Hadlow Down Community Centre
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisaton)
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD
ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2025
Charity Number: 1158375
1 Hadlow Down Community Centre - Annual report and financial statement
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
The organisation was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 24[th] September 2014.
Charity Commission Registration Number: 1158375
Trustees Bob Lake (Chair) Janet Tourell (Secretary) John Thompson (Treasurer) Fiona Shafer Nigel Harrison Sarah Prall Mandy Chapman Rob Prall Committee members Glenys Lake Peter Strevens
Bankers CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling KENT ME19 4JQ Independent examiner Peter Haining – FCA
Hadlow Down Community Centre - Annual report and financial statement
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Aims and objectves
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to drive forward the provision of a new Community Centre for the benefit of all the parishioners of Hadlow Down;
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to promote community spirit by involving all the residents of the Parish of Hadlow Down as it exists today and with the intention of meeting the challenges ahead;
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to encourage participation of all individuals or groups from within Hadlow Down or who have links with the community of Hadlow Down in the building and use of the new Community Centre.
Chair’s Summary
2025 has been the most significant year in the history of the Hadlow Down Community Centre project. After many years spent establishing need, identifying a site, developing designs and securing planning permission, the charity has now moved decisively into the delivery phase. During the year we transformed the project from an approved aspiration into a financially realistic proposal with a credible pathway to construction.
Progress and achievements
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Collaborated with Parish Council and Advisory Committee on new lease arrangements (99 year lease expected to be signed in March 2026)¹
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Supported the Parish Council - Parish meeting and Parish Poll (Referendum), resulting in parishioners’ agreement to accept an increase in their Community charge to enable the Parish Council to secure £250k loan from the Public Works Loan Board to attract funding from the District Council’s CLIF/CIL fund (£500,000)²
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Held ‘drop-in sessions’ for local residents and created marketing materials to support Parish Poll (referendum)
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5 Year Plan updated Autumn 2025. Business Plan updated January 2026
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Increased marketing activity – grew our followers on F/book. Created an Instagram page and published regular news updates on our website and in village magazine.
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Engaged with politicians and local leaders in Wealden District Council
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Wrote and submitted major application for CLIF/CIL funding to Wealden District Council
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Strengthened our governance arrangements – policies, risk register, insurance cover etc.
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Hadlow Down Community Centre - Annual report and financial statement
¹ Parish Council & Advisory Commitee
Established in Oct 2023, its fundamental purpose is to ensure the new community centre proposals are given appropriate time and scrutiny and that recommendations are put forward to the main Parish Council for discussion and agreement.
It is comprised of: three Parish councillors including the chair, two impartial parishioners and three HDCC trustees and the chair of the Playing Field Association.
Much has been achieved in working together:- the securing of Extant planning, addressing the original sixteen conditions set out in the Planning approval, the scrutiny of our Business Plan, 5 year Development Plan and Fund-Raising Risk Strategy.
I would like to thank all of the above and the Parish Council clerk for their input and the giving of their time.
² The Parish Poll (Referendum)
The Parish Council conducted a public meeting held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 22 July 2025. There were well over one hundred parishioners in attendance. The chair of the Parish Council presented all the facts and explained why a poll (referendum) was required. It was agreed that it would be conducted on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
The outcome was a follows:-
A total of 268 votes were received which is a 42% response. Queston 1: Do you agree in the Parish Council realising an economic value from the old village hall to help pay for a new Parish community centre at the playing field?
YES 166 votes (62%) NO 102 votes (38%) Queston 2: Do you agree for the Parish Council to apply to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) for a loan, limited up to £250,000, to assist in achieving a new community centre at the playing field?
YES 153 votes (57%) NO 115 votes (43%)
Priorites for 2026
Continuing review and adoption of the following policies:-
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Conflict of Interest
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Code of Conduct
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Sustainability and environment
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Financial management and grant funds
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Safeguarding
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Fund-raising risk assessment
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Fund(s) holding and investment
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Fund raising
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Completion of Stage 1 National Lottery Community Fund application
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Submission of applications to several charitable trusts
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Company giving and sponsorship
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Completion of final detailed design including mechanical/electrical design to RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design)
R.E. Lake, Chair
July 2026
Hadlow Down Community Centre - Annual report and financial statement
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HDCC Accounts Report - Year End
Hadlow Down Community Centre – Accounts 2025
31 December 2025
Figures are given for the period
| Figures are given for the period | 01/01/25 | to | 31/12/25 | |
| Assets/Liabilities (year to date):- | Current a/c | Cash in | ||
| Date | CAF Bank | Hand | Total | |
| Balances at:- | 01/01/25 | 11,721.69 | 445.10 | 12,166.79 |
| Balances at:- | 31/12/25 | 16,929.92 | 505.10 | 17,435.02 |
| Gain/(loss)for the period | 5,208.23 | 60.00 | 5,268.23 | |
| Income:- | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Just Giving | 372.47 | 255.02 | ||
| Other Donations | 1,050.10 | 534.64 | ||
| Grants | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Lottery | 2,256.00 | 1,510.00 | ||
| Quiz night Name that Tune | 0.00 | 1,963.96 | ||
| Village Markets | 1,973.53 | 1,930.62 | ||
| Jumble Sales | 271.66 | 2,361.87 | ||
| Vintage Tea | 550.44 | |||
| Sunday Lunch | 845.39 | |||
| Other Fund Raising | 0.00 | 330.00 | ||
| Gift Aid | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Bank Interest | 28.07 | 31.35 | ||
| Other | 100.00 | 373.73 | ||
| Total Income | 7,447.66 | 9291.19 | ||
| Expenditure:- | 2024 | 2024 | ||
| Surveys | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Building Construction | 0.00 | 6,000.00 | ||
| Fees | 312.50 | 7271.00 | ||
| Publicity | 629.94 | 50.00 | ||
| Lottery | 942.50 | 1110.00 | ||
| Bank Charges | 61.00 | 60.00 | ||
| Gifts | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Office Expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Sales Expenses | 0.00 | 22.00 | ||
| Fund Raising Expenses | 233.49 | |||
| Other | 0.00 | 300.73 | ||
| Total Expenditure | 2,179.43 | 14813.73 | ||
| Transfers between accounts | Year to date | |||
| Transfers out | 0.00 | From Cash to Bank | ||
| Transfers in | 0.00 | From Bank to Cash | ||
| Check | 0.00 | |||
| Income – Expenditure gain/(loss) | 5,268.23 | (5,522.54) | ||
| Assets gain/(loss) | 5,268.23 | |||
| Notes: |
None
J. D. Thompson (Treasurer) 31 December 2025
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