Preston Park u3a, Chair’s Report 2024
I am very pleased to be able to give an upbeat report about the progress our u3a has made in the last 12 months.
Membership
We now have more members than ever before; over 485. We are not, however, satisfied with this number as with more members still we will be able to offer more interest groups and more choice.
Interest Groups
We also have more Interest Groups as well – over 55. We have had a strong Interest Groups Co-ordinator team on the Committee whose aim is set up and help new groups to prosper as well as to maintain existing Interest Groups and start duplicate groups where existing ones are full. Despite this and not unexpectedly some long standing Interest Groups have very sadly closed this year.
We have tried unsuccessfully – so far – to get new groups going for Model Railways, Italian Conversion, Portuguese Conversion, Spanish Conversion and a second French Advanced Conversion Group. We can only start new groups where a member is willing to step up and become the Group Leader.
However, in the last 12 months we have successfully started groups for Qi Gong, Philosophy, French Get Together, Book Review Group 7 – Non-Fiction and Patchwork & Quilting 2 and are in the process of setting up a Singing Group, Pickleball and Nordic Walking groups.
None of this is of course possible without our Group Leaders, who are the people who make our u3a work. A big thank you to all our Group Leaders.
Website
In 2024 we upgraded our website to be more focused on the information you need. Please have a look at it and use it. I need to give big thanks to our Web Manager Carol Jenkins for all her hard work in making this happen. Our website is now the “Go-To” place to find out about our groups, what’s happening, on what day and time and who to contact for information.
Finances
Our finances are in a strong position and we have adequate reserves to weather any unexpected storm as well as enough, hopefully in the not too
distant future, to implement improvements to the sound and vision at our monthly meeting venue at Knoyle Hall. We are investigating this with St John’s Church, and hope our plans will bring the hall into the 21[st] century.
New and Updated Policies and Guidelines
Your Committee has put in place various new or updated policies to comply with the requirements of the Charity Commission and the Third Age Trust. We have also updated guidance for members and Group Leaders to help you make the most of your membership. These can be viewed on our website.
Volunteering
I note only about 10% of our members are on the Executive Committee or act as Group Leaders or help in some other way. We need additional volunteers. Don’t be frightened as lots of support can be given.
– Your Officers and Committee The Executive Committee
I have also had the support of our strong Committee this last year and most of its members have been re-elected. I am sure our new Chair, Liz Rugg, and her new executive will be a great success in 2025.
I am sure you will agree we will approach our eighteenth year with confidence because I strongly believe our u3a has something valuable to offer.
Thank you all for your support.
John Colman, Vice Chair 2024, Thursday 5[th] December 2024
Preston Park u3a Report & Accounts For the Financial Year ending 31[st] October 2024
The finances of Preston Park U3A are split into two parts; the income and expenditure of the various ‘interest groups’ that are largely ‘self funded’; and the services provided to the general membership, including the monthly meetings, that are funded by the annual membership subscriptions.
At the end of the financial year, we have reported a surplus (income minus expense) of £2,988. Most of this surplus (£1,808) is attributable to the Interest Groups and this sum will be used by those groups in the coming year.
The balance of the surplus (£1,180) will be added to the general reserve which currently stands at £9,193.
| General Funds | £9,193 |
|---|---|
| Interest Group Funds | £9,354 |
| Total Cash at Bank | £18,547 |
Our membership has grown this year to 488 members and this has generated subscription fee income of £7,022 (8% more than the previous year).
However most of our reported income, 82%, came from Interest Group subscriptions and Heritage Visit fees.
Similarly, most of our expenditure is attributable to the interest groups in respect of hall hire, external visit costs and the cost of tutors.
We also paid a net sum of £3,301 (£3,034 last year) to the Third Age Trust for the provision of central services covering publications, insurance and IT services.
Looking forward to next year, your Committee has decided to maintain the current level of annual subscription and to introduce the option of Gift Aid to all members. This will increase our income at no additional cost to the members and provide additional funds for investment. Our intention is to use the surplus general funds to improve the audio/visual facilities at Knoyle Hall for the benefit of those attending our monthly meetings and other U3A activities.
The consolidated Accounts for the Financial Year ending 31st October 2024 are detailed on the page below.
Preston Park U3A
Financial Accounts Year Ending 31[st] October 2024
| Income | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Fees | £7,022 | £6,517 | ||
| Interest Group Subscription | £28,867 | £26,808 | ||
| Interest Group Visit fees | £9,543 | £7,840 | ||
| Meeting Fees | £1,024 | £762 | ||
| Other Income | £314 | £100 | ||
| Totals | £46,770 | £42,027 | ||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Hall hire | £9,651 | £9,633 | ||
| Speakers Fees | £509 | £392 | ||
| Refreshments | £223 | £119 | ||
| Postage and Printing | £768 | £1,045 | ||
| Subscriptions | £3,301 | £3,034 | ||
| Equipment | £759 | £402 | ||
| Summer Party and Picnic | £272 | £590 | ||
| Interest Group visits | £9,778 | £7,146 | ||
| Tutors | £17,391 | £14,400 | ||
| AGM Expenses | £120 | £99 | ||
| Sundry Expenses/Donations | £1,010 | £778 | ||
| Totals | £43,782 | £37,638 | ||
| Surplus | £2,988 | £4,389 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Funds brought forward | £15,559 | £11,170 | ||
| Surplus for year | £2,988 | £4,389 | ||
| Total carried forward | £18,547 | £15,559 | ||
| Represented by | ||||
| Cash at Bank | £18,547 | £15,559 | ||
| Less Creditors | ||||
| Total carried forward | £18,547 | £15,559 |
John Curwen Treasurer
6[th] November 2024
Preston Park U3A Independent Examiner's Report to the Council of Management for theyeaf ended 31 Ortober 2024 I report to the trurtees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Charity Number 11625941 for the year ended 31st October 2024. Responsibilities and basls of report The charty's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'*he Act"). The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year and that an independent examination is needed. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust s accounts carried out under sethon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrections given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connection with the examination whlch gives me cause to believe that in, any material Spect. l. the accounting records Vre not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 2. the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the forni and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered alpart .of an independent examination. I have no con¢ems and have come a(Yoss 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. Date.