## Arnold u3a ## Registered Charity No. 1153672 ## Annual Report to the Charity Commission for Year ended 31st October 2023 Arnold u3a is managed by a committee that is appointed or reappointed at the Annual General Meeting held in March each year. The committee are the trustees of the Arnold u3a Charity. The constitution adopted on 6[th] March 2018 is the governing document of Arnold u3a. Membership of Arnold u3a is open to older people and those retired from full time work living in Arnold and its surrounding area. The members of the u3a form interest groups that are managed by members of the u3a who share their knowledge and expertise with the group. No qualifications are sought or offered . Learning is for its own sake , with enjoyment being the prime objective, not qualifications or awards. Groups are self-financing and meet in a variety of venues. Arnold u3a has sixty one groups that could be divided into those providing an opportunity to learn (e.g. languages, history , psychology, science , Shakespeare and classical music ); others that encourage the creative arts ( e.g. art and painting, patchwork and quilting , photography) whilst some provide an opportunity for members to meet up and enjoy shared experiences of theatre and cinema visits, play board and card games . In addition to these groups there are those that cater for the physical well being of their members offering the opportunity to exercise together …..Arnold has several walking groups and a Yoga group that meet regularly throughout the year. These groups are led by some fifty four members , some of whom lead more than one group. In addition to the members who manage groups there are other members who help with the running of the general monthly meetings by meeting and greeting and being “buddies” to new members and providing refreshments at those meetings. The philosophy of the u3a movement “Learn, Laugh, Live “ is behind all group activities as is the principle “by the members for the members”. ## Chairman’s Report Although Arnold u3a lost quite a few members through the Covid Pandemic we are beginning to recover, albeit slowly. We have had another successful year with most groups back to normal activities and new ones starting up. We have had some lovely day excursions, garden visits and a couple of local interest outings. Holidays, both in this country and to a Spanish resort where members have a chance to practice their language skills. Theatre visits both in Nottingham and further afield. All these take time planning and organising so we owe a debt of gratitude for all the hard work the leaders put into these events as many members gain so much pleasure from these outings and holidays. A big Thank you to all group leaders who spend a lot of their own time planning and preparing for group activities. Without these leaders Arnold u3a would be a lot poorer. A special Thank you to David Brown who has stepped down from the position of controlling the I.T. equipment in the Church Hall on main meeting days making sure all equipment is working for our various speakers. Another special Thank you to Dieter Hecht who has led the short walking group for about ten years. He has stepped down as leader but is still hoping to support the walking group. The Drama group managed to fool nearly all the audience while putting on their now annual Murder Mystery play written by one of our members. This is always lots of fun to perform and always well supported. They also put on entertainment for the Christmas party which always has a Pantomime included, written by another one of our members. A big Thank you to all committee members who have been very patient and supportive during my three years as chair. It hasn’t been an easy time with the Covid Pandemic. When I took over the role we were in full lock down , I had just lost my son to cancer and I was on automatic pilot as there was so much to do and think about. Leading the committee and members through all the trials and tribulations we faced wasn’t easy but we have come through and are still a strong u3a. We do have retiring committee members, myself as Chair, John Gardner, membership secretary, Gwen Isherwood, Business secretary. Hazel Ward our Vice Chair will stand for the role of Chair. Viv Purkiss has a nomination form completed for Vice Chair. Cathy Van Baalen will stand for membership secretary. Sue Matthews will stand for Group leader co-ordinator. Chris Gardner has agreed to stay on as treasurer for one more year only. We may have a deputy treasurer working alongside Chris. Another Thank you goes to all those people behind the scenes. Peter now at the back of the church hall at main meetings. All the refreshment volunteers who make sure we can all enjoy our tea and biscuits at the meetings. The new members team who do a Stirling job, Sandra on reception desk and all helpers who make sure that all our groups and meetings run smoothly. REMEMBER ALL u3as ARE FOR THE MEMBERS BY THE MEMBERS. I am looking forward to many more successful years of Arnold u3a Sylvia Hale Chairman ## Treasurer’s Report on the Accounts for the Year ended 31st October 2023 Arnold u3a is a registered charity and an associate member of the Third Age Trust and as such it is required to comply with regulations issued by the Charity Commission and follow guidelines set by the Third Age Trust. The accounts attached to these papers are for the period 1[st] November 2022 to 31[st] October 2023. The accounts have been independently examined by Anne Sutton , a member of this u3a , because the income for the year is £42,733. The General Account includes the membership income and the costs of running the u3a; the receipts and payments of the groups within the u3a are aggregated in the Education and Social Activities section of the accounts. Arnold u3a has 2 current bank accounts , one for the general management of the u3a and a second one for transactions of the groups within the u3a. We also have a deposit account for the collection of membership income paid by bank transfer. All three accounts are with the Co-operative Bank. There is a PayPal account that members can use to pay their membership fee. ## The General Account The total income in the General Account was £9,294, an increase of £459 compared with the income in the previous year. Membership income (£7,161 ) is £369 less than in the previous year. Whilst membership income has fallen the reduction is much less than that in the year to 31[st] October 2022 (£1,532 ). During the year we produced a new publicity leaflet in-house and it is hoped that more publicity about the u3a will help reverse the decline in membership . In the year to 31[st] October 2023 we had 498 members, 465 full and 33 associate members. The membership fee was £15 for a full member and £11 for an associate member. The fall in membership income is offset by an increase of £72 in Gift Aid ( up to £1,145), bank interest (up to £154) and commission(up to £678).This commission is paid when a member books a holiday online with Riviera Travel and at the time of booking asks Riviera Travel to pay commission (10% on the cost of the holiday) to their u3a . The main items of expenditure are on the main meetings and speakers fees (£1,895); membership subscriptions to the Third Age Trust (£1,964 )and Third Age Matters magazines (£1,100) Total expenditure in the year to 31[st] October was £7,546 , £1,748 less than the income . The cumulative value of the General Fund is therefore increased to £16,355. ## Educaton and Social Actvites Account This account consolidates the receipts and payments of the many groups within the u3a. All groups are self- financing (they have to cover the cost of group activities from fees paid by their members). The cost of hiring rooms for group meetings was £8,256 in the year being reported on . The majority of this was paid to Ask Inspire for hire of rooms in Arnold and Woodthorpe libraries. The other costs incurred by the groups were on trips (£9,241) , theatre tickets (£6,847) and various one-off activities (£2,533). Included in the one-off activities is the annual Murder Mystery evening organised by the drama group, and the Christmas party. The total income paid in by the groups was £33,439. Here I would like to thank Pam Gant who collects all group receipts paid in by group leaders and banks them every month. The surplus of receipts over payments was £1,435 bringing funds held by the groups to £7,937 at 31[st] October 2023 . It should be noted that this represents the working balances of all groups who collect income in advance of making payments, it is not a “profit” on group activities. ## Conclusion Despite the fall in membership income, increases in income from Gift Aid, commission and bank interest has meant that the funds held in the general account have increased by £1,748 in the year to 31[st] October 2023 bringing the value of that fund to £16,355. Balances held by groups have increased by £1,435 to £7,937 at 31[st] October 2023. Chris Gardner Treasurer Arnold u3a January 2024 ARNOLD U3A R Istered Cha . No 11536n INCOME AND EXPENDITU Accoupif YEAR ENDED 315r ocroBER 2023 2021 2022 23 Education General and Social Account Activities Total INCOME Subscriptions and Wisitor Donations Sales Gift Aid Grant Commission Interest Holidays and Outings Miscellaneous Income Development Fund TOTAL INCOME 19,426 7,161 14,348 9,670 21,509 9,670 1,145 1.073 1,145 252 15 7,855 678 154 678 9,421 9,421 156 156 37.508 9294 33A39 42.733 EXPENDifuRE Room Hire Equipment Hire Tutor Fees Printing Stationery.Postages Purchases Membership Subscription Third Age Trust Direct Mail Copyright Licence Speakers and Social Events Committee and Catering Costs Membership Expenses Website Beacon Notts Network Membership Card Printer and Scanner rickets for resale Transport Holidays and Outin8S Sundry Expenses Mini Projector National u3a Day Contribution5 from Contingency Fund Contribution from Development Fund 8.541 2,593 2,290 414 177 8,256 3,268 9,696 3,268 1,840 34 1,828 813 1.964 i.l(K) 1.964 I,ioo 64 2,988 931 120 397 471 15 1,555 441 455 931 120 397 471 2,533 351 502 132 6.045 6,847 6.847 9.156 30 75 201 9,241 9,241 20 20 187 187 19 19 210 TOTAL EXPENDfwRE NEf EXPENDtfuRE/ INCOME 35.582 I￿26 32.IX)4 1,435 39.550 3.183 1,748 ARNOiD U3A BALANCE SHEEf AT 3tst ocfoBER 2023 No 11536n CURREKf ASSETS Educatlon General and Social Account Artivltles Total Cash at bank and in hand Payments in advan 17,588 7,937 25.525 Paid in Advance Total Current Assets Current Uabllities Creditors Recelpt5 in Advance Total Current Uabilities Net Current knets TOTAL ASSErs 204 17.792 204 25,729 7.937 148 1,289 1.437 24.292 24.292 1,289 IA37 16,355 16.355 7,937 7,937 FUNDS Cumulative Surplus 31st October 2022 Surplus YE 31110123 Funds held 31st Octaber 2022 14,607 1,748 16.355 6.502 1,435 7,937 21.109 3.183 24,Z92 Note Anal si5 of Funds General Education and Social Activities Groups Development Contingency Funds Held at 31st October 2022 16,355 16,355 5,890 1,932 115 7,937 5,890 1,932 115 16,355 24,292 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts for the year ended Charty no (if any 31rf OCTO 30L3 11<36?x Set out on pages thè ca I reFK)rt to the Irustees on my examination of the acMunts of the above thanty (Ihe Trusn for ts year erKled Responslbilities and As the chanty trustees of ts Trust. you are reSp￿sible for the preparation basis of report ofthe accounts in aCCUthn￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examinalion of the Trusfs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have follo￿d the ap￿1￿able Directions given by the Charity Commission under Sed1￿ 145(5)(b) of the Aca. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention ( in connedion with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material accountirvJ records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act the accounts do not accord wilh ts accountirKJ records Independent examlnerfs statement I have no cOn￿mS and have come across no other matters in connection with th8 examina.on to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the ￿ordS in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Zg.z.Zca4- Su Relevant professional quallfication(s) or body (if any): Address: J>AI vtr IER October 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete rf ttrE examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, IrKlependent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidan￿ for exaMI￿r$). Give hern brief detalls of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. ..lL: IER October 2018 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of hlULP L43A On accounts for the year endod Charity no (rf any) 31rr zoL3 11<36?3 Set out on pages thè ga I rewrt to the trustees m my examination of the accounts of the above charty {Ihe Twsf) for year erxled Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are respon￿ble for the preparation basis of report ofthe accounts in ac(xxdance with the requirem&ts of the charl￿ Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts carried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have fo11ry￿ed the a￿￿Kable Th'rections gNen by the Charity Commission under se(*iM 145(5)(b) of the A< I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have me to my attention { in Connection with the examination which gives me Gause to believe that in, any material Independent examinees statement account1￿j records *Ere not kept in acc