charity Information ## **SOUTH BRENT OLD SCHOOL COMMUNITY CENTRE Ltd** Registered Company Number: 07593522 Registered Charity Number: 1146269 The company was incorporated on 06 April 2011 at which point it took over the activities of the previously unincorporated organisation of the same name (which had managed the Centre from its commencement in 1997) The company was registered with the Charity Commission on 02 March 2012 and is governed by its Articles of Association adopted April 2011. |Registered Office:|Website:| |---|---| |South Brent Old School Community Centre|www.theoldschool.org.uk| |Totnes Road|e-mail:| |South Brent|info@theoldschool.org.uk| |Devon|Tel.:| |TQ10 9BP|07707 723637| Independent Examiner: Hania Lee Bank: Lloyds Bank PLC The Directors have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statement of South Brent Old School Community Centre. This report has been prepared with the provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. **Page 4** ## Chairman's **02** Introduction ## **Welcome to the annual report for the year 2023/2024** The Centre continues to be a vibrant and important part of village life. The Hub, Warm Space and Community Fridge are all thriving and are a testament to the ongoing relationships with our key partners – Sustainable South Brent and South Brent and District Caring. They, along with Art House, have a continuing and essential presence in the building, making it a welcoming and open access environment. Analysis of footfall in the Centre showed that these initiatives, along with all the other activities on offer in the Centre, contributed to a figure of well over 800 visits to the Centre each week. With this success come challenges in running an increasingly busy and complex operation. During the year our temporary manager, Bridie Kennerley, moved on – we are very grateful to Bridie for stepping in and filling the gap so ably. In January 2024 we welcomed our permanent manager – Michelle Parton - who many of you will already have got to know. Michelle is a real asset to the Centre and its users with extensive experience in a previous, similar role; she has lots of ideas for the Centre and having grown up in the village is passionate about her community and the role the Centre plays within it! Trustees welcomed back Sheila Alexander as a trustee during the year. Sheila was a trustee back in the 2010s and having moved back to Brent in the summer of 2024 decided to join us again. In addition, Rik Meek stepped down after 2 years as Chair and Dave MacDiarmid took over this position. Our thanks also go to Lyn Dent who stepped down as Library Coordinator after many years of volunteering in the essential role of managing the Library, the volunteer librarians and the book stock. Lyn hasn’t been lost to the library; she continues as a volunteer and before stepping down recruited her successor, Julie Andrews, who took over the role in June 2024. The Corridor Gallery continued to be popular with users of the Centre and during the year there were exhibitions by local artists and art groups as well as displays highlighting the activities of our partner organisations - the South Brent Archive and Sustainable South Brent. A popular facility, managed by SSB, is the Community Fridge which continued its success and with some 300 visits a week it is proving to be a valued local resource, saving surplus food from supermarkets from going to landfill. South Brent Archive shares the Beacon Room with the Library and goes from strength to strength, partly due to a very successful social media presence. As well as their archiving of local collections of photographs and other local material, they also run open sessions for the community to view the material and hold exhibitions and talks about local history. **Page 5** ## Chairman's Introduction Continued **02** During the year Lloyds Bank decided to withdraw the mobile bank service from the Centre, although the excellent Post Office service run by Andy Pound continues to thrive and provides banking services for the major banks amongst its many other services. The School House offices remained fully occupied throughout the year (by two local businesses, two artists and a charity); this provides a stable income for the Centre, enabling the employment of our part-time manager, Michelle. Whilst the maintenance and utility costs of keeping the Centre open, warm and dry continued to rise, so did room hire bookings, reaching pre-Covid levels once again during the year. The Centre is in a sound and viable place financially, with a healthy reserve to insulate us from known and unknown problems in the future. By the end of the financial year 31/8/24 we’d managed to raise over £120,000 towards our Rejuvenating the Centre fund, including a very generous grant from South Brent Community Energy Society of £88,000 towards energy efficiency measures. Trustees were extremely grateful for this generous and timely grant. Raise the Roof has now been renamed the Rejuvenating the Centre project, to better reflect the scope of developing plans. Replacing the roof remains a fundamental element (as it needs replacing entirely), but in 2026 the building will be 150 years old, so our mission is to make the Centre warm, dry and welcoming for the next 150 years. 2023-24 saw us take significant steps towards this essential work, with plans and indicative costs being produced, along with appropriate surveys, which allow us to understand what replacing the roof actually entails and how we might maximise energy generation through photo-voltaic arrays. As part of this work, trustees are looking at the wider rejuvenation of the centre and this will form a key focus in the coming year. When the Old School Centre was saved by the community in 1997, and before any charity was formed, the ownership was held originally by a number of local residents and more latterly by the Charity Commission on behalf of the local community. We can report that the Old School Centre charity is now the legal owner of the Centre and is registered as such with the Land Registry. We do urgently need volunteers to support the manager and trustees in the running of the centre. This might be as simple as setting up a room for an incoming group or more complex – for example helping with the management of contractors or supporting our digital and social media presence. New trustees are also always welcome! Please do help if you can spare a little time. Thank you all, Rik Meek and Dave MacDiarmid Chairs - South Brent Old School Community Centre **Page 6** ## Aims and **03** Objectives The Old School Community Centre is a charity that has two primary objectives 1 **ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY CENTRE AND MAINTAIN AND MANAGE IT, WHETHER ALONE OR WITH OTHERS** 2 **JOIN IN A COMMON EFFORT TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND FOR RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTH BRENT AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA** The Old School was acquired in 1997 to meet the initial objective. This followed a village wide consultation in 1996 which generated 95% support towards purchasing the vacated Primary School from Devon County Council. The consultation also identified the wide range of facilities and activities that residents wanted to see provided at the Centre. The feedback identified the need for a library, facilities for fitness, adult education, a meeting place for all, computer and IT training and a place for young people. Facilities for local history, a place for music and a range of other activities were identified. The response to the consultation gave the initial trustees the confidence, mandate and momentum to push forward with the acquisition and to raise the funds to rejuvenate and open the centre. In the intervening 28 years the Old School Community Centre has delivered on the second objective of providing facilities with ambition, confidence and with a sense of fun. The charity has provided a very wide range of educational and ... ..recreational facilities and opened the doors to every group and individual in ..... ..the village and local area. The full range of activities and achievements ....... .....are summarised in **section 5** . **Page 7** ## **03** Aims and Objectives Continued In 2017 the Trustees undertook a review of the activities of the charity under the title **“Reaching out to everyone”** . This recognised that, with the Centre well established, the focus should move to widening the ambition to grow opportunities for everyone to enjoy, and be supported by, the charity. The review established the following seven aims which have guided the charity’s work since then: **GROW MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING** 1 - **WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS** - 2 - **FOSTER NEW ACTIVITIES** - 3 4 - **INVITE EVERYONE IN** - **A HOME FOR OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS** - 5 **REJUVENATING THE CENTRE** 6 **MARKETING THE CENTRE AND IMPROVING COMMUNICATION** 7 This annual report updates on activity in 2023-2024 whilst setting this in the context of continued growth and activity when measured against the charity’s aims and objectives. **The Centre is more than a conventional bookable space – it has a vibrancy and warmth that provides a welcome for all.** **Page 8** ## Structure, Governance and **04** Management The South Brent Old School Community Centre is a charity that is also registered as a limited company. This double designation serves two distinct purposes: The Charitable status means that the organisation must always act in the public benefit and that all funds (including any surplus) are spent for public benefit. The Limited Company status means that members (and thus trustees) have a limited personal liability of £1 should the organisation fail (as long as it has acted responsibly). This protects individuals who support the work of the charity. The Old School is a member-based organisation. This means that it’s a genuine community organisation that is managed and supported by the very people who benefit from it. There are currently over 100 members, and it’s these members who can become trustees and can attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). There is individual, family and life membership available. There is currently also a category of “Friends” for those who wish to support the work of the charity but not become formal members with voting rights. **Page 9** ## Structure, Governance and **04** Management Continued The work of the charity and the overall management of the Centre is undertaken by trustees. These trustees are selected from the membership and can either be elected at the AGM or co-opted at other times. There can be up to 18 Trustees, and in recent years there has been a core of 8 – 10 trustees. ## **New trustees are always welcome.** - Elected Trustees at the AGM – up to 13 - Nominated by user groups – at any time – up to 2 Co-option at any time – up to 3 The organisation is managed in accordance with the “Articles” which establish, amongst other matters: - The Objects (normally termed the aims and objectives) - Powers, income and property. - Membership, Trustees and meetings - Administrative arrangements **Page 10** ## Structure, Governance and **04** Management Continued Since its opening, the day-to-day management of the Centre has been undertaken by a Centre Manager. The manager supports the trustees and manages the facilities and activities based in the centre. During the 2023-2024 year, Bridie Kennerley acted as interim manager support. When she stepped down trustees appointed a new manager - Michelle Parton - who started work in January 2024. Thanks to Bridie for stepping into the breach! The Trustees are very ably supported by Chris Morgan who provides essential support as minutes secretary. A number of the facilities are delivered directly by the charity, with invaluable volunteer support – not least Julie Andrews (library management), Sue Ifould (The Corridor Gallery) and Steph Bradley (The South Brent Archive). ## **Trustees in the accounting year** ## **Rik Meek: Chair** **David MacDiarmid: Vice-Chair/Chair** **Ross Kennerley Martin Sibley Mike Baines David Kinross Jane Wellens Sally Fairman Sheila Alexander** **Company Secretary: Ross Kennerley** **Minutes Secretary: Chris Morgan** **Page 11** ## Activities and **05** Achievements The Old School delivers a wide range of activities, but most importantly provides the space and facilities for a much wider range of groups and organisations to undertake their activities. When added together this shared approach drives and delivers community cohesion and community development in South Brent in a way that no single organisation can deliver alone. Most weekdays see a range of activities overlapping and generating a vibrant and lively buzz to the Centre. To help understand the breadth and depth of the benefits the charity delivers, the activities are summarised on the following pages. **Page 12** ## Activities and Achievements Continued **05** ## **The facilities we provide** Day to day activity at the Centre takes place in the following spaces which are bookable for educational activities, events, meetings, training and private use 7 days a week. The largest room and suitable for meetings, talks, **The Hall** concerts and classes. A large former classroom widely used for educational activity and events. Joining double doors allow the **The Aune Room** Aune Room to link to the Hall for large scale social events. Hosts the library and archive but available at other **The Beacon Room** times as a quiet meeting room with a more formal atmosphere. A small meeting room suitable for private meetings, **The Study** counselling and one to one discussions. In combination these spaces were booked for much of the available time during 2023-2024. Long established users include Totnes School of Dance, Recorder Group, Shuffle the Deck dance group, Wild Harmony Choir, South Brent Women Together and also Karate, Spanish, Yoga and Textiles classes. **Page 13** ## Activities and Achievements Continued **05 The public services we host** The Centre hosts and supports a wide range of public services. Some of these are long term fixtures in the centre whilst others make regular appearances as part of a busy calendar of community support. There is something available for everyone. **South Brent Library -** The volunteer-run library opens 4 days a week to provide the only lending facility in the village. The Centre has been the home of the library since its establishment in 1997. Run by Centre volunteers. **South Brent Post Office -** Following the announcement of the closure of the Post Office in 2017, the charity campaigned for its retention in the village and offered a long term home to ensure this vital service remained in South Brent. It opens 3 days a week and provides an invaluable service, including banking. **Lloyds Bank -** When the bank branch closed in 2017, the charity provided space for the mobile bank to visit the village on a weekly basis. In combination with the Post Office, this continued to provide vital financial services in the village. Unfortunately Lloyds have now withdrawn this service. **Shareshed -** The mobile shed arrives every week offering residents the chance to borrow a wide range of home and garden equipment. This encourages sharing and communal use and there is a ‘locker’ drop off / collection point within the Centre. Shareshed is an independent charity. **The Corridor Gallery -** As a Victorian primary School there is no shortage of wall space suitable for art displays. The gallery hosts monthly art exhibitions and displays by local organisations. **South Brent Archive -** Situated in the Library, the archive draws together a wide range of donated materials charting the history of South Brent. Volunteers manage and celebrate this archive. **Community computer, photocopier and laminator -** Available for all during opening hours and widely used by many in the village. **South Brent Community Fridge -** A service that allows food that would otherwise be wasted to be shared from a fridge that is managed by volunteers so that food is available for all. Run by Sustainable South Brent. **South Brent Bike Bank -** Bikes are stored and can be booked for use at any time. Supported by . Sustainable South Brent. **The Servery -** A space for sitting, chatting, reading and having a warming drink. **Page 14** ## Activities and Achievements Continued **05** ## **The partners we work with** The Old School Centre is increasingly used as a base by other organisations to deliver their activities. Hosting these organisations allows the Old School Charity to support those that deliver public benefit well outside the school gates and reach into all parts of the community. These organisations include: **South Brent and District Caring -** Originally nurtured and supported by the Old School Centre SB&DC is now a thriving independent charity providing direct support to vulnerable and disadvantaged residents of all ages. SB&DC has a base in three rooms in the centre, one of which hosts a warm space. The charity holds the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. **Art House -** The Centre has always been a base for the arts and the recent establishment of Art House CIC, and their occupation of three rooms in a self contained area of the centre, has really consolidated the centre as a place for creativity. Activities include events, classes and exhibitions. **Moor Trees -** A long-established charity that pioneered the creation of woodlands across Dartmoor. A member and volunteer-based organisation, Moortrees is leading the way in the research and activity that supports the expansion of woodlands in the parish and beyond. **Sustainable South Brent -** A charity committed to activities that support the long-term sustainability of the parish working across environmental, social and economic projects. SSB has opened a Sustainability Hub in the Centre as a base for education and public engagement. It also operates a Community Fridge on site. **South Brent Community Energy Society** - SBCES has their charity base at the Centre. SBCES established, and manages, the South Brent Community Wind Turbine, recirculating surplus income to community energy projects. **The South Brent Community Land Trust -** SBCLT has the Centre as its base. SBCLT is engaged in a 13 house local needs housing project in the village. **Page 15** ## Activities and Achievements Continued **05** The combined activities of these partner organisations provide comprehensive support for groups and individuals across South Brent. The Charity’s aim is to seek further opportunities to draw other charities and organisations into the Centre. ## **The businesses we work with** When the charity acquired the Old School, it also took on the Old Headmaster’s House. This has been converted to 6 offices/work spaces now used by local businesses, individuals and other charities as their base in the village. The income from these offices allows the charity to employ the manager, grow its activity and be so much more than a passive letting space. **Page 16** ## Activities and Achievements Continued **05** ## **Regular Groups** The Old School is much more than just a lettable space - it is a home for many groups and classes which meet at the Centre regularly. These are many and varied, and include the following: - Book Group - Breakfast Café - Brent Birders Meetings - Children's Dance Classes - Coffee Mornings - Tango - Walk & Talk - Wild Harmony Community Choir Women Together Yoga - and much more... - Compassionate Friends Café - Conferences - Craft Fairs - Energy Advice Drop In Sessions Foot Clinic - FriendsDay Wednesday - Karate - Knit & Natter - Lunch Club - Networking 4U - Parties - Private Tutoring of Pupils with Special Educational Needs Qigong Classes - Recorder Group - Repair Café - Seed Swap & Plant Sales - Sewing Group & Textiles Group - Shuffle the Deck Appalacian Dance - Spanish Classes - SSB Talks & Workshops **Page 17** ## Rejuvenating **06** the Centre **----- Start of picture text -----**
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As far as we are aware the Old School Centre is still protected from the elements by the roof that was put in place when the school was built in 1876. This has clearly served residents of South Brent very well for nearly 150 years; however it is now reaching the point where replacement of both timbers and slates is urgently needed. Relevant reports (including wildlife) have been commissioned and delivered and detailed drawings and costings produced. These have guided trustees as they developed plans and launched a consultation on the future of the building itself. - Plans are in preparation that will include three distinct elements: **Replacement of the roof Incorporation of energy generation and energy saving Linked refurbishment within the centre maximising space and future proofing for energy use** Fundraising has been underway for over four years with over £120,000 now raised. This demonstrates a significant commitment by the South Brent community and once plans are finalised Trustees will be seeking the significant funds we’ll need to replace and future proof the roof, including significant solar generation capacity, as well as further work outlined above. **Page 18** 07 Income and Expenditure Account South Bront Old $¢hool communlty C•nlr• Ltd Income and Expenditure S•pt•mb•r 2023 . August 2024 Unr••trlet•d Funds R•8trlet•d RtClFIT 2024 Total Funds 2023 To¢al Funds In¢omg Donatlon$ and Lega¢l?$ £1.010.01 1,010.01 t 877.16 M•mb•rshlps F••s £621.00 621.00 £ 641.00 L•ttlng• £51,781.80 51,781.80 e 47,051,38 FIT (Eeotrlelty aranti £651.91 £ 851.91 £ 0.00 prundral•lng Rtc £93.982.03 £ 93.982.03 £ 4,039.10 £300.00 £ 300.00 e 1,400.00 oth•r Incom• £1.578.82 1.578.82 £ 491.29 Copylng and Prlntlng £2,820.71 2,820.71 e 2,453,01 Total Incom• £57,812.34 £94,933.94 £ 152,746.28 £ 56,953.00 Ixp•ndltur• P•yroll £9,606.32 9.606.32 18,581.24 Cl•anlng £7,692.97 7,692.97 8,049.B5 Comput•T Ixp•n••• £5S2.20 552.20 830,25 In•uTanc• £1,689.73 1,889,73 1,500,36 Bulldlng Malnt•nane• £5,487.27 £309.40 5,796.67 8,606.25 Photocopylng & Prlntlng £1,592.24 1,592.24 1.288.08 £18,93S.08 18,935.08 9.189.85 Other Admln Ixpgns•$ £463.71 463.71 525.74 Prof•581onal Fe• £1,037.C 1,037.00 2,274.52 Phon• & Bro•dband £345.88 345.88 369.05 R•luv•nat• th• C•ntr• IRtel £10.119.29 10,119.29 0.00 Other Expenses £227.37 227.37 179.$5 Total Expgndllur•¥ £ 47,629.77 £ 10,428.69 e 58,058.46 e 49.395.14 N•t Incom•llExp•ndltur•l £ 10,182.57 £ 84,505.25 £ 94,687.82 £ 7,557.86 Total Fund$ ¢arrl•d lorward £ 10,182.57 £ 84,505.25 £ 94,687.82 £ 7.557.86 Notès Include5 restricted 9rant of £88.000 from South Brent Comrnunty Energy Society Page 19 Gas £10.343. Eledricity £7.695.Contribution$ to electriaty 41.020. Vwater £1.758. TV licence £159 ## **08** ## Balance Sheet Chairs’ Signatures: Date: 11/02/2025 Rik Meek Dave MacDiarmid **Page 20** ## **09** Financial and Accounting Policies **Basis of preparation of accounts:** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005) and applicable accounting standards. The Trustees have availed themselves of paragraph 4(1) of schedule 1 of the large and medium size companies and groups (accounting and reporting) regulations 2008 and adapted the Companies Act 2006 formats to reflect the special nature of the Charity’s activities. **Income resources:** All income resources are included in the SOFA when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Grants received are included in the accounts when the appropriate amount has been quantified. Grants in respect of fixed assets are credited to income. No amounts are included in the financial statement for services donated by volunteers. When the donors of income resources specify that the funds must be used in future accounting periods or donors’ conditions have not been fulfilled, then the income is deferred. The income from fundraising is shown gross, with the associated costs included in fundraising costs. **Resources expended:** Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT, which cannot be recovered. Expenditure, which is directly attributable to specific activities, has been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of these resources. **Reserves Policy:** The Charity operates a reserve policy. This seeks to retain 6 months of operating costs (and at least a minimum of 3 months) in the reserve. **Restricted Funds:** Where income is allocated to a specific use it will be held in restricted reserves and reflected as such in the annual accounts. **Fund accounting:** Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. **Taxation:** Based on its status as a registered Charity and the use of funds for charitable purposes, South Brent Old School Community Centre Limited is exempt from corporation tax. **Fixed assets and depreciation:** Freehold Property was valued at £538,003 by the Directors, on 1 September 2011. There is no depreciation or appreciation of the freehold property, furniture, equipment or refurbishment costs. **Trustees and emoluments:** The Trustees receive no remuneration and were reimbursed no expenses during the year. **Status and Control:** The Company is limited by guarantee and is controlled by its Trustees and Directors. **Page 21** ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** |**Report to the trustees**|South Brent Old School Community Centre Ltd| |---|---| |**On accounts for the year**|31 August 2024
7593522
**Charity no**| |**ended**|**(if any)**| |**Set out on pages**|19-20| ||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above| ||charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/08/2024.| |**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: • • the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or • the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 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: Date:** 20/02/2025 **Name:** Hania Lee **Relevant professional** ACCA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 19b Golvers Hill Road, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3BP **IER** 1 **Oct 2018** **Page 22** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . **IER** 2 **Oct 2018** **Page 23** **South Brent Old School Community Centre Ltd.** **REJUVENATING THE CENTRE** m 1 h R Br www.justgiving.com/page/rejuvenating-the-centre