The Queen's Award for Voluntary S•rvl(• TheMBElw volunieergjwps Chalfont St Giles Community Library Trustees, Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Chalfont St Giles Charity number 1159743 Chalfont St Giles Community Library Legal and administrative infonnation Chalfont St Giles Community Library is a foundation charitable incorporated organisation. Charity number 1159743 - registered 30 De￿rnber 2014 Trustees MrAJ Hoare Mrs J Brown Dr M W Foxton Mr M J Bedford Mr A J Davies Mrs S Long Miss K M Martin Mrs J M Thompson Mrs M Ware (to 30 January 2025) Mrs D Westall President Chair Secretary Treasurer Inde endent Examiner Mr A Penson F.C.A. Fairfield House Dodds Lane Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. HP8 4EL Chalfont St Giles Community Library Hlgh Street Chalfont St Gile8 Buckinghamshir8 HP8 4QA Chalfont St Giles Community Library Trustses, report for the year ended 31 December 2024 I ntroduction The trustees present their tenth Annual Report as a charitable incorporated organisation {ClO). The library is a community managed public library working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council (the County). The Community Library opened in January 2007 following the closure of the County- run library in the village. Object of the charity The object of the charity is to advance the education of the public by providing lending library and information service for the residents of Chalfont St Giles and the surrounding area. The seNice is provided to the public without discrimination on grounds of age, disability or other protected characteristic. Structure, governance and managomont The charity's activities are governed by a Management Committee (the trustees) who normally meet at least four times per year. Day to day management is delegated to the Officers who report progress to each Management Committee meeting. Trustees are appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the trustees. Those who seNed during the year are listed on page 1 . None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the charity nor do they receive remuneiation. The trustees take into account the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when ¢arying out their duties. The officers and trustees assess the major risks to which the charity is exposed and ensure that controls are in place to mitigate exposure to the risks. Insurance includes cover for public and volunteer liabilty and for the loss of stock, furniture and equipment. Banked funds are held in accounts protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Community Library is operated by and is entirely dependent on unpaid volunteers. Under an agreement with the County, the County provides the Community Library with a grant towards running costs and provides without charge the IT equipment, a broadband link, the library management system, the public internet and Wi-Fi system together with technical support. The County provides a limited amount of library stock and supports the training of volUnt￿rs. The library is included in the County's inter- library delivery network. County support through to March 2027 was agreed this year. Lending from the Community Library is on the same terms as the County. Residents can borrow and retum books across the county library network. Users can reserve county books at the Community Library or online for pick up at the library. Residents thus benefit from a service that is integrated with the County's library service, Chalfont St Giles Community Library Trustses, report for the year ended 31 December 2024 A local information service is provided in the library building. This serrfice is administered separately from the library. All volunteers work in partnership to achieve the best possible service for the village. The library receives some financial support from village residents who are 'Friends of the Library,. The library building is leased from Chalfont St Giles Parish Council. Summary of main activities and achievements The library continues to be well used by the village. After the increased usage of the library in 2023, library visits in 2024 were similar to last year which was good considering flooding in the centre of the village right by the library in February and March. Whilst library usage was inevitably affected at that time, it was great to see how determined our users and volunteers were to make it to the library despite the conditions. Opening hours have been maintained following an increase in hours in 2023. We continue to invest in the book stock to ensure it is up to date, good quality and relevant to our users. Both 'Bounce and Rhyme, on Friday mornings and 'Knit and Natter, on Monday afternoons continue to be popular. The library continued to fund a subscription to the 'Reading Eggs, software for the children at the Chalfont St Giles Village School. The children at the school also visited the library ￿1c8 this year class by class. These initiatives encourage reading and the use of the library. The CIO'S financial result for the year was a net cash oufflow of £2,209. The result was impacted by increased costs, particularly for heating. At 31 De￿rnber 2024 the charity had an unrestricted cash fund of £72,463. As always, a huge thank you is due to all our volunteers who have done such a sterling job over the past year, The trustees also express their appreciation of the support for the library from village residents, local organisations and the Parish and County Councils. Reserves pollcy Since nearly all of the Community Library's seNices are provided free, the charity is dependent on grants and donations. The trustees consider that the charity should hold a level of unrestricted cash funds that will provide at least two years library running costs together with sufficient funds to maintain and where appropriate improve the library. Funds are required to periodically redecorate the library and to ensure the timely replacement of the library's stock, equipment and furniture. Chalfont St Gile8 Community Library Trustees, report for tho year ended 31 December 2024 Maintaining reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, the charity can continue its activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: Mrn J Brown Chair 21 January 2025 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Chalfont St Glles Community Llbrary (Charity no. 1159743) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responslbllltles and basis of report As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's 8tatsment I have completed my examination, I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act. or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records. 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 Teached. Mr A Penson F.C.A. Fairfield House Dodds Lane Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. HP8 4EL February 2025 Chalfont St Giles Community Library Receipts and payments for the year ended 31 December 2024 2023 Unrestricted Restricted fund furKJ Notes Totsl Total Recel ts BuckirYJhamshire Council grart Library frierKls' donations Library operatiw recei pts OtkEr irtome BaThk interest received 7,565 2,042 1,539 400 2,931 7,565 2,042 1,539 400 2,931 6,262 2,119 1,958 (2) 2,331 Total receipts 14,477 14,477 12,670 InsLranc8 Electricity Water and waste water TelepPK)ne Mairttenance arKI repai rs Books, Newspapers etc. Stab'orery, supplies printing Grant to CSG Village School - Reading Eggs Entrance refvrbishment Updatirg to LED lighttry Minor refvrbishment Volunteer costs Other costs 1,425 5,046 232 313 1,610 3,721 957 2,500 1,425 5,046 232 313 1,610 3,721 957 2,500 1,270 1 ,903 103 292 483 3.777 735 2,500 582 400 (3) 329 258 295 329 258 295 273 300 Total payments 16,686 16,686 12,979 Recel ts léss ments (2,209) (2,209) (309) Cash knrKJs at the start of the year Cash funds at 31 December 74,672 30 74,702 75,011 72,463 30 72,493 74,702 Chalfont St Giles Community Library Statsrnent of as8ets and liabilities at 31 December 31 December 2024 31 Decembe 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Cash ftJrKIs 30 72 493 The CIO also owns the library's furniture and most of the book stock. Signed on behalf of the trustees: ATLJ Mr8 J Brown Chair M J Bedford Treasurer 2P January 2025 Chalfont St Giles Community Library Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Accounting basis The accounts have been prepared on a re￿Ipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity Commission's guidance for preparing receipts and payments accounts. Llbrary operatlng recelpts Library operating receipts arose from book fines, book sales, print charges, public internet usage and sundry sales. Books, Newspapern etc. Books, Newspapers etc. comprise the purchase of books, newspapers, book covers and labels. As well as purchased books, some books are provided by the County and by agreement books can be donated by the public. Restrlctsd fund The Restricted Fund is to provide library materials for the visually impaired. £30 remains to be spent at 31 December 2024. 5. Secured debts and guarantees The charity has no secured debts and has not provided any guarantees.