REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1157087
WYTHALL TOGETHER (Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
REPORT OF TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2023
WYTHALL TOGETHER CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2023.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
1157087
Registered office
137, Hollywood Lane, Hollywood, Birmingham B47 5QJ
Trustees
G F Hurst (Chairman & Treasurer) C Turner (Secretary) S R Peters (Assistant Treasurer) H A Cleaver B Holmes B Loader M Newton S Taylor S Wakeman
Bankers
Lloyds Bank plc Shirley, Solihull West Midlands
Barclays Bank plc Leicester
Legal Advisers
Veale Wasbrough Vizards Birmingham
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity was registered on 16 May 2014 as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are its charity trustees. If the charity is wound up the members have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
Merger with Wythall Village Hall (Unincorporated charity 523213)
By a Deed of Transfer and Indemnity dated 1 September 2020 the trustees of Wythall Village Hall transferred to Wythall Together CIO all the transferable assets of the unincorporated charity, and by a Vesting Declaration dated the same date, Wythall Together was made the corporate trustee of the residual unincorporated charity (linked charity no.1157087-1) and its endowments.
Trustees
The revised constitution of the charity specifies that there must be at least three charity trustees and a maximum number of ten. The charity currently has 9 serving trustees.
The trustees are unpaid but may claim reasonable expenses incurred as a result of carrying out their duties. None were claimed during the year.
Recruitment and training of new trustees
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a meeting of the trustees. Trustees are appointed as and when vacancies arise having regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective management of the charity. New trustees are provided with a copy of the constitution and are urged to familiarise themselves with the guidance and good practice published by the Charity Commission.
Following the transfer of the Wythall Village Hall charity to Wythall Together and the retirement of Mrs Sue Baxter, three new trustees were appointed to the board effective from 13 June 2022. These additional colleagues were invited as existing users of the Village Hall.
Organisational structure
The day-to-day business of the charity is handled by a trustee (or trustees) with specific responsibility for the particular matter in hand. The charity trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year, but additional meetings are held as required to deal with specific business issues.
Employees and volunteers
The charity has no paid employees, and all activities are undertaken by the trustees and unpaid volunteers.
Related parties
No out-of-pocket expenses were claimed by any trustees during the year and there were no related party transactions.
Risk management & Investment strategy
Following the merger with Wythall Village Hall charity, the trustees will review any additional risks and investments at least once annually.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives
The objects of the charity as set out in its constitution are:
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To further or benefit the residents of the Parish of Wythall and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.
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In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have the power to establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance of such a centre and library for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.
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To advance the education of the general public by the provision of a community library.
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To provide transport facilities in the Parish of Wythall for people who have special need of such facilities because they are elderly, poor or disabled, people with young children or those living in isolated areas where there are no adequate public transport facilities.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Activities during the year
The Dial-a-Ride community transport service was halted at the end of March 2020 and has been resumed due to the decline in passenger numbers and lack of demand following the Covid-19 pandemic. The local authority is currently exploring the introduction of its own on-demand local travel scheme.
During the year the charity has resumed its support of the Wythall Dementia Alliance by funding the room hire and providing free transport for monthly Memory Café sessions. The residual grant from the Harry Payne Fund received in early 2020 has paid for the room hire.
Wythall Village Hall
The charity became responsible for the village hall following the merger which took effect on 1 September 2020 and the number of room bookings has steadily increased since the Covid-19 pandemic. Long-standing clients and users have continued their activities and a number of new users have also been welcomed.
Income from room hire is the main source of income and this has increased steadily as users have returned to using the premises. The major items of expenditure have been the cost of energy for heating and lighting, together with an improved cleaning and hygiene regime to safeguard users.
Utility costs have been carefully monitored and energy demand has been reduced by optimising heating control using web-based technology. The village hall also benefits from full exemption from payment of business rates granted by Bromsgrove District Council.
The premises have been maintained and facilities upgraded in response to comments from users, including the provision of additional mobility aids.
Major maintenance work to the roofs was undertaken in 2022, comprising replacement tiles, rebedding of ridges and verges, removal of redundant chimney stacks, overcladding of fascia boards and provision of new rainwater goods..
How our activities deliver public benefit
Our main activities and who we help are described below. All our current charitable activities focus on the provision of a centre for community use and the provision of community transport and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
The charity owns and manages Wythall Village Hall and runs the day-to-day operations of the community building and supervises maintenance and improvement works. Users of the premises include local voluntary bodies, the Parish Council and sporting and physical fitness groups. Users of all ages benefit from the activities including people with physical and mental infirmities.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
The charity will consider new ways to raise funds whilst at the same time bringing benefits to the community. It will also develop a forward plan aimed at securing improved local community facilities.
Further planned improvements to the building include the provision of an improved sound system to assist users with hearing impairment; and further repairs and maintenance of the external façade.
FINANCIAL REPORT
By a Deed of Transfer and Indemnity dated 1 September 2020 the trustees of Wythall Village Hall transferred to Wythall Together all the transferable assets of the unincorporated charity, and by a Vesting Declaration dated the same date, Wythall Together was made the corporate trustee of the residual unincorporated charity (number 1157087-1) and its endowments.
See attached approved accounts
23/12/2023
23/12/2023
23/12/2023
23/12/2023