North West Region Trustee Report 2024 – 25
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 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 2025
Chair: Gillian Russell Secretary: Hilary Scarratt Treasurer: Alan Hough General Committee members: Christine Garrity David Findon Neil Stevenson Mark Bradley Deborah Reardon (co-opted) Paul King (co-opted)
North West of England Trustee, Third Age Trust - David Blanchflower was an ex officio member of the committee. The role of regional Trustee ended in March 2025 and was replaced by a National Council with two representatives from the North West Region: David Blanchflower; Gillian Russell
Between the end of March 2024 and the beginning of April 2025, the committee has held 5 planning meetings and attendance has averaged 80%.
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 97 u3as and around 40,000 members in the NW Region, representing approximately 10% of u3as and members in the UK.
ACTIVITIES 2024-25
The main role of the regional committee is to support the regional trustee and, under their guidance, to provide a service to the members, the u3as and the Networks. We do this in three main ways:
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Firstly, we help with the formation of new u3as and networks. There have been no new groups this year but two closures. We have 97 u3as and more than 40,000 members. We also help to support existing u3as. Members of the committee help with communication to keep members informed about planned national and regional activities.
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The second thing we do is organise and run a variety of events for members. This
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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, others being held face to face. These included:
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10th May 2024: Big Sing ; a popular event which enables members to come together to enjoy singing in a variety of styles. Members came together to enjoy singing as well as to learn some simple harmonies. Attendees expressed enjoyment of the event.
th o 2nd July 2024: The 14 Annual General meeting and Conference of the North West Region It was attended by representatives from 25 u3as and the feedback was very positive. The Conference included the following workshops in the morning: Flash Fiction; Writing Haiku; Public Relations; EDI. We enjoyed a performance by a singer, Barry Humphries before the AGM took place. o The NW Summer School was held in Carlisle from August 15th - 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 2025, perhaps in a different venue.
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15th October 2024 : Face to face national workshop – Interest Groups Matter. Attended by 48 members.
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24th January 2025 : Zoom ‘Meet the Committee’ an invitation to help with Succession planning.
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17th March 2025 : Zoom– National workshop ‘Recruitment and Valuing Volunteers’ which was aimed primarily at NW members.
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18th March 2025 : Zoom peer to peer meetings for Membership Secretaries and Speaker Secretaries.
RESOURCES
Our regional website is a useful tool to help to keep our members informed. It has been upgraded to Siteworks and has a new website manager, Mark Bradley. Pages include news and events from around the region and a new page has been added for the Council members representing the region on a National Council which comes into effect in April 2025
FINANCE 2024-25
The North West region held £19095 in the bank at 31[st] March 2025, £3610 higher than the balance of £15485 as at 31[st] March 2024.This increase in funds was due primarily to advance deposit receipts from enrolees for the 2025 Summer School.
The deficit in the year on the receipt and expenditure account of £1934 compared to a surplus in 2023/2024 of £2065. The deficit arose primarily from the cost of the AGM and committee meeting expenses, and a marginal loss on the 2024 Summer School due to lower attendees than the previous year. Looking to 2025/2026 overall reserves are still healthy at £10905 at the start of the year. £5000 is held in general reserve and £5905 in accumulated revenue reserves.
The 2025 Summer School is planned to be run in August 2025 at the Metropolitan University of Manchester. Enrolment has been taking place since January. This is currently running significantly higher than last year, and should lead to a surplus.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Events being considered for 2025– 2026 include:
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Conference and AGM July 2026
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August 2025 Residential Summer School at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
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September 2025 – collaborative event with Manchester Geological Association
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Workshops – to be decided.
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Networking event
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Look for an area to open a new u3a.
Members of the committee will continue to support the Council members 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: 8[th] June 2025
Proposed by Jane Kemp from Bromborough and Seconded by Dave Rydings from Skelmersdale at AGM 1[st] July 2025. 30 votes for, none against.
NORTH WEST REGION OF U3As
Registered Charity No : 1159091
Financial Statement for the Year
1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
NORTH WEST REGION OF U3As
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
| 2023/2024 YEAR Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ 1. North West Region Funded Actvites 29495.00 26259.49 3235.51 Summer School (Cumbria university) 670.00 1205.04 -535.04 Annual general meetng 77.89 -77.89 Zoom licence/computer expenses 493.95 -493.95 Commitee meetngs 0.00 Training expenses 1020.00 400.60 619.40 Big Sing event 470.50 -470.50 Workshop - best ever AGM 212.70 -212.70 Workshop - ft for future 2. Third Age Trust Funded 0.00 Workshop - interest groups mater 31185.00 29120.17 2064.83 AS AT 31/3/25 |
1/04/24-31/3/25 Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ 25946.75 26055.54 -108.79 215.00 1153.15 -938.15 0.00 442.52 -442.52 0.00 585.00 820.00 -235.00 0.00 168.00 168.00 380.00 758.00 -378.00 |
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| 27294.75 29229.21 -1934.46 |
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| -1934.46 |
NORTH WEST REGION OF U3As
BALANCE SHEET
| 3/31/2024 | 3/31/2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Current Assets | ||
| 15485.26 | Bank Account | 19095.10 |
| 15485.26 | 19095.10 | |
| Represented by: | ||
| Capital Account | 7839.09 | |
| Plus current ytd surplus | -1934.46 | |
| 7839.09 | 5904.63 | |
| 455.00 | Summer school prepayments | 12450.00 |
| Summer school deposit / payments | -6332.70 | |
| 6117.30 | ||
| 15.00 | Big Sing 2024 prepayments | 0.00 |
| 597.37 | Lancashire Link | 597.37 |
| 366.60 | Lancashire and merseyside network | 263.60 |
| 90.39 | Deeside and Wirrall network | 90.39 |
| 1121.81 | Greater Manchester network | 1121.81 |
| 5000.00 | General Reserve | 5000.00 |
| 15485.26 | 19095.10 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees
Charity Name NORTH WEST REGION OF U3A’s
| On accounts for the year | 31STMARCH 2025 | Charity no | 1159091 | |
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| ended | (if any) | |||
| Set out on pages | 1and 2 | |||
| ( |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: Name: ROGER LUCKHURST Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 16 HAZELWOOD ROAD, WIGAN WN1 2PE
Oct 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
2
IER