CHAIR’S REPORT AGM May 2023
As life continues to return to normal post-pandemic, it has been a very busy year for Beeston u3a.We have welcomed a steady stream of new members through the year, and were delighted toregister our 1000th member just before Christmas 2022. Having a large membership provides some challenges for committee members- especially Alison, our Membership Secretary, who has dealt so doggedly and efficiently with the renewal process in the first three months of 2023.
Ensuring that there are enough interest groups for all members to enjoy has kept Kathy and Brendan, our two Groups Co-ordinators extremely busy, and it is thanks to them (and our hard-working group facilitators) that we currently have 99 active groups.
One of the advantages of having so many members is the financial economies of scale that this enables.. No increase in our membership fee was needed this year, and the majority of interest groups have been able to keep their room hire contribution fees at no higher than a couple of pounds.
Our highly competent and practical Treasurer and Social Fund treasurers, Richard and Lindsay, ensure that everything is kept on track.
Good communication is key to things running as smoothly as possible, and we are grateful to Celia, Communication Officer for regular, interesting newsletters, plus timely emails about what is taking place.
Roger, our Webmaster endeavours to ensure that our website is kept up to date in a fast-changing environment.
Pauline, our Business Secretary has guided us skilfully through reviews of all key policy documents,and introduced a new cloud storage system
Two very experienced, long-standing committee members reached the end of their terms of office last year. It is good to be able to report that all key committee positions were filled for 2022/23, and that the new committee has developed into a strong, hard-working team.
As the end of others’ terms of office start to draw near, we need new volunteers to understudy committee roles, with a view to joining our team soon.
Some roles can be undertaken without necessarily being a committee member, and we hope that people will consider helping out with these. Thank you to those who have recently offered to share their skills, and thank you to Karen, our wonderful Publicity Officer for encouraging people to step forward.
As we move towards our goal of having 100 active interest groups, we are very pleased that some new facilitators have stepped forward to get some brand-new groups off the ground- for example:
Sign Language, Transport, Adventures Outside your Comfort Zone and Line Dancing. Other groups which were struggling to recover post-Covid, such as Theatre Visits, are nowsu ccessfully up and running again.
The fluid nature of local venues can also be a challenge, especially in the current economic climate.sadly, The Flour Brewer closed recently and the Pearson Centre
made some significant changes to its policies for hirers. Fortunately, Chilwell Memorial Hall has proved a useful new venue, and others such as The White Lion are due to reopen soon. The Star Inn is proving to be a successful new location for our monthly new member coffee mornings.
We continue to be grateful for the support offered by Karen, Office Manager at Beeston Methodist Church, who is always so willing to help group facilitators with room bookings there.
Adjustments to room arrangements at open meetings have resulted in the return of a real “buzz” at open meetings, with the hall at BMC now full of laughter and chat.
Some very interesting speakers have been welcomed: most recently- Paul Cullen on Nottinghamshire placenames; Camilla Anderson on The Gardens of the Dukes of Devonshire and Northumberland and Martin Perry on The Magic of the Guitar. Thank you to our Speaker Seeker Ivan for his hard work.
We have tried very hard to keep hybrid meetings going where appropriate at open meetings, thanks to the skills of our technical team (Mike, Celia and Adrian) at BMC.
In addition to regular interest group meetings, we have tried to expand the range of activities available this year. A programme of Life skills one-off seminars has been organised and is proving popular: so far, Estate Planning, First Aid, Footcare and Driving Skills have either taken place, or are at the planning stage.
Social events have taken place regularly, thanks to Sue and Margot, two excommittee members who have been willing to take on a year of social event organisation. A Ceilidh, Fine Wine evening and a Quiz evening have all been fully booked, and more events are in the pipeline for the remainder of the year.
We have just started to organise outings by coach again. The first of these will be a day trip to Leicester, which is taking place very soon. Thank you to Celia for organizing this.
We rely on the enthusiasm and hard work of many members who are involved in a range of volunteering roles across the u3a. In addition to the group facilitating teams already mentioned, we are grateful for our open meeting Refreshment Team, and Meeters and Greeters. A new initiative this year has been to offer new members the opportunity of having a more experienced member guide them through their first couple of open meetings. This has proved popular, and we are currently endeavouring to expand our team of volunteer “buddies”.
To try to show how much we value the work of our volunteers, thank you events such as our Christmas cream tea have been organised. Group Facilitators were invited to a training lunch in January, where food was enjoyed and update information about the running of groups shared.
A survey of all members, organised by Karen, our Publicity Officer helped us to collate members’ (overall extremely positive) views of the u3a and set goals for the future.
Links with the Notts Network u3as and the national Third Age Trust provide us with support and training, as well as ensuring we continue to look outwards to
other u3as’ good practice and remain vibrant. These links were especially evident last autumn when the 40th birthday of the u3a nationally saw us running local events in Beeston Square and joining in Notts Network events at Highfields Park.
The future is bright for Beeston u3a, as it goes from strength to strength, and we know that the enthusiasm of members and the hard work of the committee will ensure that everyone is able to continue to “Learn, Laugh and Live”.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru$ts081 membern of Beeston u3a On accounts for tho year ended 31 March 2023 Charfty no Ilf anyl 1152882 Set out on pagos I report to the trustees on my examination of tpe accounts of the above charity nhe Trust.) for the year ended 3110312023. As the charitys trustees, you are responsitAe for the weparatk)n of Ihe a¢Unts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°th8 Acr). Responsibililles and basls of report I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commtssion under section 145(5)(b) of the Ad. Independent I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have éxamlnerfs statement come to my attention in nneCtIOn with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which gives me cause to beliwe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not keO in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord wth the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the aPIcable requirements conceming the form and content of accourts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fairf view vthi¢h is not a rnatter considered as part of an indep8ndent exarnlnatl. I have no concerns and have come a(mss no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proFer understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please debt8 the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Namg: Anne Allery Relevant professlonal qualifatIon(SI or body (If any): NDt4E Addr5. 53 Penrhyn Crescent IER Oct 2018
ChiSwell Nottingham NG9 SPA Section B Disclosure Only Complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of chanty accounts: direction8 and guidance for examiners). Givo hero brlef details of any items that the examlner wishes to dlscloso. IER Oct 2018
APPENDIX A1 CHARFry CQMM15YOM Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 314tsr-23 Section A Receipts and payments UnTestrlcted lunds toth rT•¥1 RestTicIEd Total funds La$tyezr A1 Rec•lpts GTOupAw 13Ag5 122•4 15.YJ4 1&234 14.W SubScnptn HMRC Gfft Aknl MtsoelnLVyJ¥ 179 Sub tot•l{Gmsg fft¢ome for AR) A2 Asset and Invests Isee tsblel. Syb totsl 17,669 33010 A3Pa 13,298 3.15• 2.115 1675 GFaupAccounts ALt(M AdministratK AINAtion Fee# Thi[ Alle Mattw5 hJbfKn 12.254 .$33 3,624 4.37$ 4376 4,134 615 Equipmert 275 Sub to A4 Asset and Inves0 rchases (see tsblel Sub tot Tgralpornr8 12204 33,210 28299 Nfrtdrvp(paYmertj AS Transfèrs bEtween funds A6 Cash fvnd$1ost year•TrJ 28,682 ¥047 6,177 •.7n 7a9 29 J4,78• APPENDIX A2 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted fund$ to raNStE 25,77J Restricted ds roreslt Endoment frjnds toMar•ste 81 Cash fvnds BC currertAccJfit HSB¢ SawwsA(wur Totslca¥h funds ¥047 CCXXR1 *>xunts ISSI
APPENDIX A1 CHARITYWAIAIIS%tXI eeston ug Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe period To 0110022. 3141ai-T3 Section A Receipts and payments UnT8sITiCted tunds trth• ngar95t REStricted Endo%YThEnt [5 fvThJs to th• n¥rgst£ t0th Thxr•sle iothe thg n•4rMt£ Tolal funds La&tsar A1 ReiFts pA¢oywn Aewjnl 21 12,284 15.>¢ 17.284 12a4 14. HMRC GrftAAI 179 Injp ub toi•l( ARI A2 Asset and knve51lrn sqle& Isee tal1. Sub totsl 17Mg 33A1e A3Pa GioupAccounts l Axount InlstFatiL ffilwion Fees Thiwd AgE Mattwsfljila1 crtst6 Eqillpmenl Eypen2e MBOlarbeoL IJ.208 3.156 2,113 1675 12.214 12284 3.124 4,376 4,376 4,134 815 Sub total 123DI 4&4Z4 A4 A6sel and Investmnt rch•se$ Isf¢ table Subth 12204 33,220 28299 Nel ofr¢W(p4ymwts) ASTransfers belween fvnds A6 Cash fvnds last year End 6.061 2882 ¥04T ,177 34.769 29N89 ¥7 APPENDIX A2 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestwictwj nds to n•orestt 25,773 Restricted fvnds ty) ne4r05t£ End0Tlt funts 81 Cthsh ld9 CurrenlAwnt H&BcrjS knuni i.on P3yPal ¥047 CCXXR1 I<ssI
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru$ts081 membern of Beeston u3a On accounts for tho year ended 31 March 2023 Charfty no Ilf anyl 1152882 Set out on pagos I report to the trustees on my examination of tpe accounts of the above charity nhe Trust.) for the year ended 3110312023. As the charitys trustees, you are responsitAe for the weparatk)n of Ihe a¢Unts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°th8 Acr). Responsibililles and basls of report I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commtssion under section 145(5)(b) of the Ad. Independent I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have éxamlnerfs statement come to my attention in nneCtIOn with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which gives me cause to beliwe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not keO in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord wth the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the aPIcable requirements conceming the form and content of accourts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fairf view vthi¢h is not a rnatter considered as part of an indep8ndent exarnlnatl. I have no concerns and have come a(mss no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proFer understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please debt8 the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Namg: Anne Allery Relevant professlonal qualifatIon(SI or body (If any): NDt4E Addr5. 53 Penrhyn Crescent IER Oct 2018
ChiSwell Nottingham NG9 SPA Section B Disclosure Only Complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of chanty accounts: direction8 and guidance for examiners). Givo hero brlef details of any items that the examlner wishes to dlscloso. IER Oct 2018
APPENDIX A1 CHARFry CQMM15YOM Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 314tsr-23 Section A Receipts and payments UnTestrlcted lunds toth rT•¥1 RestTicIEd Total funds La$tyezr A1 Rec•lpts GTOupAw 13Ag5 122•4 15.YJ4 1&234 14.W SubScnptn HMRC Gfft Aknl MtsoelnLVyJ¥ 179 Sub tot•l{Gmsg fft¢ome for AR) A2 Asset and Invests Isee tsblel. Syb totsl 17,669 33010 A3Pa 13,298 3.15• 2.115 1675 GFaupAccounts ALt(M AdministratK AINAtion Fee# Thi[ Alle Mattw5 hJbfKn 12.254 .$33 3,624 4.37$ 4376 4,134 615 Equipmert 275 Sub to A4 Asset and Inves0 rchases (see tsblel Sub tot Tgralpornr8 12204 33,210 28299 Nfrtdrvp(paYmertj AS Transfèrs bEtween funds A6 Cash fvnd$1ost year•TrJ 28,682 ¥047 6,177 •.7n 7a9 29 J4,78• APPENDIX A2 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted fund$ to raNStE 25,77J Restricted ds roreslt Endoment frjnds toMar•ste 81 Cash fvnds BC currertAccJfit HSB¢ SawwsA(wur Totslca¥h funds ¥047 CCXXR1 *>xunts ISSI
APPENDIX A1 CHARITYWAIAIIS%tXI eeston ug Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe period To 0110022. 3141ai-T3 Section A Receipts and payments UnT8sITiCted tunds trth• ngar95t REStricted Endo%YThEnt [5 fvThJs to th• n¥rgst£ t0th Thxr•sle iothe thg n•4rMt£ Tolal funds La&tsar A1 ReiFts pA¢oywn Aewjnl 21 12,284 15.>¢ 17.284 12a4 14. HMRC GrftAAI 179 Injp ub toi•l( ARI A2 Asset and knve51lrn sqle& Isee tal1. Sub totsl 17Mg 33A1e A3Pa GioupAccounts l Axount InlstFatiL ffilwion Fees Thiwd AgE Mattwsfljila1 crtst6 Eqillpmenl Eypen2e MBOlarbeoL IJ.208 3.156 2,113 1675 12.214 12284 3.124 4,376 4,376 4,134 815 Sub total 123DI 4&4Z4 A4 A6sel and Investmnt rch•se$ Isf¢ table Subth 12204 33,220 28299 Nel ofr¢W(p4ymwts) ASTransfers belween fvnds A6 Cash fvnds last year End 6.061 2882 ¥04T ,177 34.769 29N89 ¥7 APPENDIX A2 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestwictwj nds to n•orestt 25,773 Restricted fvnds ty) ne4r05t£ End0Tlt funts 81 Cthsh ld9 CurrenlAwnt H&BcrjS knuni i.on P3yPal ¥047 CCXXR1 I<ssI