Charity Registration Number: 1153056
Curdridge Reading Room and Recreation Ground Charity
Accounts for the year ended
31[st] December 2022
Alliott Wingham Limited Kintyre House 70 High Street Fareham Hampshire PO16 7BB
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of the Curdridge Reading Room and Recreation Ground Charity
We report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 3 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention 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 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.
Natalie Rice FCA, FCCA, CTA
Alliott Wingham Limited Kintyre House 70 High Street Fareham PO16 7BB
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Curdridge Reading Room and Recreation Ground Charity
Accounts for the Year 1st January to 31st December 2022
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Income and Expenditure For the Year 1st January to 31st December 2022 For the Year 1st January to 31st December 2021
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| Income and Expenditure |
For the Year 1st Ja | nuary to 31st Decemb | er 2022 | For the Year 1st Ja | nuary to 31st Decemb | er 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | Income | Expenses | Net | Income | Expenses | Net |
| Hall hire income and grant | £25,308.07 | £25,308.07 | £23,901.22 | £23,901.22 | ||
| Bank interest | £31.99 | £31.99 | £99.64 | £99.64 | ||
| Caretaker services | £16,335.02 | -£16,335.02 | £16,522.08 | -£16,522.08 | ||
| House cleaning | £7,242.90 | -£7,242.90 | £6,794.84 | -£6,794.84 | ||
| House maintenance | £3,931.42 | -£3,931.42 | £2,507.28 | -£2,507.28 | ||
| Ground maintenance | £2,441.55 | -£2,441.55 | £1,876.59 | -£1,876.59 | ||
| Ground cleaning | £0.00 | £0.00 | £180.00 | -£180.00 | ||
| PAYE | £3,766.62 | -£3,766.62 | £2,687.52 | -£2,687.52 | ||
| Insurance | £2,167.35 | -£2,167.35 | £2,097.41 | -£2,097.41 | ||
| Gas | £3,413.62 | -£3,413.62 | £3,842.58 | -£3,842.58 | ||
| Telephone, Wifi and Broadband | £1,202.70 | -£1,202.70 | £1,081.14 | -£1,081.14 | ||
| Water | £579.00 | -£579.00 | £263.55 | -£263.55 | ||
| Electric | £2,763.47 | -£2,763.47 | £2,158.38 | -£2,158.38 | ||
| Council tax and licences | £491.00 | -£491.00 | £365.68 | -£365.68 | ||
| PRS & PPL licences | £680.41 | -£680.41 | £229.66 | -£229.66 | ||
| Marketing and Website Maintenance | £675.06 | -£675.06 | £635.31 | -£635.31 | ||
| Recycling Bin | £878.20 | £0.00 | £878.20 | £681.10 | £681.10 | |
| Administration | £2,082.30 | -£2,082.30 | £1,485.23 | -£1,485.23 | ||
| Bank charges | £81.00 | -£81.00 | £96.00 | -£96.00 | ||
| Total Revenue Items | £26,218.26 | £47,853.42 | -£21,635.16 | £24,681.96 | £42,823.25 | -£18,141.29 |
| Capital | ||||||
| Curdridge Country Show | £50,376.08 | £39,263.33 | £11,112.75 | £728.70 | -£728.70 | |
| Curdridge Beer Festival | £3,936.47 | £3,190.89 | £745.58 | £0.00 | ||
| Donations | £0.00 | £235.03 | £235.03 | |||
| Total Capital Items | £54,312.55 | £42,454.22 | £11,858.33 | £235.03 | £728.70 | -£493.67 |
| Total Movement of Funds | £80,530.81 | £90,307.64 | -£9,776.83 | £24,916.99 | £43,551.95 | -£18,634.96 |
| Balance Sheet | As at 31st December 2022 | As at 31st December 2022 | As at 31st December 2022 | As at 31st December 2021 | As at 31st December 2021 | As at 31st December 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis of Funds | Revenue Reserve | Capital Reserve | Total Reserves | Revenue Reserve | Capital Reserve | Total Reserves |
| Opening Balance | £20,001.84 | £47,758.12 | £67,759.96 | £20,143.13 | £66,251.79 | £86,394.92 |
| Movement of funds this period | -£21,635.16 | £11,858.33 | -£9,776.83 | -£18,141.29 | -£493.67 | -£18,634.96 |
| Transfer of funds to cover deficit | £21,700.00 | -£21,700.00 | £18,000.00 | -£18,000.00 | £0.00 | |
| Funds as at 31st December 2022 | £20,066.68 | £37,916.45 | £57,983.13 | £20,001.84 | £47,758.12 | £67,759.96 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||||||
| Current Assets - Cash | ||||||
| CAF Gold Account | £9,623.96 | £9,623.96 | £9,122.41 | £9,122.41 | ||
| CAF Cash Account | £500.00 | £500.00 | £500.00 | £500.00 | ||
| Virgin Account | £20,366.68 | £25,583.09 | £45,949.77 | £20,101.84 | £35,847.93 | £55,949.77 |
| Show Account | £2,709.40 | £2,709.40 | £2,787.78 | £2,787.78 | ||
| Petty Cash | £50.00 | £50.00 | £50.00 | £50.00 | ||
| Total cash | £20,916.68 | £37,916.45 | £58,833.13 | £20,651.84 | £47,758.12 | £68,409.96 |
| Current Assets - Other | ||||||
| None | ||||||
| Current Liabilities | ||||||
| Deposits held | -£850.00 | -£850.00 | -£650.00 | -£650.00 | ||
| Net Current Assets | £20,066.68 | £37,916.45 | £57,983.13 | £20,001.84 | £47,758.12 | £67,759.96 |
| Fixed Assets Buildings and contents Skinner Field |
£570,000.00 £31,000.00 |
£570,000.00 £31,000.00 |
||||
| Total Fixed Assets | £601,000.00 | £601,000.00 | ||||
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Curdridge Reading Room and Recreation Ground Charity
Trustees Report for the Year 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2022
Charity Registration Number: 1153056
Principle Address: The Curdridge Reading Room, Reading Room Lane, Curdridge, Southampton, SO32 2HE
Telephone: 07704 208703
Website: www.curdridgereadingroom.co.uk Email: curdridgereadingroom@gmail.com
Charity Trustees:
Joanne White Chairperson
Jonathan Grigg
Larry Burden
Bill Priest
Structure, Governance and Management:
The Charity was formed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and took over all the assets and liabilities of the Curdridge Reading Room Charity (Registration Number 203472) on 1[st] August 2013.
The Governing Documents of the Charity are published on the website www.curdridgereadingroom.co.uk and an individual may apply to the address or telephone number given above for a paper copy.
The Charity will have a minimum of four and a maximum of eight Trustees.
A rotation basis is adopted as detailed in the Governing Document in order that each Trustee position will be the subject of an election at least every three years. At the AGM Jo White will stand down and seek reelection.
The Charity maintains a Register of Members and all members of the community are actively encouraged to become Members. There is no charge for membership and as at 31[st] December 2022 the register shows that there were 29 members.
The Objectives and Activities of the Charity:
The full description of the Objectives of the Charity are contained in the Governing Document but can be summarised as:
Providing facilities for recreation and leisure time activities for members of the community who need them by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public in the interests of social welfare; and with the aim of improving the condition of life of the inhabitants in the Area of Benefit.
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The facilities comprise:
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The Reading Room building which is available for hire in part or fully
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The main recreation ground which includes facilities specifically for the playing of cricket but is available for other sports and recreation as well
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A children’s playground
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An open area commonly known as The Skinner Field
The Trustees deliver the public benefit of the Objectives stated above by managing the facilities in a way that ensures all members of the community have an equal and fair opportunity to use them in the way they choose, this includes:
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Maintaining the facilities including the buildings and the grounds with a particular regard to Health and Safety
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Operating a booking system and maintaining a fair charging policy
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Publishing all relevant information on the website, on the notice board, in regular features in the local Parish Magazine and by using social media such as Facebook and Twitter
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Holding all Trustee meetings in public with an open session at the beginning for visitors to raise any issue
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Working closely with the Parish Council to obtain available funding and ensuring that activities and facilities provided are in line with local needs
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Working tirelessly to achieve compliance with all the requirements of the various laws and guidance that apply to the Charity
As reported in previous years, the Charity faces an enormous challenge because the building is showing signs of structural instability and is in need of significant repair and renovation. A part of the current building was erected in 1884 and various additions have been made over the years.
It has not been possible to progress any work towards the potential replacement of the building because the country has been gripped by the Covid 19 pandemic. This has significantly reduced the hire income over the last three years and restricted the ability of the Trustees to run any fundraising activities. Savings have been used to fund day to day activities. Further fundraising will be required before the Charity has sufficient funds to undertake any significant work towards the goal of replacing the building.
In the meantime the Trustees have drawn up a schedule of works to address immediate repairs and necessary routine maintenance. A full report will be made at the AGM.
Achievements and Performance
2022 was the third year during which the normal activities and therefore the income of The Reading Room have been seriously affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic. The building was closed for several months in 2020 and 2021 and most bookings suspended during this time. Whilst most of the regular hirers have returned and income from ad hoc bookings is improving, overall revenue from hiring has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
In addition, due to the uncertainties around the Pandemic, some of the normal annual fundraising activities which make a significant contribution to the income of The Reading Rooms have not been able to take place. This includes the Clothes Swap run by a loyal volunteer. The Curdridge Country Show with Barn
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Dance, the Beer Festival, a joint musical event with St. Peter's church have been able to take place in 2022 for the firest time since the COVID-19 pandemic..
The trustees remain committed to the following objectives;
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Maintaining and improving the building and grounds for the benefit of users and the local
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community
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Improving the financial position of the charity by;
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Retaining and expanding a group of loyal regular users and hirers
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Increasing the use of the Reading Room for ad hoc bookings
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Managing the main annual fundraising activities (The Curdridge Country Show with Barn Dance, the Beer Festival, a joint musical event with St. Peter's church and a Clothes Swap)
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Strengthening links with school and other community groups e.g. football and providing storage facilities
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Supporting the Scouts and Guides in their activities at their HQ (The Scout Hut)
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Evaluating proposals for the long-term strategic development of the site
Financial Review
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
The main source of regular Revenue for the Charity is from the hire of the building and grounds.
The Charity adopts a Revenue and Capital Reserves Policy.
The hire rates for use of the building will be set annually with the aim of the day to day income and expenditure balancing, having made reasonable provision for ongoing costs of maintenance and repair which may not arise on an annual basis.
The Charity will hold sufficient Revenue Cash Reserves to maintain security for the day to day operations. In 2022 this was considered to be £20,000 but the figure will be up-rated as necessary with the effects of inflation in the future and any identified needs.
All fundraising and special activities, donations and grants will be held in the Capital Reserve from which all capital projects will be funded. Any Designated Funds will be held as part of the Capital Reserve but may only be used for their specific purpose. As at 31[st] December 2022 the only Designated Funds are the balance on the Memorial Bench Scheme.
Should Revenue Reserves fall below the amount considered to be prudent by the Trustees then Capital Reserves (except Designated Funds) may be used to top them up. The hire rate review each year is used to regulate this for the future so that Capital Reserves are not depleted unnecessarily.
While the charity did benefit from a grant to cover some of the fixed costs of running the building while closed this was not sufficient to maintain the good results of 2019 which was the last normal year of operation. The deficit for 2022 will be funded by Reserves created from fundraising activities in the past and held in the Capital Reserve. The hire rates will be reconsidered at the AGM in 2023 to decide if a change is needed.
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The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Trustees Report and attached Accounts.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic the AGM was cancelled in 2020 and the 2019 accounts were circulated electronically to Members. For 2022 the AGM was held electronically over Zoom and the 2021 accounts were circulated electronically. A paper copy is available at The Curdridge Reading Room building if requested.
The 2023 AGM will be held on 12 June 2023
Signed…………………………………………………………… Dated …………… Jo White Chair of Trustees
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