## **TOWCESTER u3a Registered Charity Number 1155428 Annual Report for period from AGM May 2023 to AGM May 2024** At our AGM at the end of May 2023, a committee was elected. The majority of the previous committee agreed to serve for another year. The day to day running of the branch has returned to normal ie no longer via Zoom but we have continued with the digital voting for the purposes of the AGM. ## Trustee Committee Members The Trustee Committee Members re-elected at the 2023 AGM and responsible for managing Towcester u3a during the above period were: Stephen Porter (Chairman) Terry Goldfinch (Treasurer) Deborah Heaphy (Business secretary) Alison Foxton (Publicity secretary) Anne Parkes (Speaker Seeker) Jill Stewart (Group Co-ordinator) Alison Burnley (Membership secretary) Jenny Rigby Tricia Burningham (Minute secretary) Marilyn Shone The committee meet regularly on the first Monday of each month, except for January. Stephen Porter has decided to stand down as Chair at this AGM. The Committee are very grateful for his efforts over the last 2 years. The branch has progressed and this is reflected in the membership increasing. All other members of the committee are standing for reelection at the 2024 AGM. ## Charitable Purpose, Structure and Governance The u3as in the UK are autonomous, self-help organisations run by the voluntary efforts of their members. All u3as are members of the Third Age Trust (TAT), a registered charity, which is the national support and advisory body. Each u3a is operationally independent but as members of the Third Age Trust each agrees to follow the principles of the u3a movement. Being a self-help learning co-operative is what makes u3a unique. Towcester u3a was formed in 2010 with the stated charitable purpose of the advancement of education of those who are retired from full time work, by activities conducive to learning and personal development, in Towcester and its surrounding area. Towcester u3a is a registered charity governed by our constitution which was amended in 2018, and then again in 2019, and again in 2021 to allow for virtual meetings. Our committee members are charity trustees and are elected by the membership at the AGM although new trustees may be co-opted in between AGMs and then stand for election at the next AGM. ## Groups We now have over 50 groups, ranging from “Alternative Poetry” to “Understanding the Stock Market”. This includes two “Art Appreciation” groups, two “Boys Toys” groups, three “Genealogy” groups, two “London Explorer” groups, and a number of walking groups - one “Nordic Walking”, two “Ramblers”, and one “Striders”- this year has seen the addition of “Strollers” and “Coffee and Cake”. A full list of the current groups is available on our website. Please contact the relevant group coordinator if you are interested in joining one of the groups. ## Monthly Meetings Monthly meetings at Towcestrians have continued during the last year with some great speakers. We are noticing a steady increase in attendance and the variety of speakers is meaning a different audience at each meeting. ## Membership We have held a number of New Members Meetings at the Sawpits Centre at which new (and old) members had the opportunity to find out what interest groups are available and to meet some of the group coordinators. These continue to be well attended and more are planned this year. We have also started to bring the membership up to date by going fully digital. Our Membership Secretary Alison Burnley has been working very hard to get this system ready and it is hoped that renewals and new memberships will be digital going forward. ## Publicity Our main publicity vehicle is our website, at https://www.towcesteru3a.co.uk/, and we also publish regular items in the Towcester Town Crier and the Towcester Focus magazine. For our members we issue a monthly Bulletin and we have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/TowcesterU3A which members can join and post news items and photos. ## Finance Towcester u3a financial statement for the year ended 29th February 2024, as examined by Essendon Accounts & Tax Ltd., is the subject of a separate document. In summary, our income over the year was £12,089, whilst expenditure was less than anticipated at £8,817, leaving a surplus of £3,272 that has been added to our reserves. The expected rise in fuel costs and room hire has not yet materialised, and Anne Parkes has been extremely diligent in securing speakers for our monthly meetings at very reasonable rates. We expect income and expenditure in the coming year to be in the region of £12,000. We do not expect to need to increase the membership fee for the foreseeable future. ## Chairman’s Remarks As chairman, I would like to express my thanks to all the members of the committee who have done an excellent job of working together to make all these things happen. I hope to see this continue for another year. I will be standing down as Chair and wish the Committee all the best for the coming year. Thank you all. Stephen Porter, Chair Towcester U3A Number 1155428 Financial Statements for the Year Ended 29 Februa 2024 Year Ended 29 February 2024 Year Ended 28 February 2023 Main Groups Totsl Groups Total Income Actlwty Groups: General Incotne Coordinators. lu￿ reoipts Annual Membership Subscriptions Donation5 & Sundry Incorne Afinlversary SpDnsorship Ifrom Prior Yearl Bank Interest Recelved 23,3 I8,￿7 18,907 493 9,496 12 250 493 9,496 12 250 12.024 Il024 Totrl Income 23.3 11089 35A79 18,907 10.2&J 29,167 Group5 Maln T¢)tsl Groups Main Total Accountsncy Actlvlty costs: Coach trips Coordlnators, lunch Capttatlon fees Car Parkln8 forGarden Wslts Gmup Consumable materials DirÈrt mall of national ma8azlne Entrnnce & admlsslon fees Food & refreshmentsfor meetln8S Gratutt5es & Glfts Llcenses Membership Database Motor &trn¥el expenses Posta8e. statlonery & sundry offlce expenses Pub115hlng Expertses Room & venut hlre Speakerfte5 & costs Sundry. Anfversary EXKW 5undry- Card Reader Fees Sundry- Other Webslte .IGO .160 -2,760 -150 4.425 -656 -2,388 -217 -79 -17fA) 4N25 456 -2,388 -2,384 -1384 45 -174 45 -174 -217 -79 -1.435 -1.435 -7,421 -1.862 -1,468 .7,421 .1352 4,659 -1,868 4.659 -1,919 -10 -51 -358 60 -16 -318 -358 .660 -16 40 412 -133 -279 .1 418 -9,291 438 -2.788 -12,079 -L226 077 -2,611 .I,Cg1 -342 -10,688 -1.174 .342 40 -120 .140 -140 -120 Total Expendtturt -22.114 -8.817 -30,931 -19.508 -10,269 .29.777 Exeess Income o¥Er Expendttu 1,276 3,272 -601 -610 Notes fo the l Attlvlty groups h)Id their ¢swn funds and operats on a self-flnandn8 basis. Thelr 8eneral Income Is therefore deterrnlned bywhatevef level of expense they Incur. Group coordinators are responslble forthe maintenance of thelr flnaniial record5. A summary of thelr flnances for the yeaf ended 29 February 2024 Is prowded on a followln8 Pa8e. Due to the need to report these finan￿3 In a slmple and straight loThRrd manner without exce￿ve detsil. this summary has been prepared on a 5trtrt recelpts and payrnents basss without re8ard for any accruals or prepaymen 2 The Executfve coMm￿lee has sole responsibiiityforthe Main finance& Balance Sh Asat 28 February 2023 Total Flxed A55ets Totsl Cost bfvd Add.. Purchases this year Less.. Oisposa15 this year Total cost to-date Less: Tofdl depredation tLTrthte Groups Main Total Groups Main 5.9&) 6,562 -524 S.741 -5.265 476 -582 5,980 -5.276 704 476 704 Cash at bank- maln account Cash ai bank- no. 2 account (Garden Wltsl Cash at 8ank- busine$5 S3￿n￿5 accourrt Funds held by actl¥lty 8roups Funds held ￿ntratty on behalf of acbmf groups 5,601 L057 8,(1$9 S.601 1,057 8.069 2.362 L238 4,518 665 4518 665 2.362 778 778 Debtors & PrepayThents: Meetlng room & venue hlre MOTrth￿ meetln6 vlsltor5 fees Total Assets 15,203 I8.￿3 2,324 11.896 14,220 Annual subscrfjptlons rKelved lrt athan Atti¥￿ Group CurrentAccounts.'- Badmlnton Bridge Garden -20 -112 -112 65 -1,057 -1￿57 -665 Sundry credltors & accrual5:_ Accountsncv Ctrordiftators lunch Meetln8 room & venue hlre Postage. st3tlonery & Off1￿ ￿p￿leS Speaker fees Subscrlptlon Refunds 111 .160 -160 111 -Iso -150 -33 -33 -210 -210 Tot•1 Net As*ts 13.772 17,372 2.324 10,738 13,C62 Represented by. Income & Expendlture Account blfwd Cash Introduced by fiew Groups Add.. Extess Income overexpertdltu￿ 2023124 1324 10.738 13,062 2,925 11,030 13,955 1,276 3.272 14,010 -275 37 13,772 -601 324 -610 13,345 17,610 -275 37 17,372 11,021 Less: Sale proceeds on disposals Le55-. Depreciatlon and Adjustments lrtcome & Expenditure Account clfwd -283 10.738 -283 13,062 2.324 These flnandal statements tmere appro¥Èd tythe executr* committee on i ad* Ma Y 2024 and s18ned on Its behalf by: We have examinel. on a sample basw, the books and r￿ordS p￿sented to U5 ￿TOw¢emer U3A. We Cons￿ler these flnancial ststements to be a true rtletti¢)n of the ie(wds of Towcester U3A. r l• ndon Account5 & T x Itd Z2JvJ?c>Z co o w)0 m roo Co￿0￿￿0 04D Wirriri MO Lnomow*Lrtfft (om o O 0 8&8 0￿0￿0 *thoroo O O 000 ID Lrt rots r4tsJ 7 Tr40rri o o o LD T4 cn N cn oj oj o o o ZS ty£££ c c c 3 3 J LL LL Ln o'o ooooo￿ts0 OOOOm*Lrto c? Ul Oi m.mo mrn o oco rs th ffto O O Ln o I<¥VJ•tr Ln 0 * O O Q Ofo U) C