TOWCESTER u3a Registered Charity Number 1155428 Annual Report for period from AGM May 2025 to AGM May 2026
At our AGM at the end of May 2025, the existing committee was re-elected.
All members agreed to remain in their roles.
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 2025) Terry Goldfinch (Treasurer re-elected May 2025) Tricia Burningham (Business secretary elected May 2025) Alison Foxton (Publicity secretary re-elected May 2025) Anne Parkes (Speaker Seeker re-elected May 2025) Jill Stewart (Group Co-ordinator – re-elected May 2025) Alison Burnley (Membership secretary re-elected May 2025) Jenny Rigby (Web-master re-elected May 2025) Marilyn Shone (re-elected May 2025)
The committee meet regularly on the first Monday of each month, except for January. The The branch has continued to progress and this is reflected in the membership increasing to 716 (as of 31 March 2026). All members of the committee are standing for re-election at the 2026 AGM. We are delighted to have a new member for election as detailed below. We have other members who have expressed interest in helping in some capacity.
Pauline Sweeney (for election May 2026)
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
The number of groups continues to grow and we currently have well over 50 groups.
We have been able to help a number of groups financially this year in order for them to update or improve their equipment. This has included replacement gravel for the Pétanque group and a mini sound system for Church Visits. Please contact us if we can assist your group in any way. All requests will be considered by the committee.
We have been pleased to start a new IT support group this year amongst other groups and some are in the process of expanding into second groups. Photography has new leaders and Understanding the Stock Market has re-started.
The general increase in leader interest in the Simple Membership software has been heart warming! At last the benefits of this system are being realised and any leader change is now smooth from the group communications aspect.
Our Membership Secretary is happy to provide tuition to group leaders.
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. The replacement equipment purchased is working well and we are currently exploring with Towcestrians installing a hearing loop at our venue to improve sound quality for those who need it. We have included some socials in the programme which have been very well received and these will continue going forward.
Membership
Our membership currently stands at 695 as of 28.2.2026 (an increase of 60 from 28.2.2025) We have held a number of New Members’ Meetings at the Town Hall 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 we plan to hold another one towards the end of this year. We have continued 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 hope to offer additional benefits during the coming year. Assistance is available at various events including monthly meetings and the coffee mornings.
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 along with other local publications.
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 28[th] February 2026, as examined by Essendon Accounts & Tax Ltd., is the subject of a separate document. In summary, our income over the year was £14,088 whilst expenditure was less than anticipated at £11,062, leaving a surplus of £3,026. The committee authorised capital expenditure of £182 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 £13,000. We do not expect to need to increase the membership fee for the foreseeable future.
Chairman’s Remarks
This will be my third year as Chair and I hope that many of you now recognise me and the other members of the Committee. We continue to work as a team and 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. There are plenty of options for members of Towcester U3A to assist the Committee, without necessarily joining the Committee; although this is also welcome. I would also like to express my thanks to all our valiant Group leaders who do a sterling job and I trust that they are appreciated by the membership. I am hopeful that the membership will continue to grow in the coming year, that we will continue to 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.
rowcester U3A Cha Number 1155428 Financial Statements forthe Year Ended 28 Februa 2026 Year Énded ZB February 2026 ain Year Ended Z8 February 2025 Main G¥ovps Totsl Groups Total Irwme Acti?Aty Groups". General Income Group Leader5 lunch receipts Annual memIr$hIp Subscrlptions Donations &&Jndry Inwme Bank Interest Received 33.398 33.398 595 13.420 26,985 26.985 796 595 13.420 796 12.490 418 114 418 73 73 104 Ic Total Incorne 33.398 14,088 47.486 26.85 13,808 410.793 Groups Main Total Grovps Main Total nditu Accowtancv Attivrtv Costs: Coach thps Group Leaders lunch Capiwson fees to Third Age Trust Car Patkin8 for Garden Wistts Group Consumable materials Direct mail of fiational mè8a2ine Entrance & admisslors fee5 Food & rèfreshments for meetlngs GtUrtleS & Gifts -174 -174 -168 4.815 -4.815 -745 -2,672 -5.325 -5.325 -853 -2,$48 -361 -240 -1.722 -7,622 -1.751 -745 -2fi72 -853 -2,548 -62 -62 -361 -316 -316 -1,736 -10.176 -3,165 .240 -1.736 -L722 -10,176 -2,186 -7.622 -1.621 -979 -130 LlceThse5 Membership Database Molor & travel expenses Postsge. stationery & sundry office expenses Publbsh?ng Expenses Roorn & venL* hire Speaker fees & costs Sundry- Bank Char8es Sundry- &rd Readei Fees Sundry- Other webte -105 -105 -195 -660 -16 -258 -195 -16 -242 -16 471 -16 -229 -228 -14.039 -710 -2.643 -858 -11 -15 -50 -156 -16.682 -1.568 -11 -15 -11.&35 -2,762 -970 -14.597 -1,059 -13 -25 -IdO -13 -156 -140 Totsl Expendlture -32.533 -11.062 -43,595 -27.321 -10.460 -37,781 Exces5 Income over Expenditure 865 3A)26 3,891 -336 3,348 3.012 Notes to the Accryjnts l Acti¥lty group5 hold their own funds and operate on a self-financing basls. Their 8enerdl income Is therefore determined by whateve¥ level of expense they incur. Group leaders ère responssble fow the maintenance of theirfitsancial records. A sufftmary of their finances for the year ended 28 February 2026 is provided on a following page. Due to the need to report these finances in a sirnple and 5traiBh lorward manner without excesslve detail. thi5 summary has been prepared on a strlrt receipts and payments basis without regard for any accrualsor prepayment5. 2 The Executive Committee hassole reswjnsibility for the Main finances.
Balan¢e Sheet As at 28 February20Z5 Main Total Groups Main Total Groups Total C05t blfwd Add.. Purchases this year Le55.' DiswFsals thls year Total c05t ttrdate Less.. Total depreciation to4ate 8.250 5.741 8A32 8,250 2,127 2.127 Current Cash at bank- main account Cash at bank- tTro. 2 account (Garden Visitsl Cash at 8ank- business 5awing5 account Fund5 held byattivity group5 Fund5 held centralty on behaw of acliwty groups 5332 861 12246 5.332 861 11246 3087 5.015 s15 10.173 10.173 2.(9 1.165 3.087 1.042 1.165 Debtors & Pfepaytnents.. Meeting ¥ootn & venue hire Morkthly meeting Vlsltors fees Totsi Assets 4.129 20.S66 24.695 3.264 18,778 21042 Less.. Cuttem UabiMie5 Annual subscriptions received In advance Actt¥ityGroup Current kcounts'.- Badfflinton Bridge GardÈn Wistts Sundry creditors & accru31s-.- Ac£ountaTrLy Group Leaders Lunch Meeting room & Venue hire P05tsge, stationery & Off1 supplies Speakerfees Subscnptlon Relunds 111 -174 -174 111 461 -243 461 -244 -244 -243 Total Net Assets 4.129 19,106 23235 3.264 16.741 Represented by.. Income & E¥penrtu Account bllwd Cash introduced by new GTOUPS Add-. Excess intome over eXnditre 2025126 3.264 16.741 20.CA)5 13.772 17,372 3,026 19.767 3.891 23,896 -336 3264 3.012 20.384 4.129 17.120 less". Sale preedS0Th dssposa15 Less.. Depreclètion agd Adjustments Income & Expendlture Account clfwd -661 J9.11 -661 23.23S -379 -379 4.129 3.264 16.741 Th*efinandalstatements wete apprrweo bythe executwe committeeon 2(Y26 and swed on it5 behalf by.. We have examined, on a sample basi5, the books cords presented to vs by Towcerter U3A. We ttrnsider these financhAI statements to bea irue iefiettK>n of the re£ord5 0fTowce5ter U31 Essendon Account5 &Tax Ltd Dated.. 14 sl
0 o o O Ln.c'o a 0.0 Ln '8.OfO'OCOVrJOO' O'.W'O O IL> O rri O O'tr,O X O ¢71 O 01 ID,'O ryt o 0.0 r O O O 8888X8- U LL LL o.00.000 O'OOiOaO o.oo'oooooDi o o o o o o.o'o'o.o oooo'ocioooo olo o o o',0 00000 ,00000 00000 O,.¢Xs',O,O 0.0 O o.ooooowoo,o C(0¢.0 OOO'ODOTrO0'r¢ODo O Cii£i,O O.wsiO'.OILIi O (bi ,0,0 O OJ 0000 0,000 0.0000000 o.'oo'ooooo 000.00000 o'tsooooco,00 coootsts o!c> o O O O.O,O 0.0 o o o c!'o 0.000 0000 C?OOVOOOO'OOiOCOOOOOOOO 000.00000 cooooo,ts'oao'ooooo o'o olo'o o o 0,0 o'o o c o oiO,'O o!o.'o o o olo O OIO QIO.Q O O'O'OIO 0 0 O'O O O O'OIOIO O O cooo ooo'o oooo., or4.000.0000.O ITI Oi 1010 o'o th o'o 0,1.0 Oi'o O O O f<>lO. ffl rÈ? O ID m. C> lin no0 o'ola o o '.0 r*.0 !8 'lU>!,,,0 Ojui'o I00,0 tTrlmiO o'ln irri O,OiO O O Ui I O ft) O