2025-08-31-accounts

Beddau & Tynant Community Library (BATCL)

Annual Report, September 2024-25

This year saw the tenth anniversary of the campaign to save the Library, when the building and its services were saved from closure and taken over by volunteers from the community. It’s been a long journey, with ups and downs along the way, but the popularity of our events and services demonstrates clearly that the Library has an important role to play in the lives of people from the village and surrounding area. I think I speak for all Trustees when I say that it has been an honour to have been involved since the beginning and to have played a part in making our services as relevant as they can be in the twenty first century.

Library Services

Being a Library is at the heart of everything we do, but we do so much more than lend books. In addition to our stock of books which we keep updated with new purchases’ we also offer:

Five free public access computers Printing and copying facilities Free access to Ancestry & Find my Past

Library Figures

There are currently over 1687 library members. Our Facebook page has 1.2k followers.

Below is a table showing the number of books borrowed each month per year:

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
January		236	257	194	191	248	118	186	186	197	127
Feb	109	247	196	205	171	255	104	174	179	171	139
March	352	191	145	172	232	353	120	174	92	117	173
April	245	292	182	201	243	0	131	268	219	146	148
May	297	261	97	156	247	36	148	175	149	128	139
June	337	307	185	168	248	15	181	227	179	162	143
July	253	255	294	213	328	28	159	196	291	218	252
August	328	396	313	364	325	100	148	240	309	266	279
**Sept **	312	279	303	291	335	133	202	183	240	115	172
October	333	271	232	253	243	157	172	190	192	160	194
Nov	322	246	224	221	234	131	156	154	168	158	114
Dec	193	189	128	118	121	160	161	134	122	78	89
Total Loans	3081	3170	2556	2556	2918	1616	1800	2301	2326	1916	1969

Year	No. of borrowers added	Set up
2017	972
2018	205
2019	179
2020	50
2021	19
2022	93
2023	71
2024	64
2025	64

2024-5 Highlights

• October 2024 Litter Free Beddau and Tynant held a ‘recycle Halloween outfits session and, in November, their AGM in the Library

• November 2024 A new wellbeing group for Women ‘The Cosy Circle’ set up by two local women was established in the Library. The group, which meets on Wednesday evenings, quickly grew its membership as the months continued.

• December 2024 We worked in partnership with Llantrisant Community Council and Litter-Free to stage the events and ceremony around switching on the Christmas Lights. The event saw the first ever performance by the combined Primary Schools Choir, bringing together children from all three schools in the village. The RCT Wind Band accompanied the communal Carol Singing. A complimentary event, a Craft Fair, was organised in the Community Centre at the same time. Despite the weather not being on our side, we had fantastic support from the village.

• February 3[rd] 2025 We officially celebrated ten years of saving the Library from proposed closure by running the Library with volunteers, and raising funds ourselves to keep it open.

• February 2025 We became an official distribution point for RCT recycling bags.

• March 2025 We celebrated World Book Day with a visit from every pupil from Gwaunmiskin Primary.

• April 2025 After receiving a grant from Nisa Local at Llantwit Main we were able to purchase a much needed new printer. This is a vital service provided to local people

• April 2025 We held a Stop Motion creative Lego workshop with Light on the Water Productions in the Easter Holidays

• July 2025 we launched the Summer Reading Challenge with a Rainbow Science event in the Library focussing on the science of light, making rainbows and

kaleidoscopes. Many children and their parents enjoyed an afternoon of hands on science, and the challenge again gave us the opportunity to recruit more younger members.

• August 2025 We welcomed back Light on the Water Productions for another creative workshop for children aged 7-12

• August 2025 We welcomed Plantasia to the Library for an interactive story telling session.

• August 2025 We had a stall at the annual Beddau and Tynant Community Fair to raise both funds and awareness.

• September 2025 Through the Monday Club, we were delighted to yet again host a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Care.

In addition to those events the following activities took place regularly :

• Hosting local authors.

• Film afternoons

• Evening reading group

• Creative writing group

• Monthly drop-in autism advice sessions working with Autistic Minds Charity

• PACT meetings

• History Group

• Free monthly craft sessions which started in October using Co-op funding.

• We hosted a new group, Beddau and Tynant Community Singers for several months

• Mental health activities

• Decorating the Library for events such as our Anniversary.

• Trivallis held sessions for their residents.

• We welcomed the Tai Chi Group back

• RCT held consultation sessions in July and September in the Library on their plans to extend the Gypsy and Traveller Park in the village.

The Monday Club

The Monday Club deserves a separate mention. Founded in the Library, but now independent, they provide a wide range of speakers and activities particularly aimed at the over 50s. Members and attendees have a very positive outlook towards the Club and the Library.

The Fabric of the building

The new cladding on the outside of the building seems to have survived without any vandalism. We continue to monitor the state of our flat roof.

Conclusion

In summary, the library is committed to promoting organisations and activities which enhance the social, educational, physical and mental wellbeing of the local community. We seek to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, economic status and educational attainment, through the provision of a welcoming and inclusive environment and free access to a wide range of resources. We do so with the important support of Llantrisant Community Council, and, just as importantly, our volunteers. We would like to thank them all, Council, Councillors and Volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you!

Julie Barton

Chair Library Trustees November 2025

Independent Examiner’s Report

Beddau & Tynant Community Library, Charity Number 1157769 For the period ending 31°t August 2025

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees requested an audit this year for funding and statutory purposes.

It is my responsibility to:

• e examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, e to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

• e fo state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination has been carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. The examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such maiters.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter of concern has come to my attention and in my opinion the accounts:

• e give a true and fair view of the state of the Charity’s affairs as of 31% August 2025, and of its incoming resources and applications of resources, for the year then ended

• e have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, and

• e have been been prepared in accordance accordance with the requirements of the requirements of the of the the Charities Act 2011.

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Beddau & Tynant Community Library Charity Number 1157769

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Income & Expenditure Account

For the year ending 31st August 2025

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025| |Income| |Grants|6,550| |Donations|648| |Fundraising|312| |Room|Hire|501| |Gift|Aid|including|Match|Funding|-| |8,011| |Expenditure| |Gas &|Electricity|1,632| |Water|196| |Insurance|1,011| |Book|Purchases|1,195| |Telephone|1,384| |Stationery &|Postage|206| |Fundraising|Events|1,124| |IT|Expenditure|675| |Dues|&|Subscriptions|554| |Repairs &|Renewals,|Buildings|548| |Cleaning|94| |Professional|Fees|175| |Total|Expenditure|8,794| |Income|over|Expenditure|(783)| |Opening|Balance,|Bank|39,163| |Net|Incoming|Resources|for the Year|38,380|

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