gell Gymunedol
mer Afan
y Library
Cymer Afan Community Library
Trustees. Annual Report for the period
from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025
Section A
Reference and administration details
Charity name
Cymer Afan Community Library
Registered charity number
1157765
Charity's principal address
Cymer Afan Community Library
Library Plus! Ststion Road. Cymer.
Port Talbot
Postcode
SA13 3HR
Names of the charity trustees:
Trustee name
Office (if any)
Chair
Chair
Dates acted if not for whole year
From 9th September 2024
Until 9th September 2024
Rosey Roche
Mel Emmet
Lauren Roberts
Alison White
Membership
Secretary
Treasurer
Helen Gardner
Len Nicolas
Sian Paul
Richard Milner
Resigned 15" July 2024
25th June to 9th September 2024
Term of office ended 27th Nov. 2024
15th July to 2nd August 2024
Names and addresses of advisers
Type of adviser
Name
Address
Interim Treasurer
Bob Chapman
TSB Bank
From 15° July 2024.
19 Talbot Street. Maesteg. CF34 9BS
4 St Pauls Square. Burton on Trent, DE14 2EF
Pendrill Court, 119 London Road, Neath. SA11 1 LF
Bank
Accountant
The Chartwell Practi
Solicitors
Hutchinson Thomas
Architect
Kevyn Davies BA{Hons) BArch
RIBA ARB
Red Kite Homes. Llys-y-coed, Cornish Row,
Cwmafan, Port Talbot, SA12 9YB
Section B
Structure, governance and mana
ement
Description of the charity's trusts
Constitution - adopted 3° March 2014, amended 20th October 2017, 15th July
2021 and 151h November 2023.
Type of goveming document
How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
Trustees are elected from the membership at Annual General Meetings for a
three-year term with a third of trustees retiring at each AGM. They can also be
Cymer Afan Community Library
1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025

appointed until the next AGM by existing trustees between annual general
meetings. In 2024-25 the Trustees met 14 times.
Additional governance issues
Trustees have been supported throughout the year by the Neath Port Talbot
Community for Voluntary Service.
Trustees have adopted a suite of policies to guide our operations and
practice. A regular review programme keeps these policies up to date.
Trustees continue to consider major risks to their business as part of the
Strategic Planning process. To take account of the significant changes to our
work in the last two years and to secure the ongoing security of the Library, a
omplete review of our Strategic Plan is planned.
There were no complaints received during the year.
Section C
Ob'ectives and activities
Summary of the
objects of the
charity set out in
its governing
document
Our vision is of a community Spa￿ for all those who live or work in, or visit, the Upper
Afan Valley where we can build on our core seniices and respond positively to the
needs of our communities.
Our Mission is:
to provide a hub for the community- a space to support both individual well-being
and community cohesion - fostering equal opportunities, and being the first choice
point of ac￿SS to sources of infomiation. advi￿ and guidance, and
to promote literacy, education and culture in the Upper Afan Valley, encouraging a
love of books and learning in people of all ages.
Our current objects are:
To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from
becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially
excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.
For the purpose of this clause 'socially excluded, means being excluded from
society, or part of society, as a result of being a member of a socially and
economically deprived community.
To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of the electoral ward of Cymmer and
the surrounding areas the provision of facilities for education, recreation or other
leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of
their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and
economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare
and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
To advan￿ education of the public in electoral ward of Cymmer and surrounding
areas generally, by the running and management of a community library for the
benefit of the said residents.
Our overall approach to developing our community library has major strands. We
build on our Gore purpose of providing library servI￿S to the community of the
Upper Afan Valley., and
develop other uses of the building, Library Plusl in keeping with that core purpose
which will contribute towards the development of the library as a Community Hub -
a multi-purpose community facility.
During the 2024-25 year the library and tea-room have been open for 32 hours a
week with additional activities avera
in
8 hours a week outside of those hours, such
1EI April 2024- 31st March 2025
Summary of the
main activities
Cymer Afan Community Library

undertaken for the
public benefit in
relation to these
objects
as the crochet club, film shows, art class, yoga class, dance aerobics, psychology
evening class and the introduction of the NPT Mobile Foot Clinic. Other regular
activities included the book club, a Digital Inclusion Drop-ln service, a Dementia Hwb,
Citizens Advice drop-in session, parent & baby group, Communities for Work and
Employment Support drop-in sessions. We also supported a Home Education
Network.
The Food Bank continued to operate every Friday and remains available to anyone
who needs it. The Pantry. our social supermarket, opens three times a week on
Monday and Friday aftemoons and Saturday mornings. We are members of the
Independent Food Aid Network and work in partnership with Fareshare to distribute
surplus supemiarket food.
To use the Pantry users, make a small payment of £5.00 in return for some choice
over the ten items of food they receive. This is to reduce the stigma attached to being
the recipient of charity from the food bank and also promotes a feeling of being a
customer with some limited Ghoice. The Pantry membership continues to increase and
on 31. March 2025 stood at 190. Our experience is that people often need to use the
food bank for several weeks but then either drop out or move on to the Pantry.
From mid-December 2024 to the end of March 2025, we opened a Warm Space for
the third-year running, providing additional opening hours in response to the cost-of-
living crisis and the high cost of energy, so that anyone could enjoy free hot drinks
and snacks and a range of activities including games evenings, quiz nights, pizza
making, pancake decorating and Welsh cake making. A small grant enabled us to
employ two Warm Space Supervisors to cover the additional hours. The Children's
Rights Unit supported a range of youth activities for the Warm Space as well as in the
school holidays when special events were put on. These included, RelaxKids, pizza
making and family films, Technocamps robot workshops, St David's Day crafts,
pancake tnaking & decorating, Lego Tech Smart Robocar Workshop and an animal
care session with Animal Cwtch.
Other activities in the year during the school holidays included crafting sessions with
bookmark making, with Pokemon, monsters and Minecraft characters, games nights,
a fun musical session for younger children from Moo Music Bridgend, Ghocolate
cereal cake making, bog beast and bog garden making and youth guitar lessons
Over the weekend that Stomi Darragh hit the valley in De￿mber 2024. we worked
with the local council and opened the Library to offer a warm space, hot and cold food
and drinks to approximately 30 adults and children who were without electricity for 4
days in their homes.
We continued to work closely with Neath Port Talbot Community for Voluntary
Servi￿, Gwynfi Miners, Community Hall, the County Library Service, the local
councillors and police. the Lost Peatlands Project, Flying Start and we also kept in
touch with our MP. Stephen Kinnock, who held constituent surgeries at the Library,
and Senedd Member, David Rees. We also hosted several school visits and
supported Coffee Mornings in aid of Breast Cancer and Macmillan.
We also work with our local schools and showed several films during term time for
young students in the Library.
We were able to improve our kitchen area with the acquisition of a new freezer, sink
and taps some small repairs with the support of local wind farm Ffynnon Oer.
Our paid staff during the year was Sam Herbert-manley, (Development Manager,
30hrs until 26 July; Tym Thomas (Food Povety & IT Coordinator, 30 hrs). Elinor
Davies (Activity & Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Ackery (Cleaner, 10 hrs). Jasmine
Price (Bookkeeper, 4 hrs until February 2025 then 28 hours per month). Carolynn
Purcell & Laura Gibbs (Warm Space Supervisors, 9 hours each, from December to
March, 12 hrs), Richard Milner (Interim Manager. 30 hrs from 07 August to 30
September), David McGovarin (Development Manager, 30 hours from 11 November).
We are grateful to all our staff for keeping our operations running during what has
been a year of many changes.
Cymer Afan Community Library
1s1 April 2024 - 3181 March 2025

Thanks, are also due to our volunteer team which during the year included Bob
Chapman, Melanie Emmett, Alan Furnell. Andrew Hooper, Delyth O'shea. Sian Paul,
Sophie Thomas, Alison White, Jean White, Bernie John & Lisa Loftus.
Throughout the year we have continued to benefit from free electricity from the solar
panels installed by the Egni Cooperative on our roof.
In planning and delivering all these individual activities, and during the process for
reviewing our strategic plan, the Trustees have considered and had regard to the
public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
Achievements and Performance
In the 2024-25 year there have been 9012 users to one or other of the activities in the
building. This represents a 17 % increase in attendance over the previous year (7685
in 2023-24).
There were 645 visits to the Warm Space between December and March. During the
year the Pantry had 741customers (down 23 % from 959 the year before) and the
Food Bank provided 651 parcels (up 47 % from 441 in 2023-24). With each shop and
food par￿1 supporting several people we do not know the exact number of separate
individuals who have benefited from our food poverty services during the year but
estimate it to be well over 400.
Section D
Summary of the
main
achievements of
the charity during
the year
Section E
Financial review
Brief statement of
the charity's
policy on reserves
The Trustees have detemiined that it would be prudent to keep 3 months running
costs as reserves. In 2024-25 this was £44k) which the Trustees carried over at the
end of the financial year.
Further financial review details
Our main sources of funding for our running costs during 2024-25 were grants from:
the Henry Smith Charity (£40k) Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Vision Fund (£26k)', the
MOOndan￿ Foundation (£25k), the National Lottery Community Fund (£20k), the
Foyle Foundation (£20k), the Shared Prosperity Third Sector Growth Fund (£10k).
Llynfi Afan Renewable Energy Park (£7.5k), Ffynnon Oer wind Farm Community Fund
(£4.3k),NPT Council Food poverty Grant (£2.6k) & Playworks {£2k). In addition, we
received grants from Neath Port Talbot Council (£1.9k) towards our rent and rates and
shared a grant from Ffilm Cymru Wales to support our joint cinema programme with
Gwynfi Miners, Worftmen's Hall. In addition, we raised over £15k through membership
fees, donations and library activities. We are grateful to all our funders without whose
help we would not be able to continue to run all our services and activities.
Section F
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Signatures
Full names
Rosey Roche
Chair
Mel Emmett
Position
Trustee
Date
14th November 2025
Cymer Afan Community Library
1st April 2024- 3151 March 2025

CHARIIY COMMISSION
FOR ENfjIANO AND WAIES
Cymor Af¥n CommuTrity Librnry
1157765
Recei
ts and pa
ments accounts
CC16a
Forthe period
01104n024
31103rI025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
fvnds
RÈstrithd
funds
EndowmÈnt
funds
Total funds
La8t year
to n••rvst
to tho n￿rIAlL
Al Recelpt$
LIBRARY INCOME
fees & Film8
Membershi
Donabons & fees
Class- Y a. TÈF chi, Art. Ps
cho
Food Pan
Incomé
Prinlerlco
ier income
R￿M Rental
Tea Room Incotne
Insurance rebate
1.037
1.040
1,759
4.396
?83
. Ae￿￿$
2.832
3.618
GRANTS
Grant NPT Council ReDI and Rates
Ff
non Oer
rant
Grani- NPTCBC Food Pove
Granl- NPT CVS- Third Secloi Groulh Fund
Grant- NPT CVS- Cost of
Warm S
aces Grant
Grant- Gamesa Wind Fawrn
Grant- Moondance Foundatujn
Grant- Pen Y C
oedd Vision Fund
Grani- Ha
Gpnl- Nauonal Loiie
Communi
Grani- The Fo
e Foundauon
Grani- Htrn
Smith Chari
Film C
mru Wales Film Access Grant
The Peo le's Health Trust
Poslcode Communi
TTU51 Grant
Welsh Government Cosl of IDiin
NPT Warmer S
$¢e Gr8ni
Gr8nl- Pen C
oedd
2.7e2
9,2B4
2,993
15.th)0
6,189
7.500
10.t
26,OUO
Fund
2,058
25,000
6.000
1,200
4194
Sub totsl{Gross income forARJ
17I8BI
J2,$27
A2 Assat and Investment sal85,1888 table).
Sub total
1W28
174,811
92,527
A3Pa
A¢¢ouniin
Advertisin
BovKS
ents
Soflware & Pa
roll Costs
547
479
479
Maintenance
Classes- Y
8. Ari, Knit& Knatter. Ps
Cleanin
Materials
Ele¢tri¢
. AerobKs, Fla
6.853
Z.561
2.797
5E,561
1.436
715
ee salaries & natyonal insurance
er's Pension
FareShare- Membershi
Fees
Fete, Events. Fl
start. Cofftre ￿rniN
10.(
79.266
32S
& sto tirne ex
3S7
95
95
2.403
241
53
& Software Costs
General e
enses
Insurance
Le 81 & Professional
Markelin
Office Slalione
&Pos
Pan
& Foodb8nk
Refreshments
Renoval￿n
ro ecl ProfessKJnal lee5
Rent & Rates
Room Hire
Rubbish Removal l R
Secunl & Fire Alarm Costs
Small e
meni ex
enses
Subscri
lions, membershi
Tes Room Ex
Ènses
Tele
hone
Costs
426
fj53
279
1271
1.762
279
1,271
1.6D7
13,Y30
13.321
1,020
$21
128
863
1330
828
351
2273
I501
128
827
714
& licenstrs
351
2,273
347
559
156
24
Travel
LCXX R1 a¢couJls ISSI
1311012025

Volunteer. Slsff & Trustee Ey
W3rm s
aces ex
enses
Reallocation ol Historical iestri¢led
Reallocation ol Historical reslncled
872
182
B72
1218
1.354
ments. SalanBS
ments". Other
Sub totsi
1QO.581
12JM2
100.807
A4 Asset and inve$trhent
Offi¢¢ e
ment & IT
Fixtures & fittin
urcha5e5,
see table
3.022
745
3.717
3.022
1.694
11,407
12.255
Sub total
5.461
104.3S9
1H881
113,062
Net of rtcé1pts/(Pa￿entsj
29.$69
10,430
20.536
AS Transfers betwpen fvnd$
A6 Cash funds last year end
39.916
7,419
17,849
47.335
87,335
67.871
47,335
Cash funds this yearend
69.485
¢¢XX R2 accr￿SntS ISSI
1311012025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Un¥Ès1ric￿d
tunds
to nearest £
ResliicLeiS
funds
to n•*feSI£
EndowtnenL
fund$
tts n**r•9t£
Categories
Oetsi
B1 Cash funds
8ank Acctyjnt
17.849
Pety Cash
Total cash funds
69,485
17,a49
nt($11
Fundto which
asset bBlan
Cost
Currert value
ional
etatls
B4 Assets retained for the charlty's own use
Office E
ni&trco
Unresrrictsd
9.389
Office E
ni&[[￿1
Restr¢ieo
3.112
Fixtures & Fi￿n
Unrestr¢ied
Fixttsres & Fi
Restroied
30.433
Fund to whkh
relotes
Amount41u•
B5 Llabilltias
Signed by one or ￿va tr￿￿tees w behaff ol 811 the trustaes
S￿nalure
Print Name
Date of
roval
Rosey Ro¢he
lelanle Emmett
CCXX R3 acix)unts ISSI
1311012025

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Cymer Afan Community Library
On accounts for the year
ended
3151 March 2025
Charity no
(if any)
1157765
Set out on pages
1 to2
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110312025.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 ("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect-.
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
Name:
MARTIN CHILVER
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
FCA
Address:
THE CHARTWELL PRACTICE
4 ST. PAUL'S SQUARE
BURTON-ON-TRENT
STAFFORDSHIRE
DE14 2EF
IER
October 2018

Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32,
Independent examination of charity accounts: direGtions and guldance for
8xaminers).
Give here brief details of
any itams that the
examlner wishes to
disclose.
IER
October 2018