Formby u3a Annual Report for the year 1 Jan to 31 December 2025
Membership
The membership as of the end of December 2025 was 1078. 93 new members joined during the year.
Achievements and Performance
Formby u3a committee meetings have taken place monthly other than August when we have a summer break. The Committee has remained stable this year although we sadly lost our volunteer Newsletter Editor Dave who had completed years of loyal service. We are now paying for the Newsletter to be produced as no volunteer has come forward to take his place. We have during the year had some switching of roles on the Committee to ensure our skills are best placed. It has been difficult to recruit new Committee members, and no one has come forward to replace Helen as Chair. For this reason, we must change the constitution to allow Committee members to serve longer than the usual 3 years. The AGM will take place on the 11th of March when this matter will be addressed.
Coffee Mornings have continued monthly. These have been very successful and are regularly attended by 50+ members. At times these have included short presentations by local organisations which members appear to find interesting. Our thanks go to Kitty and her team who do a great job serving refreshments.
Speaker meetings have been held monthly; 10 events having taken place this year. Attendance at these is generally good and feedback positive. Book and Jigsaw exchange has continued as part of these meetings, thanks to Keith.
Trips have continued this year and are very popular. We went to Conwy and Bodnant Gardens on 27[th] May, Ambleside/Bowness in the Lake District on 15[th] July and Lytham Hall and Blackpool Illuminations on 15[th] December. Everyone reported enjoying the trips although we have been plagued by bad weather. The Lytham trip was particularly good, and people said the best yet!! We are planning a further 3 trips this year to Wollerton Old Hall Gardens and Shrewsbury, Llangollen/Betws-Y-Coed in the Summer and Haddon Hall and Bakewell for Christmas. The Theatre group has continued, and we enjoyed another trip to the Royal Court to see Scouse Christmas Carol. We would like more theatre trips and if there is anyone willing to take on leadership of this group it would be much appreciated.
We have been looking into a few events for this year including a possible meal at Himalayan Spice, another Cheese and Wine evening and possibly a 10-pin bowling afternoon. The Committee is relatively few in number and this limits the number of activities we can offer to members so new Committee members are always welcome. We currently have a vacancy for a Speakers Secretary and if anyone is interested, please come forward.
Our own u3a music groups again hosted the 2025 Christmas concert at the Holy Trinity Parish Hall Formby which was very successful. They again worked very hard to ensure this went well and feedback was positive. Refreshments were provided and our thanks go to Pam for organising these. We enjoyed a very successful Christmas meal which about 50
with a Michael Bublé tribute act people attended at the Grapes in Formby on December 19[th] and bingo.
There are 70 groups presently running and members seem to be happy both with the choice of groups and access to these. We would like to remind members that new groups are always welcome either in relation to an existing subject or new and some start-up funds are available if needed.
The Chair continues to enjoy a good relationship with Southport and Meols U3as which benefits members as Southport have invited us to events, they have organised and Meols have included us in trips they have held this year. Southport again kindly arranged a discount for u3a members to the flower show this year which we are grateful for.
Newsleter and Website
The quarterly newsletter has continued and remains popular. 250 copies are printed and distributed around the local area in the library and leisure centre as well as being available at coffee mornings and speaker meetings. Four Newsletters have been produced this year which have included many interesting articles and photographs from different groups. The committee continues to encourage members to put material forward for Newsletters. The website continues and is utilised by members seeking information about Formby u3a. Group information has been kept up to date to ensure it accurately reflects the organisation and our activities.
Members have been kept up to date with activities through regular emails, thanks to Frances Taylor for all her help with these. Formby u3a continue to use the Beacon system as their electronic recording device. Beacon is an online management system designed by u3a for u3as.It provides a simple interface for managing members, groups and finances. Our thanks go to Noel who is our Data and Beacon manager despite living in Plymouth
Groups
The number of active groups at the end of December 2025 was 70. 3 new groups have started during the year and 2 have closed.
A new members meeting was held on 13[th] November which new members said was helpful.
Fomiby U3A Charity number: 1161157 ma the ear onded 31 December 2025 2025 2024 INCOME Membership Group income Bank Interest Diaries Christmas show Sundries Other 10,257 18,206 239 20,453 207 30 30,137 28,703 EXPENDITURE Capitation Fees Membership . Beacon Newgroup funding PO Box 14.Q&4) 11,021) 166} (371) (19.435) 14,052} 11,011} (3531 118,092) Group expenses PRINTING Newsletter Membership card ICE cards Photocopying Ststionery & postage 1911) 1490) (76) (1,127) {3751 17121 {2,1891 11811 {1,6831 MEING$ Speakers Zoom & Audio equipment Stjohns Ambulance Parish hall rentsl Workshop rentsl {490) {5) {4251 17471 1575 11.8171 19001 575 (1.9001 GENERAL Diaries Christmas show Cash expenses Member Meeting5 Open Day Sundries (521 (1631 11701 15681 1,166) 11,388) 130.371) (638} 11,570) {28,6611 TOTAL EXPENDITURE SURPLUSI IDEFICIT) 234 41 flle:I//C:/users/vserlDocumentslU3A/2025IDecember 2025/AGM Year Result 20251$X IiloV2022
Forniby U3A Charlty numb8r . 11611S7 Balanc8 S as t 31 D9cgrnbgr 2025 2025 2024 ASSETS Bank & cash balances Current account Savings account Group monies Petty cash 3,578 12,683 2,133 5.037 12.476 1,600 18,398 19,117 LIABIUTIES Funds held for Theatre Group 14851 18,632 18,398 CAPITAL & RESERVES Retained reserves blfvid Surplus/ Ideficitl for year Retalned reserves clfwd 18.632 12341 18,398 18,591 41 18,632 Signed by one or mole trust$ on haff of all th• trustoes Signed Name Dale Indopondant gxamlnarfs statsm8nt I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accDunts caffied OLrt under section 145 of the 2001 Charities Act and Carying OLrt my exanwnation, I have followe(l the applicab D1CtionS given by the Charity Commission under sec*on 145{5)(b) of Ihe Ad. I have completed my examinatton. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connockn with thè axamination which 9ives me Cause to bèlteve that . in any material respect a¢eounting ¢%118 were not kept in aceordan¢o With secbon 130 of th8 Charthes Ador the accou do not accord wilh the aca))unting rerdS Sbgng(1 Date Name Relevant professK)nal qu8lthcation(8) or body {ff any) . flle=/IIC..IUsersWser/Documentslu3412025ltknember 2025/AGM Year Result 2025.xlsx 0710112026
Forniby U3A Charfty number: 1161157 Balance Sheet a8 at 31 December 2025 2025 2024 ASSETS Bank & cash balances Current account Savings account Group monies Petty cash 3,578 12,683 2.133 5,037 12,476 1,600 18,398 19,117 LIABILITIES Funds held for Ttheatre Group 14851 18,632 18.398 CAPITAL & RESERVES Retainéd reserves b/fwd Surplus/ Ideficitl for year Retained reserves c/fwd 18,632 12341 18,398 18,591 41 18,632 Signed by ¢Jne or mor• on bohalf ol all th• truBteos Signed Name IndependDnt examinerfs stateJn8nt I teport in respeca of my examination ofthe TrusV$ accounts carried crt under 8ectson 145 of the 2001 Charilie$ Act and ¢anying oul my examination. I have foll(w4ed the applicable Directions given by the Chaiity Commi35ion Urer secti7 145151{bl ofthe ACL I have completed my examination. I cJ)nfimi that no material rfbatters have come to my attention in connedon with the examination vthich gives me cause to believe that, in any material respe¢t a¢uJunliw r8¢ords ware not k8Pt in accordance wilh section 130 ofthe Charities the accoun o rb)t ac(>)rd with the ae£ounting rewd8 Signgd Name JMJih PoouÉ Relevant pYofe86ional qualifi¢ationls) or tody frfanyl .' Ik-f file'.///CJUserslU5erlDocumentslu3W2025/December 2025IAGM Year Result 2025.xlsx 07IOV2026