Chair’s Report to Beeston u3a Annual General Meeting 7 May 2026
Membership
As we start the new financial year it is pleasing to report that at the beginning of April 2026 Beeston u3a has 1,334 members: an increase of 13% on the previous year. Numbers will fall temporarily as the inevitable resignations are processed at the beginning of the new year, but the trend is still a significant rise. As some u3as nationally are reporting declining numbers it is encouraging to see that our figures here are healthy and increasing. That of course is down to the hard work and commitment of all of our members, volunteers and trustees. The richness and variety of activities which we collectively offer continues to attract new members. Roberta Pearson stepped into big shoes when she took over as membership secretary from Alison Wilson a year ago. We are very grateful to her for the way in which she has effectively processed and managed this growth in membership.
Committee Matters
Since I was elected as the new chair of Beeston u3a a year ago I have been supported by a dedicated, experienced and hard working committee who have held my hand and guided me through a steep learning curve. It has been a very humbling experience for me to witness the depth of commitment, experience and knowledge exhibited by the team. I am grateful to them for making my induction a truly positive experience. In particular, Pauline Duke and Karen Attwood have been instrumental in advising and mentoring me as I get up to speed.
The committee has been strengthened by the presence of three new members this year: Julia Tabreham, Mary Steiner and Lynda Child; all of whom have made a significant contribution to the work of the team already.
Our financial position is sound thanks to the vigilance of our treasurers Richard Taylor and Lindsay Litton, and we have been able to maintain the present membership fee yet again without an increase. We are in the healthy position of being able to support our interest groups through loans and grants when required. Full details are included in the treasurer’s report.
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Interest Groups
In the past year we have welcomed new groups in Archaeology, Cinema Visits, Board Games, Dance, Flower Arranging, Military History, Pickleball, Psychology & Sociology, Table Tennis and Travel Interest. We are currently offering 107 groups. Sadly, we have lost a few groups as well, but some hopefully just temporarily while they reorganise.
Following the successful launch of these groups, we are keen to expand our range further. If you have any ideas for new groups please share them with our Groups Coordinators who will assess interest and help to bring new activities to life. Mary, Susan and Brendan are a very dedicated and knowledgeable team who put a lot of work into supporting our groups. I feel privileged to be part of their team.
It was good to see so many people attend the Group Leaders’ Lunch in January. Their dedication and commitment in setting up and managing our interest groups is of course the core of our whole organisation. During the session they made some
constructive suggestions for future developments and improvements which we are now working on. We are grateful for their input.
Celebrating Success
Our groups offer a wonderful diversity of activities, which we are proud to showcase in our newsletters and on our website. To continue celebrating this richness, I would like to encourage all groups to submit articles and photographs highlighting their achievements. Dee May has transformed our newsletter and monthly notices into excellent, informative resources which have become powerful tools for sharing group successes and keeping everyone updated on the many activities available. She can’t do it without your contributions. Keep them rolling in!
Remember you are also very welcome to submit photos and articles to our Facebook team for even wider exposure. Just email your contributions to Grainne and Sandra, our Facebook coordinators, at facebook@beestonu3a.org.uk. I’d like to encourage you to check out our Facebook page. It is a great way of promoting our activities to the wider public as well as to our own members. The team do an excellent job in keeping it up to date but they are dependent on your contributions.
Volunteers
Our u3a is stronger thanks to the many volunteers taking on extra roles to enhance our activities. We love highlighting their hard work in our newsletters and notices. Between them they provide comprehensive support, including hospitality and reception, catering, setting up for open meetings, acting as buddies for new members, organising visits and events, managing the audio visual technology, maintaining our Facebook page and lots of other essential tasks. Their dedication ensures our meetings and events run seamlessly. Please do let them know how much they are appreciated.
Please also think of ways in which you can help. Volunteers are the backbone of our u3a. If you have some spare time and would like to contribute to enriching the experience of fellow members, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lynda, at volunteer@beestonu3a.org.uk. She can discuss current opportunities where your support would make a real difference.
Two new volunteers, Nic and Mark Davey, have stepped up recently to share the role of Publicity Coordinators when Karen Attwood comes to the end of her term of office in May 2026. Nic and Mark are already well known for their other u3a activities (including the leadership of the Travel Interest Group). I am really grateful to them for taking on this extra role.
Events and Visits
Over the past year Beeston u3a has offered a wide range of different events and visits including the Annual Quiz, two wine tasting evenings and the Ceilidh Evening. Visits have been arranged to a range of local places of interest including the Nottingham Caves, the historic Lace Market area, the Mary Potter Museum, and Nottingham Council House. In addition, individual interest groups have organised their own events such as the History Group’s visit to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and their forthcoming visit to the Richard III Visitors’ Centre and the tomb of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral.
Our upcoming diary is looking busy! Join us for our 'Not the Fine Wine' evening or sign up for one of our latest excursions: the Mansfield Recycling Centre, the William Booth Birthplace Museum, and a visit to see the legendary Concorde at Manchester Airport.
If you have any ideas for a one-off event or visit please let us know and the committee will support you in getting it off the ground. Remember that the only things that happen within Beeston u3a are the things that one or more of our members has volunteered to help to organise. Our mantra is ‘ For the members by the members’ .
Website Optimisation
The committee recently set up a subgroup to explore ways of enhancing the Beeston u3a website. Roger Farmer, our webmaster, has put a lot of work into this and has created a new platform which is user friendly, easily navigable and has strong visual impact. The intention has been to make it as accessible and engaging as possible in order to encourage existing and prospective members to refer to it regularly as a useful information tool. We have reorganised the structure of the site and have included many more pictures to celebrate the richness and variety of our activities. It is still work in progress but take a look and tell us what you think.
Refurbishment of Beeston Methodist Church
If all goes according to plan, we will be returning to the main church in time for our Annual General Meeting on 7[th] May. The temporary movement of the monthly open meetings into the hall over the past twelve months has been successful because of the willingness of our members and volunteers to adapt to the changed circumstances. It will be good to have the hall back as a space for members to socialise and for groups and event organisers to promote themselves. I am particularly grateful to the church team, Karen and Amy, for all the work they have put into supporting us over this period. We could not have managed without them. Please take the time to thank them.
End of an Era
Karen Attwood’s term of office as a committee member comes to an end in May. With her departure we lose a very experienced, proactive and effective Publicity Officer and Speaker Seeker. I also lose her indispensable support and guidance as Vice Chair. Her effusive, bubbly and creative approach will be badly missed. Happily, she has not gone away. She will always be there to share her wisdom and advice when needed and will continue to be an active member of the groups she enjoys. Thank you Karen.
Fortunately, members have once again stepped forward to offer their support. We are grateful to Julia Tabreham for agreeing to succeed Karen as Speaker Seeker, and Julia has already been proactive in setting up a programme of guest speakers for the remainder of the year. In this capacity she will be the master of ceremonies at our monthly open meetings. And as I mentioned, Nic and Mark Davey have stepped in to take over Karen’s publicity role, liaising with Dee May as their committee link.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of Beeston u3a for your hard work, unwavering support, and continued commitment to our shared goals. I am proud to be part of an organisation which has such a positive impact on our local community.
Noel Kelly Chair. Beeston u3a
APPENDIX A1
Charity Name Beeston u3a
Receipts and pay
For the period from
Period start date 1-Apr-25
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
| A1 Receipts | to the nearest £ Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GroupAccounts | - | 38,160 | ||||||
| Social Account | - | 13,929 | ||||||
| Subscriptions | 19,881 | - | ||||||
| Visitors | - | - | ||||||
| HMRC Gift Aid | 2,597 | - | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | 1,048 | - | ||||||
| Inierest | 559 | - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 24,085 | 52,089 | ||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see | ||||||||
| table). | ||||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||||
| Total receipts | 24,085 | 52,089 | ||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||
| GroupAccounts | - | 37,608 | ||||||
| Social Account | - | 15,367 | ||||||
| Administration | 1,829 | - | ||||||
| Affiliation Fees | 4,439 | - | ||||||
| Third Age Matters Publication | 3,492 | - | ||||||
| Operating Costs | 4,264 | - | ||||||
| Equipment | 843 | - | ||||||
| Expenses | - | - | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | 325 | - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Sub total | 15,192 | 52,975 |
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | ||
| - | - | ||
| **Sub total ** | - | - |
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end **Cash funds this year end ** |
15,192 |
|---|---|
| 8,893 | |
| - | |
| 42,706 | |
| 51,599 |
APPENDIX A2
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end
Categories
Details
B1 Cash funds
HSBC Current Account HSBC Savings Account HSBC Social Account PayPal Account Group Accounts
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))
| No (if any) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1152882 | |||
| ments accounts | CC16a | ||
| Period end date | |||
| To | 31-Mar-26 |
Endowment funds Total funds
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
Last year
to the nearest £
| - | - | 38,160 | 36,505 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 13,929 | 17,984 | |||||||||
| - | 19,881 | 16,967 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 2,597 | 2,562 | |||||||||
| - | 1,048 | 3 | |||||||||
| - | 559 | 552 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 76,174 | 74,573 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 76,174 | 74,573 | |||||||||
| - | 37,608 | 36,644 | |||||||||
| - | 15,367 | 16,617 | |||||||||
| - | 1,829 | 1,994 | |||||||||
| - | 4,439 | 4,183 | |||||||||
| - | 3,492 | 3,226 | |||||||||
| - | 4,264 | 5,881 | |||||||||
| - | 843 | 291 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 325 | 472 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 68,167 | 69,308 |
| - | - | - | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - |
| - | 68,167 | 69,308 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 8,007 | 5,265 | |||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||
| - | 52,115 | 46,850 | |||||||||
| - | 60,122 | 52,115 |
of the period
| of the period | ||
|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ 41,184 9,531 - 884 - - 51,599 OK Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - 4,628 - 3,895 - 8,523 OK |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| OK |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees 8eeston U3A On accounts for the year 31 March 2026 ended Charity no | 1152882 (if any) I Set out on pages 34ts4 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 8bove charrty (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3110312026 Responsibilities and basis of report As the Charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in a¢¢ordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act.). I report in spect 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 th8 applicable Directions given by the Charity Commlssion under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have 8xamlnerfs Statsment corne to my attention in connection with the examination whith gives me cause to believe that in, any material resped.. the accounting records were not kept in aGcordance wilh section 130 of the Charities Act" or the accounts did nol accord with thè 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 connecti¢)n with the examination to which attention shoulé be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 2oifq Namo: Bernard Whelan Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): NIA Address: 194 Meadow Road Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1JR IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only comp18te If the examiner needs to highSight material matters of COnM (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. diredions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brfef detsib of any items that tha examlner w18he8 to disclose. None IER Oct 2018
(HARIIY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES , CHARITY COMMIS0 FQP ENGlAN0WAI(s Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the F)wiod To 01- 31-Mar-26 Section A Receipts and payments Total fund• L88ty•ar funds fvnd6 tOltr• l••t £ M•r••t£ n•v••t£ IDth• IDth•M•mt£ funds A1 Rrtei Group 38.1 ¥q 36,936 1gW1 19081 V15ir HMRC Grft A 2A12 Sub total(Gw income forAR) A2 A•fjotand InveBtm•nt sale.18•• tabkn). 24.086 76.174 S2.089 78.174 743 A3P# ènts 4644 11.617 1&367 4A39 41 3892 Opw¥fjw C4J5ts E)men1 326 472 Sub total 14192 52,975 18,167 89.30 A4 Asset and Inv09kn•nt pur¢lwsw. (•? tsblel Sub total 15,192 52,975 68.167 Net ofrnce1pPaYnts) 8,893 O.IX17 A6 Cash fvnd It yèar end Cash funds thls year end 42,700 51,599 9N09 8,523 51116 611.122 46.85(1 51116 CCXX R1 a¥ts ISS) OflOY2W
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrl¢tsd Restrictsd funds fund¥ Endowmert fvnds Bl Cash funds 41.184 $1.$99 •>>(•)) fund8 fvnd• fvnds B3 Inv•stment 081ots Fund ts whk B4 Assets r•tslnod for tha Chartty's own u80 Fund towhlch B5 Liabilltle• Sydned by iwo tnjstess on tsh8Nofan Ihe tN8teg$ Signature Print Ne Rithard Ta 07-Ma CCXX R1 accounts ISSI OiKW2026