## TRUSTEES ANNUAL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT ## **For the period from 20-02-2022 to 20-02-23** ## _Trustees:- Fred Neale Chairman, Shirley Brown Treasurer_ Currently we do not have that many volunteers, but that situation should improve over summer, We have had yet another year of slow growth and a great difficulty in recruiting sufficient qualified volunteers. We have managed to recruit a new Trustee/ treasurer a local resident in the person of Mrs Shirley Brown who has been known to the Charity for some time. New Trustee/volunteers have been trained in, fire extinguishers and in railway safety procedures, they have had good instruction on Covid 19 Rules and Regulations, reference the Railway Stations operators requirements. It was agreed that the Chairman Fred Neale be appointed as the administrator of the Charity following the resignation of Wilbert Smith, and Wilbert to be thanked for his long service, as due to the pressures of his new role at BCP he felt he needed to reduce his involvement with FCS with regret. The Chairman Mr Frederick Neale will become the new administrator. We occupy two rooms at Christchurch Railway Station under a Lease from South Western Railway and provide voluntary services under a Memorandum of Understanding. The Charity aims to advance the education of the public re the history of Christchurch Station (Dorset) for the provision of an exhibition and resource centre. Summary of main activities. Research, Evidence Gathering of Artefacts and photographs. (this was helped with students from Bournemouth University, until Covid19 struck). We continued applying for Grants for development of Heritage Centre at the Station and pursuing the primary aims for the charity. It become necessary to incur some expenditures on personal protective equipment, so we have provided volunteers with PPE. We are seeing more opportunity for access to the station as restriction are slowly softening. We have been unable to complete last year project due to the Covid 19 restrictions and latter the new cost of living increases as a result, which are still hitting us hard with the exception of being able of putting on two really good colourful floral displays for national events. Main Achievements in this year was to see the BU Students from University complete their project, but unfortunately they have now left, so the research for their project has not been completed. Brief statement about the charities policy on reserves. We continue to hold a minimum reserve to cover our expected annual running costs for12 months with the help from the myself, who has helped with some costs, but unless we can find more support from external sources it will be another difficult year for any major expansion. We did suffer some unreasonable contact with a few volunteers this year the first time in our existence. They were not forthcoming with personal information of their locations and did not want to comply with our registration policies. This was possibly because I had suffered a stroke late last year and it was taking some toll on me during my recovery. In fact one volunteer tried to take over everything but showed little ability in doing any work themselves only telling others what was needed doing, they disregarded many of the rules we work to, as well as spending a Hugh amount on floral displays which had not been authorised by myself at the time. They brought in other friends to assist but all became very hostel to myself which appeared to be generated for their own purposes, and would not comply with our procedures, so we had to part company for the benefit of the station and others around. The future is our main concern now and we are working to take the Charity further to improve its growth and existence for the benefit of the local community, we still receive some very nice comments about our work and although the the travelling numbers are lower than previous with regard to the commuting public, this is improving month by month. We have had issues with Strikes and had obviously had a small impact on our activities at the station, which meant that we had to operate with later evening sessions for tendering to the plants in the barrels and floral beds, which unfortunately was another issue for some so it meant that in their absence it was left down to myself to cover those evenings sessions. Its been a very difficult year for many reasons, but we are looking forward to better opportunities this year as we have been in talks with a number of other people and organisations who may be able to assist in our conquest. FRIENDS OF CHRISTCHURCH STATION CIO Income Expenditure and Balance Account YEAR ENDING 24 FEB 2023 PAYEE CH NO DATE RECEIVED PAID OUT BALANCE 24 Feb 2022 Balance b/f 6,760.90 Bank Charges 241March 5.00 6755.90 Andrew Harris (volunteer) 241April 100043 Bank Charges 58.55 241April 5.00 6692.35 Bank Charges Rotary Club of Chr Christchurch Rotary 151May 5.40 6686.95 171May 350.00 7036.95 Andrew Harris (volunteer) 261May Stewarts Garden Centre 100044 Bank Charges 500.00 6536.95 141June 5.00 6531.95 Bank Charges 15th/July 5.40 6526.55 Bank Charges 24/Aug/Sep 5.00 6521.55 Bank Charges 241Sept Zurich Insurance 100046 251Sep 5.00 157.00 6516.55 6,354.55 Bank Charges 1411Nov 5.40 6349.15 Bank Charges 151Dec 5.00 6344.15 Bank Charges 141Jan 5.00 6339.15 Bank Charges 14-Feb 5.00 6,334.15 -350.00_- 6334.15 766.75 CHEQUE No 100045 VOIDED/CANCELLED. Breakdown of Balances Resticted Reserves 12 months Trading Redecoration Room Loan Account ols Reserves Resouces availableFCS 1200.00 2500.00 1500.00 5200.00 Chairman. Fred Neal 1144.15 Treasurer.. Shirley Brown 25" OCTOBER 2023