## **TOWCESTER u3a Registered Charity Number 1155428 Annual Report for period from AGM May 2024 to AGM May 2025** 

At our AGM at the end of May 2024, a committee was elected. The majority of the previous committee agreed to serve for another year, apart from Stephen Porter who stood down as Chair and post he held for 2 years and for which the Committee are very grateful. Deborah Heaphy agreed to step up to the role of Chair and Tricia Burningham agreed to add Business Secretary to her existing role of Minute Secretary. Alison Foxton agreed to be Vice-Chair. 

The day to day running of the branch has returned to normal, but we have continued with the digital voting for the purposes of the AGM. 

## Trustee Committee Members 

The Trustee Committee Members responsible for managing Towcester u3a during the above period were: 

Deborah Heaphy (Chairman, elected May 2024) Terry Goldfinch (Treasurer re-elected May 2024) Tricia Burningham (Business secretary elected May 2024) Alison Foxton (Publicity secretary re-elected May 2024) Anne Parkes (Speaker Seeker re-elected May 2024) Jill Stewart (Group Co-ordinator – re-elected May 2024) Alison Burnley (Membership secretary re-elected May 2024) Jenny Rigby (Webmaster) re-elected May 2024 Marilyn Shone (re-elected May 2024) 

The committee meet regularly on the first Monday of each month, except for January. The branch has progressed, and this is reflected in the membership increasing. All members of the committee are standing for re-election at the 2025 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 have seen a change in both group numbers and group subjects. 

Overall, it has been a productive year with six new groups: Boys Toys 3, Strollers, Photography, Spirituality, Sunday Lunch group and Tennis. 

A change of leaders for Ramblers 2 and Strollers – and with that process comes a degree of self-analysis within the group and new ideas appear. This has resulted in more group input from its members and more sharing of tasks. This process in turn leads to greater individual confidence and enjoyment of group meetings. 

The loss of Coffee and Cake explorers occurred due to low numbers and a mismatch on group aims. 

The general increase in leader interest in the Simple Membership software has been heartwarming! At last, the benefits of this system are being realised, and any leader change is now smooth from the group communications aspect. 

The tuition continues. 

## 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. We have invested funds in improving the audio-visual equipment used at these meetings which has benefitted all with better sound quality. 

## Membership 

Our membership currently stands at 635 as of 28.2.2025.  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 quite well attended, and we plan to hold another one towards the end of 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 Group Leaders to make use of our digital system “Simple Membership” to manage their groups as well as offering members the opportunity of renewing their memberships and booking events such as the monthly meetings. We are making progress with this and offer a regular opportunity for assistance at various events. 

## 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 28th February 2025, as examined by Essendon Accounts & Tax Ltd., is the subject of a separate document. In summary, our income over the year was £13,808, whilst expenditure was less than anticipated at £10,460, leaving a surplus of £3,348. The committee authorised capital expenditure on audio visual equipment of £2,509, with the balance of the surplus being added to reserves. Inflationary pressures have not been as great as anticipated, and Anne Parkes has once again managed to secure 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 

I agreed to take on the role of Chairman after Stephen Porter stood down at the 2024 AGM. Although I needed some persuasion, my main reason for accepting is that your Committee work so well as a team. I would like to express my thanks to all the members of the committee who have done an excellent job of working together so well to make the branch the success it is. I am hopeful that the membership will continue to grow in the coming year, that we will see more new groups being formed, providing all our members with new interests and friendships and hopefully some fun along the way. 

Thank you all. 

## **Deborah Heaphy** 

Chair. 



Towce5ter U3A
Number 1155428
Finanaal Statements forthe Year Ended 28 Februa
Year Ended
29 Felxuary 2024
Main
Groups
Main
Total
Gr(￿p5
Total
Income
Activity Groups: General Income
Group Leaders lunth receipts
Annual Membership Subscriptions
Donations & Sundry Income
Anniversary Sponsorship
Bank Interest Received
26.985
26.985
233
233
12.49)
418
I2,4￿)
418
12.024
11024
i(
If
Totsl Income
I3.￿8
40.793
23.3
12.089
35,479
Groups
Main
Totsl
Groups
Main
Total
nditurn
Accountancy
Activity costs: Coath trips
Gr(bup Leaders lunth
Capitstion fees
Car Parkingfor Garden Wtsits Grnup
Consumable materials
Direct mail of national magazine
Entrance & almission fees
Food & retre5hrnents for meetings
Gratuitres & Grft5
-160
-160
-2.760
-5.325
-5,325
-853
.17KJ
-2384
-361
-240
-361
-240
-1,722
-7.622
-1.751
45
45
-174
-174
-1.722
-IA35
-1.435
-7.421
-1.862
-7.622
-1.621
-7.421
-1.852
-10
License5
-195
-195
Membership Datsbase
Motor & travel e¥pense5
Postage, stationery & sundry Offi￿ exF￿Se5
Publishing Expenses
Room & venije hire
Speaker fees & costs
Sundry. Ani¥Ersary Ex4Jenses
Sundry- Card Reatler Fees
Sundry- Other
Website
-16
-16
-133
-279
412
-11,835
-2.762
-970
-14597
-1,059
-9.291
438
-2,788
-12.079
-1.226
-13
-140
-140
-140
-140
Total Expenditu
-27,321
.10.460
-37.781
-21114
-8m7
-30.931
Excess Income over Expendtture
-336
3￿12
1276
3,272
Notes to the Accounts
l Attivity groups hold their own fLSnds and operate on a sejf-financing basis. Thwr general income isthetefore determined by whatever
level of expense they incur. Grotjp leaders are respongble for the Maintenan￿ of their financial record5. A Summary of theirfinances
for the year ended 28 February 2025 is provided on 3 follwng page. Due to the need to report these finan￿ in 3 Simple and stratBht
forward manner without excessive detsil. thi5 summary has been prepared on a stritt receipts and payments basis without regard for
any accruals or prepaymen
2 The ExecLrtive Committee has sole re5ponsibiityforthe Maln finan￿

Group5
Main
Totsl
Main
Total
Tot31 Cost blfwd
Add= Purchases this year
Less: Disposals this year
Totsl cost t(Fdate
Less: Total deprec￿lOn ttrdate
5.741
-524
5.741
-5.265
476
476
Cash at bank- main account
Cash at bank- no. 2 account (Garden Wisiisl
Cash at Bank- business saving5 account
Funds held by attivity group5
Funds held centralty on behalF of artivsty groups
5.015
5.015
5,FAII
1,057
8,(￿9
5.601
1.057
8.(￿9
2.362
L238
10,173
10.173
2.362
1,165
1.165
Debtors & PrepayTnents:
Meeting room & vellue hire
Monthly meeting visttOT5 fees
Total A55ets
3.264
18.778
22.c￿2
15.203
18,W3
Less: Current Liabilities
Annual subscriptions re￿1Ved in advance
Activity Group Current Accounts:_
Badminton
Bridge
Garden Vistts
-1.057
-1,057
Sur7dry creditors & a£cnJals:_
Accountancy
Group Le3ders Lunch
Meeting room & ￿nue hire
Portage. ststionery & Off￿ supplies
Speaker fees
Subscription Refunds
-160
-160
111
461
-243
461
-243
111
-33
-33
Totsl Net Assets
3.264
16,741
20.(
13,772
17.372
Repre5eftted by:
Irkcome & Expendi￿re Account blfwd
Cash intrcxluced by new Groups
Add: Excess income 0￿r expenditure 2024125
13.772
17.372
1324
iO,T38
13.062
-336
3,012
1,276
3.272
14.010
-275
3.264
17.120
17.610
-275
37
17372
Less: Sale proceeds on disp05als
Less: Depreciation and Adjlfjtments
Income & Expenditure Account clfv
-379
16.741
-379
37
3.264
13.772
These financial st3tements were approved by the exeoJti¥e cofflmtttee on 2025 and si￿￿d on its behalf bv:
Irma
We have exawnined, on a sample basis. the
arld iecoyds presented to us byTowcester U3A.
We considei these financial staternents to be a true refie(t￿n of the record5 of Towcester 113A.
Es5endon Accounts & Tax Ltd
Dated:

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