BLACKHILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2021/22: for AGM 13 June 2022
The last AGM was held on 29 June 2021. The meeting re elected John Worters as chair, Amy Hedley as Treasurer and Kathleen Slater as secretary. Six other members of the committee were elected. The committee met seven times during the course of the year.
USE OF THE CENTRE
With the relaxation of Covid rules in May, June and July 2021 there was a gradual resumption of activities at the community centre through the year.
In the early part of the year two permitted groups, Kalma Life mother and toddler group and – in the yard – Rainbows, met, although both of these have now ceased to use the centre. During the spring the Wednesday and Friday art groups, Taekwondo class, Guitar group and Skills through Leisure craft group resumed.
However, the big increase in activity was with the arrival in August and September of the Shotley Bridge and Blackhill Methodist Church and their associated activities. The church is using the centre while their own building is being rebuilt.
In October the bridge club and Shotley Bridge and Blackhill Ladies group resumed, followed by the Tuesday art and calligraphy classes in January 2022. Three groups, Ladies bingo, Derwentside Emotional Women’s Support and Karate, have not resumed. We now have 17 regular activity sessions, mostly on a weekly basis.
In addition, we have had a number of one-off or short-term bookings including children’s birthday parties and a funeral. In the autumn the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust used the centre for some of their youth activities. Karbon Homes organised two Easter holiday events in the centre for local children.
We continue to publicise the centre’s facilities and activities through the Action Area Partnership’s DerwentValleyLife website and Durham County Council’s Locate website. In addition, we have prepared a simple leaflet for distribution, spelling out the various activities that people can join and the hall and rooms available for hire.
BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
The committee continued to fulfil its responsibilities with regard to “compliance” in the regular maintenance of the boilers and central heating controls, emergency lighting, fire fighting equipment, the automatic doors and the roller shutter. Call-outs were necessary for a failed emergency light and a boiler fault.
Problems had been experienced in the delivery of mail when the centre was predominantly closed during lockdown. To overcome this, the post box was moved from the hall to outside the main entrance.
The committee has been discussing two improvements which we plan to undertake in 2022. These are the installation of an electric water heater in the disabled toilets and the repointing of the boundary walls to the yard.
We continue to be in dispute with Engie, our gas and electricity supplier. Since the start of a new contract in October 2021, they have been charging us VAT at 20%, rather than 5% and also the Climate Change Levy of 5%. They have also addressed invoices to “Amy Hedley trading as Blackhill Community Association”. None of these are appropriate for us as a registered charity. We continue to withhold payment until these issues are resolved.
FINANCE
Although our income from user groups and other lettings has been low, we have benefitted greatly from government grants which have been available during lockdown and reopening, leading to a very healthy balance in our bank account.
John Worters
Chair, Blackhill Community Association
| Receilrts | 23,433.71 |
|---|---|
| Paymr,,rntS | 9,216.23 |
| Recein'ltslesspaymelnts | t4,2L7.48 |
| Balan,:::eb/f | f20,293.L8 |
| f34,510.66 |
| D,C.C.Grants(COVID) | 19,335.21 |
|---|---|
| Rent {'romgroups | 1,950.00 |
| Hinecharges | ZJAffIg |
| f21,43$J1 |
| Wages | 3,2E6.01:) |
|---|---|
| Electricity | 545.53 |
| Gi.ls | 2,075.66 |
| Ccr,mpfliancetests | 865.8t) |
| Repairs | 1,Lt)3.45 |
| Water | 315.09 |
| lnsurance | 312.50 |
| Covidcompliance | 53.84 |
| AllisonHeating | 21"5.00 |
| Terlephrone | 280.6,E |
| Cleaniinrg | 1.21..V5 |
| Postage | 3.5.E4 |
| Cc.rmprilterink | L7.50 |
| Sundry | 5.3.9 |
| fgzEt"ig |