2024-03-31-accounts

NORTH WEST REGION OF U3As

TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT

Charity Registration no 1159091

2023-2024

On 6[th] November 2014 the North West Region of u3as was registered as a Charity and is administered by Trustees who are also members of the Executive Committee. The North West Region of u3as is subject to the Charities Act and associated regulations and the Trustees are accountable to the Charity Commission as well as Member u3as for the administration of this charity.

The Trustees (Executive Committee) until AGM July 2024

Chair : Gillian Russell Vice-Chair :Tony Cheetham – resigned December 2023 Acting Treasurer: Alan Hough Member: Christine Garrity became acting VC in January 2024 Ex officio Member: as NW Trustee, Neil Stevenson until October 2023 then filing a casual vacancy. Officio member as NW Trustee: Tony Cheetham from October 2023– resigned December 2023 Coopted member – David Findon Co-opted member Deborah Reardon Co-opted member Kathryn Fyfe

North West of England Trustee, Third Age Trust Neil Stevenson retired October 2023 North West of England Trustee elected October 2023 Tony Cheetham, resigned 2023

• During the period from February 2023, Gillian Russell, elected Vice Chair, became acting chair when the elected chair, Mary Waters stepped down due to health problems. No one was nominated as Treasurer and Alan Hough agreed to monitor the accounts while we tried to recruit a new officer. On the resignation of Tony Cheetham, Christine Garrity became acting Vice Chair until the next AGM.

• The region now has a public relations advisor who attends committee meetings as a guest but is not elected or co-opted to the committee.

The charitable purposes are set out and governed by the Constitution, as adopted at the AGM on 10[th] June 2014, amended at the AGM on 4[th] June 2015 and then on 14[th] September 2021. There are 99 u3as and around 43,000 members in the NW Region, representing approximately 10% of u3as and members in the UK.

ACTIVITIES 2022-23

The main role of the regional committee is to support the regional trustee and, under his guidance, to provide a service to the Members, the u3as and the Networks in our region to advance education. We do this in three main ways:

• Firstly, we help with the formation of new u3as and networks. There have been no new groups this year

• but two closures – Blackpool u3a and Blackburn u3a so we now have 97 u3as. Our membership remains over 40,000. We also help to support existing u3as. A group of Regional Contact Volunteers is responsible for maintaining contact and support to groups of u3as around the NW Region. They have kept members informed of planned national and regional activities and have also provided a focus point to channel queries.

• The second thing we do is organise and run a variety of events for members. This usually includes workshops, seminars and conferences on topics of value to u3as in the region. Several events have been held, some using Zoom as a medium, other being held face to face. These included:

• 10[th] May 2023: Big Sing; a popular event which enables members to come together to enjoy singing in a variety of styles. It was attended by more than 70 members came together to enjoy singing as well as to learn some simple harmonies. Attendees expressed enjoyment of the event.

• o 4[th] July 2023: The 14[th] Annual General meeting and Conference of the North West Region It was attended by representatives from 42 u3as and the feedback was very positive. The Conference

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NORTH WEST REGION OF U3A's AGM FINANCIAL REPORT 202312024 The North West region held £15485 in the bank at 31" March 2024, £3531 higher than the balance of £11954 as at 31" March 2023. This increase in funds was due primarily to a surplus on the receipt and expenditure account for the year, arising primarily f rom a profit on the summer school; and a receipt of funds from the Greater Manchester network held in reserve on the balance sheet at the year end. The surplus in the year on the receipt and expenditure account of £2065 compared to a deficit in 202212023 of £1783. The surplus arose primarily from the success of the 2023 Summer School (£3236 profit) and the Bi8 Sing event {£619 prof it). These profits were only partially offset by the c05t of the AGM, comrnittee meeting expenses, and workshops offered without charge. Lookin8 to 202412025 overall reserves are still healthy at £12839 at the start of the year. £5(JJ) is held in general reserve and £7839 in accumulated revenue reserves. The 2024 Summer School is planned to be run in August 2024 at the University of Cumbria in Carlisle. Enrolment has been taking place since the end of January. This is currently running lower than last year, and C￿pIed with the increased costs of running the event, may lead to a deficit. Alan Hough. Treasurer. April 2024

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ction B Disclosure ', A)mrylcte Il IliQ. vxaminer npcds to tiighlight malerial matteri of CA)ncem (soe CC32. IrKlep￿t axaminatx)n ot aX￿nts. directTh5 and guKlance for examinef5). Glv• here brfef detalls of any items that the •xarniner wlsh•s to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018

included the following workshops in the morning: Interest groups matter; the u3a and the Third Age Trust; Shared Learning. We enjoyed a performance by a concert pianist, Andrew Wilde before the AGM took place. Those attending commented on the value of face to face discussions and the opportunity to network with members from around the North West Region.

• 20[th] February (zoom)and 5[th] March(face-to-face) meetings with national chair Liz Thackray about the future structure of the Trust Board.

• 6[th] October 2023: AGM workshop; a face to face event attended by 30 members representing more than 20 u3as. The purpose was to develop better understanding of the planning and process of managing an AGM

• The NW Summer School was held in Carlisle from August 15[th] - 18[th] . It was attended by 80 members from around the UK. The feedback was very positive and we plan to repeat the event in 2024.

It is recognised that the North West u3a website is an important tool to help to keep our members informed. Some of the members of the committee have continued to update and revitalise this site throughout the year. One of these developments has been to add a news page and a page for information from our Public Relations Adviser, Kelvin Rushworth.

• The third area where the committee supports our regional trustee is helping u3as who are having problems and ask for help.

RESOURCES

Between the end of March 2023 and the start of April 2024, the committee has held 5 planning meetings and attendance has averaged 95%.

FINANCE 2023-24

The North West region held £15485 in the bank at 31[st] March 2024, £3531 higher than the balance of £11954 as at 31st March 2023.

This increase in funds was due primarily to a surplus on the receipt and expenditure account for the year, arising primarily from a profit on the summer school; and a receipt of funds from the Greater Manchester network held in reserve on the balance sheet at the year end.

The surplus in the year on the receipt and expenditure account of £2065 compared to a deficit in 2022/2023 of £1783,the surplus arose primarily from the success of the 2023 Summer School (£3236 profit) and the Big Sing event (£619 profit).

These profits were only partially offset by the cost of the AGM, committee meeting expenses, and workshops offered without charge.

Looking to 2024/2025 overall reserves are still healthy at £12339 at the start of the year. £5000 is held in general reserve and £7839 in accumulated revenue reserves.

The 2024 Summer School is planned to be run in August 2024 at the University of Cumbria in Carlisle. Enrolment has been taking place since the end of January. This is currently running lower than last year, and coupled with the increased costs of running the event, may lead to a deficit.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

Events planned for 2024– 2025 include:

• Conference and AGM July 2024

• Residential Summer School at the University of Cumbria - August 2024

• Celebrate u3a – September 2024

• Workshops – to be decided.

• Networking event

• Look for an area to open a new u3a.

Members of the committee will continue to support the regional trustee in helping our u3as.

The trustees have approved the Trustees’ Report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.

Gillian Russell. Chair, North West Region of U3As Dated: 6[th] April 2024