Verulam u3a Trustees’ Annual Report 1 Aug 2022- 31 July 2023 

www.verulamu3a.org 

|Trustees’ Report<br>1 Aug 2022 - 31 July 2023|Reference and Administration<br>Charity name: Verulam u3a<br>Registered Charity Number: 1155517<br>Principal Address:c/oHon.Secretary||
|---|---|---|



Trustees who managed the charity during the period 

Barbara Bennett – Trips Treasurer Rick Hanson - Chair Madelaine Skinner - Member Joan May - Secretary Geoff Priseman - Member Ray Bloom - Treasurer Ed Jankowski – Member Sylvia Walker - Groups Coordinator Maria Littledike – Member Trevor Taylor - Trips Coordinator Jill Fisher - Member 

Structure, Governance and Management 

The  governing  document  of  the  charity  is  its  constitution,  initially adopted by the Steering Committee on 1.3.2013, formally adopted at the AGM on 29.10.2013, and amended at the AGMs held on 9.11.2021 and on 8.11.2022 

The trustees are the members of the Executive Committee, elected by the membership at AGMs (or occasionally co-opted). 

The charity is affiliated to the Third Age Trust (charity no. 288007), the national coordinating body for u3a groups. 

Objectives: 

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. 

## Activities 

In accordance with the aims of the u3a movement, we are committed to promoting the benefits of learning in later life, and the attractions and advantages of the u3a. Members give their time freely to provide identifiable benefits to members in St Albans and the surrounding area, helping them to keep mind and body active, with resulting health benefits and improvement to quality of life. 

The Trustees, in exercising their powers and duties, have complied with the guidance as published by the Charity Commission. 

1 



Verulam u3a Trustees’ Annual Report 1 Aug 2022- 31 July 2023 

www.verulamu3a.org 

Chair’s report, August 2022 / July 2023 

## Chair’s Report 2023 

I can start by saying, that although I did not want to be chair and my wife refused to let me, I have enjoyed it and many thanks to all the members who have sent me messages of thanks and appreciation for what I have done as chair. 

While on the subject of thanks, I must thank all those who have given up their time to make the members' meetings enjoyable and run smoothly. You may not realise, but there are at least twelve people, needed excluding me. to set up the hall and run the meeting! Also, I would like you all to thank Rog Foad for his excellent work on our newsletter and my fellow committee members who have done so much work to ensure the smooth management of the u3a. Of course, I must thank you, our members for your continued support in attending monthly meetings and all other u3a activities so regularly. 

As you all may remember, I and the majority of your committee were voted in at the February 2020 AGM. I introduced my first speaker on March 10th who some of you may remember was Colin Richards of Watford and District u3a. who talked about the history of Northolt Airport. The very next day, the 11th, the coronavirus Restrictions were announced and we had a lockdown! From then on gatherings stopped along with our members' meetings. 

Now, I do have an apology to you all, I did not pick up on the idea of holding Members Meetings on Zoom until August and our first was in September. While learning how to use Zoom I found you could substitute your background for a picture and believe me, my office is not a pretty site. So, I found a photo of the inside of this church. I was surprised at how many members thought I was here! I am pleased to say, that on average those joining the Zoom meeting were about the same as the church meetings. 

While I have been on the committee lifetime membership cards were introduced. Not only are there savings from not printing cards and posting them, but there is also one of safety. In the unlikely event that we may have to evacuate, we know who attended because your card is scanned on entry and your presence recorded. In addition, I can give you some attendance statistics over the past 12 months, on average the attendance numbers have been increasing, but I don’t think this is down to my jokes, more the excellent bookings made by our speaker organiser, Brian Songhurst. Thank you, Brian. 

Rick Hanson. 

Chair, Verulam u3a 

2 



Financial Review 1 August 2022 – 31 July 2023 

## Verulam Membership 

It was a great relief that we could have a normal year’s activities after the Covid stoppage, attending our monthly members’ meetings and  groups’ activities which play such a big part in what we offer to members of Verulam u3a. Our improved finances have occurred as a result of the resumption of normal proceedings, allowing us to offer our many and varied activities. Currently we have 482 members comprising Individual Membership, Associate Memberships and Joint Memberships. 

In this year’s accounts there will be seen a Gift Aid refund of £507 attributed to our eligible members signing up for Gift Aid last year on the membership form. This is very important for us so that we can take advantage of funds returned to us by HMRC 

All Expenditure is funded from income related solely to our charitable educational objectives 

At the end of the year, we held a balance of £7,007.21 in the main account. The Trips and Groups activities are self-funded. We are required by Charity Law to use our income for our Charitable purpose and not to let it accumulate. 

During the year, we achieved our objective of being self-financing and at the close of the last financial year on 31 July 2023 we held sufficient reserves for adequate financial stability to allow us to meet our objectives for the foreseeable future. 

We continue to maintain a holding account for running educational trips and holidays for Members and for our group activities, thereby keeping the financing of those activities separate from our core charitable education activities. 

## Questions and Acceptance of Accounts. Proposer and Seconder 

## Accounts Examiner 

For the year 2022-2023 our Accounts have been examined by Ms Christiine Jarzab. Christine has very kindly agreed to be nominated as our Examiner for the year 20232024. 

The Committee have asked me to forward this nomination to the AGM and I would ask you for a Proposer and a Seconder. 

## Lifetime Membership Cards 

All members receive a plastic Membership Card. The Card is a lifetime Membership Card, designed to last you a lifetime. The Lifetime Membership cards mean that our Membership Secretary does not have to send out replacement cards each year. 



These cards have bar codes, and it is with these that we can scan ALL Members into meetings. This has three significant benefits. 

1. In the event of fire, we have an accurate record of who was in the building. 

2. The lifetime element of the cards ensured that we would save money on yearly printing costs and of course save volunteer time. 

3. Additionally, and more importantly, we are required by the u3a to keep a record of ALL Members attending meetings for three weeks after an event, to track possible Covid sources. 

## Beacon 

Beacon is an established fully integrated computerised Management tool made available by U3A. It offers full management of Membership, Groups and Finances. The system is fully secured and meets all the requirements of the Data Protection Act. 

We pay TAT £1 per head per year for our licence to use Beacon. 

## Membership Renewal Payments 

Beacon currently offers an electronic Membership payment service where Members can renew their Membership at no additional charge and we strongly recommend using the PayPal option, which makes membership payments easier to handle. YOU DO NOT NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO USE THIS SYSTEM. Go to our web site www.verulamu3a.org then go to the Membership tab and find the Renew link. By clicking on this, it will take you to the Beacon portal where you will be required to input your Membership number, your name your postcode and your email address. From there, look for the PayPal option where you can pay using your credit or debit card. Do not use your own Paypal account for this purpose. 

Ray Bloom Verulam u3a Treasurer 



|Verulam u3a Statement of Accounts<br>Main Account<br>2022-23<br>Income<br>Membership<br>£7,629.34<br>Gift Aid refund<br>£0.00<br>Donations<br>£64.00<br>Speakers<br>£0.00<br>Refunds<br>£0.00<br>Lanyards & Badges<br>£9.90<br>Membership pre-payments<br>£15.00<br>Miscellaneous - projector<br>sale<br>£52.00<br>Deposit - no name<br>£10.00<br>£7,780.24<br>Expenditure<br>Paypal commission<br>£38.64<br>Agreed expenses<br>£12.00<br>Rent<br>£1,789.50<br>Talks Refreshments<br>£182.56<br>Affiliation fees<br>£0.00<br>Beacon software<br>£545.00<br>Lanyards/Badges/M'ship<br>cards<br>£13.98<br>Membership<br>£0.00<br>Capitation fee<br>£1,748.00<br>Speakers<br>£1,030.65<br>Stationery<br>£102.34<br>Postage<br>£16.32<br>Third Age Matters<br>£2,680.77<br>Web Services<br>£216.00<br>Zoom DD<br>£43.17<br>Error transfer<br>£234.00<br>Donations<br>£50.00<br>£8,702.93<br>Excess over Income<br>-£922.69<br>Balance Sheet as at 31 July<br>2023<br>Brought forward from July 31 2022<br>£7,929.90<br>Surplus/Excess for Year<br>-£922.69<br>Accumulated funds at 31 July 2023<br>£7,007.21<br>Lloyds Main Account at 31 July 2023<br>£7,007.21|2021-22<br>£458.00<br>£0.00<br>£16.60<br>£20.00<br>£86.75<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00|
|---|---|
||£581.35<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£1,922.50<br>£318.65<br>£245.15<br>£571.00<br>£283.74<br>£10.00<br>£1,924.00<br>£934.90<br>£189.12<br>£140.78<br>£0.00<br>£180.00<br>£172.68<br>£0.00<br>£0.00|
||£6,892.52|





## Verulam u3a Groups Account 

|Income & Expenditure, 1st August 2022 - 31st July<br>2023<br>Start<br>2022/2023<br>Income<br>Year<br>Art Group<br>£504.00<br>Table Tennis Group<br>£647.00<br>Sub-totals<br>£1,151.00<br>Expenditure<br>Art Group<br>£475.00<br>Table Tennis Group<br>£648.50<br>Sub-totals<br>£1,123.50<br>Balance Sheet<br>Accumulated funds July 31 2022<br>£109.08<br>Excess for 2023<br>£27.50<br>Accumulated funds July 31 2023<br>£136.58<br>Lloyds Groups Account July 31<br>2023<br>£136.58|2021/2022<br>£266.00<br>£780.79<br>£1,046.79<br>£290.00<br>£937.00<br>£1,227.00|
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Verulam u3a Statement of Accounts: Trips Income and Expenditure 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023 

|2022 to 31 July 2023|||
|---|---|---|
|Income<br>Social events<br>Day trips 2019-20<br>Day trips 2020-21<br>Day trips 2021-22<br>Day trips 2022-23<br>Holiday trips 2021-22<br>Holiday trips 2022-23<br>Theatre trips 2019-20<br>Theatre trips 2020-21<br>Theatre trips 2021-22<br>Theatre trips 2022-23<br>Expenditure<br>Social events<br>Day trips 2020/21<br>Day trips 2021/22<br>Day trips 2022/23<br>Holiday trips 2021/22<br>Holiday trips2022/23<br>Theatre trips 2019/20<br>Theatre trips 2021/22<br>Theatre trips 2022/23<br>Agreed operational<br>expenses<br>Sundries<br>Printing, Postage &<br>Stationery<br>Trips refund<br>Balance Sheet<br>Accum'd Funds at 31<br>July 2022<br>Excess on 2022/23<br>Accum'd Funds at 31<br>July 2023<br>Cash at bank 31 July<br>2023|2022/23<br>£165.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£20,071.20<br>£0.00<br>£30,013.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£11,118.40<br>£61,367.60<br>£1,606.10<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£18,741.05<br>£17.00<br>£29,875.50<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£13,186.30<br>£63,425.95<br>£800.00<br>£253.72<br>£0.00<br>£0.00<br>£64,479.67<br>£10,573.82<br>-£3,112.07<br>£7,461.75<br>£7,461.75|2021/22<br>£2,655.00<br>£6.50<br>£875.70<br>£14,072.59<br>£0.00<br>£4,171.48<br>£0.00<br>£80.00<br>£0.00<br>£16,708.72<br>£2,302.00|
|||£40,871.99<br>£1,187.50<br>£50.00<br>£13,239.85<br>£0.00<br>£3,529.10<br>£0.00<br>£80.00<br>£16,985.10<br>£0.00|
|||£35,071.55<br>£0.00<br>£232.98<br>£34.93<br>£48.20|
|||£35,387.66|





CHARITY COMMISSION
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