## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01 April 2024 To 31 March 2025**
**Charity name: Bracknell Forest University of the Third Age**
## **Charity registration number: 1153789**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The advancement of education and in**
**particular the education of older people**
**and those who are retired from full time**
**work, by all means including associated**
**activities conducive to learning and**
**personal development, residing in**
**Bracknell Forest and the surrounding**
**locality.**|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**• Open meetings addressed by an**
**outside speaker are held every six**
**weeks, followed by a period for**
**refreshments and social interaction.**
**Special provision is made to welcome**
**new members and those who may have a**
**disability/additional needs. Hybrid**
**meetings are held so that members who**
**are able to get out and about are able to**
**meet socially face to face, whilst**
**members who are unable to attend are**
**able to watch in the safety and comfort of**
**their home on Zoom.**
**• Over seventy Interest Groups have**
**been established. Here members**
**pursue a wide variety of subjects on a**
**self-teaching basis ie: all members are**
**both teachers and learners. Such**
**Groups are of benefit not only in an**
**educational sense, but socially too.**
**Members are actively encouraged to**
**start up new Interest Groups. Many of**
**our Group Co-ordinators keep in**
**contact with their members by email,**
**WhatsApp, phone calls and Zoom.**
**• We normally offer a range of outings**
**and social events designed to promote**
**both educational and social benefits.**
**Taken together these activities help to**
**combat loneliness and isolation for**
**older members of the public. In**
**particular we have 3 very popular**|
|||**MOTO Groups for Members On Their**
**Own to specifically address this**
**problem and also CAMEO groups (Come**
**and meet each other) for those who wish**
**to undertake activities within a small**
**group.**|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**These provisions show how the trustees**
**have had regard to the requirement to**
**provide a Public Benefit, as all activities**
**are available to any person who chooses**
**to become a member, provided they are**
**no longer in full time**
**employment.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
Para 1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
Para 1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**We have continued to see a further**
**increase in membership with now over**
**720 members who are able to enjoy a**
**wide range of activities including holiday**
**breaks and many outings ranging from**
**places of interest to shows in the West**
**End, together with walks, playing or**
**listening to music, sports, art,**
**photography and many, many others.**
**Our interest groups are varied with over**
**100 volunteers, including our CAMEO for**
**members on their own who prefer**
**company for an activity, our 3 MOTO**
**groups for members on their own, our**
**very popular coffee mornings which are**
**open to all members and a monthly**
**luncheon event.**
**We have also offered talks at our Open**
**Meetings on topics from Ageing &**
**Fitness, Nutrition for heart health and**
**diabetes to Mysteries and Conundrums**
**and Gilbert & Sullivan.**
**We update our membership on scams**
**which we hope are shared through word**
**of mouth with the wider community.**
**Our New Members Secretary encourages**
**new members to participate in our**
**activities such that they may introduce**
**new ideas and hopefully new groups. Our**
**application and renewal forms now ask**
**about any disability/additional needs that**
**they may wish to share with us. We also**
**now have an Accessibility Officer and a**
**personal risk assessment for discussion**
**with those seeking support. Carers can**
**attend with members for which no charge**
**is made. Open meetings include a New**
**Members Table and a meeting was held**
**during the year to showcase what is on**
**offer.**
**We continue to maintain a close**
**relationship with the local council, and**
**invited the Mayor to an event; especially**
**with the Public Health Directorate, Social**
**Prescription and INVOLVE. There was a**
**meeting with a PCSO for Bracknell to**
**enable them to tell people about the u3a**
**on their welfare visits, and we publicize**
**our u3a in local shops, libraries, GP**
**surgeries who sometimes contacted us**
**regarding their patients for social**
**interaction, and**
**family members who point their parents**
**towards our organisation.**|
|---|---|---|
**Additional information (optional)**
|You may choose to include further statements|You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**Our finances continue to be strong as a**
**result of the increase in membership**|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**We hold reserves to cover**
**• Three months cover for venue hire**
**costs**
**• Cash flow for five months before**
**membership income is received**
**• Possible need to purchase or renew**
**equipment**
**• Provision for set-up costs for new**
**Interest Groups**
**• Other contingencies**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£7000**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**n/a**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**n/a**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**n/a**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**Principal sources of funds arise from:**
**• Membership subscriptions and Gift Aid**
**arising from these**
**• Charges to members for participating**
**in social events and outings**
**• Charges to members for participating**
**in their chosen Interest Groups to**
**cover for example, hire of suitable**
**venues**|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**We make no investments**|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**Our main risk relates to falling**
**membership numbers**|
|Other|||
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**Principal sources of funds arise from:**
**• Membership subscriptions and Gift Aid**
**arising from these**
**• Charges to members for participating**
**in social events and outings**
**• Charges to members for participating**
**in their chosen Interest Groups to**
**cover for example, hire of suitable**
**venues**|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**We make no investments**|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**Our main risk relates to falling**
**membership numbers**|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated members association,**
**and member of the Third Age Trust**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Elected by the membership at the AGM**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|**We have a Policies and Procedures**
**document held on our website and**
**reviewed regularly. We follow the**
**recommendations of the Third Age Trust**
**on trustee selection and induction.**|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**We liaise with other u3as in the Region**
**through the Thames Valley u3a network.**|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|**n/a**|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Bracknell Forest u3a|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Bracknell Forest University of the Third Age|
|Registered charity number|1153789|
|Charity’s principal address|5 Bloomfield Drive
Wick Hill
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 2JW|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Robert Goddard|Chair|||
||Bruce Collins|Vice Chair|Until 11 July2024||
||Carol Morgan|Vice Chair|From 11 July2024|Membershipat AGM|
||Janet Russell|Admin Secretary|Until 11 July2024||
||Shelagh Richards|Admin Secretary|From 11 July2024|Membershipat AGM|
||Graham Clark|Treasurer|||
||Anthony Bolt|Membership
Secretary|||
||Stephen Richards|New Members
Secretary|||
||Carol Morgan|Speakers Secretary|Until 11 July2024||
||Laurayne Barber|Speakers Secretary|From 11 July2024|Membershipat AGM|
||Shelagh Richards|Minutes Secretary|Until 11 July2024||
||Niccola Hood|Minutes Secretary|From 11 July2024|Membershipat AGM|
||Carol Clark|Groups Support
Officer|||
||Jacqueline Young|Events Secretary|||
||Dorothy Kirkham|Asst. Events
Secretary|From 11 July 2024|Membership at AGM|
||Vacant|PublicityOfficer|||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets none held in this capacity Name and objects of the none charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for none safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report abov•.
Signed on behalf of the charlty's trustaes
Signature(s)
rull namelg)
Position {eG Secretary.
Chair, etc)
Robort William Goddard
Shelagh Mary Richards
Chair
Admin Secretary
Date
08 Ociober 2025
08 October 2025
Bracknell Forest U3A Income and Expenditure Account for year ending 31 March 2025
Charity Reg. No.
1153789
All figures in £, (brackets indicate negative)
2024- 25
Expenditure
2023-24
Income
7,992.00
Category
Membership subscriptions
PayPal commission on online memberships
Gift Aid
Bank Interest
Commission
Donations
Membership Support
NatÈonal Office Capitation Fee
"Third Age Matters" Magazine
Ad-Hoc Meetings
Licences, Website & Beacon Support
Thames Valley Network (TVN)
Committee Expenses
Training, Education
Post, stationery, printing (ex. newsletter)
Publicity
Newsletter
'AGM
Miscellaneous
Purchase of Equipment
Open Meetings
Christmas Social
Group Start-up Grants/losses
Events, Outings
Sub-totals
Surplus forthe year
Brought forward
Year-end Total
Less transfer to Reserves
Funds Available for General Use
Income
Expenditure
8,879.50
196.55 ,
167.08
1,376.20
108.19
1,363.03
108.11
454.82
23.50
549.93
2,608.00
1,871.12
148.83
943.74
29.25
126.00
513.35
2,420.00
1,692.72
131.16
1,001.94
87.75
108.30
0.00
5.00
76.06
551.47
11.75
41.08
788.26
1,728.37
413.82
96.20
5,121.30
15,301.73 k
181.25
538.67
33.06
45.84
171.00
239.00
10.80
1,370.94
379.69
55.99
3,343.08
12,086.62
60.70
4,528.10
15,578.511
276.78
12,691.29
12,968.071
(7,000.00)
5,968.07
3,248.00 ,
12,973.641
887.02 '
11,804.27
12,691.29
(5,000.00)
7,691.29
Balance Sheet
' Current Account
Deposit Account
, PayPal
! Locally Held Group Cash-in-hand
Total Funds
Accruals and Deferrals
Group Funds in Bank
' Locally Held Group Cash-in-hand
Reserves
Funds Available for General Use
2024-25
1.912.85
13,508.86
260.65
2,854.12
18,536.48 |
(2,105.27)
(609.02)
(2,854.12)
(7,000.00)
5,968.07
2023-24
2,095.47
12,400.67
348.57
2,985.81
17,830.52
(1,916.94)
(236.48)
(2,985.81)
(5,000.00)
7,691.29
For the purposes of these accounts, subscriptions paid for the year to 30 September have been treated as coterminous with the
year to 31 March.
2. Movement of group funds
Balances at year beginning
Income
Less expenditure
Balances at year end
3,222.29
50,704.64
(50,463.79)
3,463.14
2,832.19
41,056.82
(40,666.72)
3,222.29
3. Gross Income
Group
Non-group
Total
50,704.64
15,578.51
66,283.15
41,056.82
12,973.64
54,030.46
Graham Clark
06 July 2025
Re
ort of the inde
endent examiner
I have examined the above income and expenditure account and balance sheet and confirm that they are in
agreement with the books of account and explanations given to me.
Steve Edwards
06 July 2025
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trustees
Bracknell Forest u3a
On accounts for the year
ended
31 March 2025
Charity no
(if any)
1153789
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110312025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concems and 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.
Signed:
Date:
0610712025
Name:
S R Edwards
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:
62 Culver Lane
Reading
RG6 1DY
IER
Oct 2018