Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year 1st January 2023 31st December 2023 From To
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Friends of Golcar Library Other names charity is known by FoGL Registered charity number (if any) 1162979 Charity's principal address Golcar Library, 12 Town End, Golcar Huddersfield West Yorkshire Postcode HD7 4QD
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for **whole year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Armitage | Chair | 22ndMarch, 2023 | FoGL Annual Meeting | |
| John Chappell | Minutes and Membership Secretary |
FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| Jeremy Cuss | Project and Fundraising Officer |
FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| Sue Eaton | Events Organiser | FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| Angela Sewell | Volunteer Organiser | 22ndMarch, 2023 | FoGL Annual Meeting | |
| Andrew Marchington |
Treasurer and Social Media Officer |
FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| HilaryRichards | Committee Member | FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| John Walker | Committee Member | FoGL Annual Meeting | ||
| BeverleyIngham | Committee Member | 22ndMarch, 2023 | FoGL Annual Meeting | |
The FoGL volunteers have continued to support library staff throughout this period and it has not been necessary for any volunteer only opening.
At the AGM the Chair – John Walker stood down from this role but wished to carry on as a Trustee. A new Chair Karen Armitage was appointed as well as two new Trustees - Angela Sewell and Beverley Ingham. Angela took on the role of Volunteer Co-Ordinator.
The Trustees have met approximately every 6 – 8 weeks throughout the year moving from Zoom to in person meetings held at the library.
March 2024
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
Constitution
How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
CIO
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
1/3[rd] elected by the AGM every year after the first AGM at which all the trustees resign and are eligible for re-election.
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
The Friends of Golcar Library group is run by a management committee, all of whom are trustees of the CIO. This committee meets, on average, every 6 – 8 weeks to decide how best to support the work of Golcar Library.
The work of the volunteers is co-ordinated by the volunteer co-ordinator - Angela Sewell taking on the role at the AGM.
Everyone (including trustees) who wishes to volunteer for work in the library is provided with a full induction package for this role and is supported by the Library’s Customer Service Officer.
There is a network of library Friends groups across Kirklees. They are all independent but learn from and give support to each other as required.
New trustees are provided with a copy of the FoGL constitution the accounts and the annual report for the previous year.
When the group started in 2015 a business plan was developed and the possibility of an asset transfer of the building was considered. However, following a financial assessment of what would be needed to fund the operation of the library (including work and refurbishment of the integral flat) it was concluded, at the time, that the library could not be run independently without other fund-raising. Thankfully, Kirklees funding of the library continued, so no asset transfer was required. Nonetheless, the current financial constraints on Council budgets have again put library services in some jeopardy with the future being uncertain.
The flat within the library building could be a source of income however this would need major refurbishment and would not be sufficient to maintain the library. However, due to its potential finance generating element, the refurbishing of the flat might be something which needs to be revisited in the future.
March 2024
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
To advance the education of the public in Kirklees, by operating and managing a lending library in Golcar with access to computer technology.
Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not charitable.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
FoGL maintained its involvement in the running of the library by offering volunteer support to members of staff attending the library. Following the retirement of the library’s well established Customer Service Officer, FoGL welcomed a new member of staff and supported their new ideas for development of the library.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
The library is open 15 hours a week over 4 days with one member of staff accompanied by one volunteer. Our list of volunteers has remained extremely stable with many being a volunteer since the inception of FoGL, we have also had several new members joining the team as well as Duke of Edinburgh students helping as part of their community involvement.
There are regular activities and various groups who use the library (including outside of opening hours) these include: - a fortnightly walking group, ancestry, knit and natter, board games, jigsaws, story-time, lego as well as craft sessions. Some of these are led by library staff whilst others organised and supported by FoGL volunteers.
Kirklees Council has dedicated libraries as ‘warm spaces’ with Golcar library being utilised by older people as well as younger members of the community. FoGL has provided funding support for prizes for children taking part in activities over the Easter and Christmas period as well as purchasing a jigsaw ‘folder’ so any jigsaw started can be safely stored until the next session.
March 2024
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
The garden continues to be developed, planting of more flowers has been undertaken, a hut erected and links established with Golcar Environment Group. Further plans for the garden are in the development stage incorporating suggestions by library users. Thanks to a local firm who donated some railway sleepers it is anticipated that a large planter can be made which will be at an accessible height for both young and old. FoGL have also supported this development work both financially and with manpower. Following work by local primary school children, facilitated by library staff and FoGL volunteers, a mural has been erected to the rear of the library overlooking the garden. The ‘big reveal’ of this mural was undertaken by way of a Garden Party. This was very well attended by the local community with FoGL members providing support, information (composting) and activities - seed planting and crafts.
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
The FoGL was set up from a Foundation meeting on December 6[th] 2014 and became a registered CIO with an approved constitution on August 4[th] 2015.
It was anticipated at that time that the new FoGL organisation would need to fundraise to take over the Golcar Library building and to run the library with volunteers only in 2017. Fortunately, the cuts to library provision were not as severe as anticipated and the threat of closure at that time was removed and the need to apply for an asset transfer no longer required. However, currently with financial constraints within the council’s budget it is not clear how this will affect library services in the future.
Therefore, the future of the library continues to be under review however, Kirklees Council continues to meet the running costs of the library – including the computers and other IT equipment which are to be updated in the near future enabling library users easier access to the IT equipment.
March 2024
Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
FoGL has continued to maintain its full range of support to the library throughout 2023. It publicises its presence both within the library but also on Facebook which is currently being reviewed and updated.
Historically we have had an excellent attendance at our Management Committee meetings and this has continued throughout 2023 gradually moving away from Zoom to in person.
All members of this committee are Trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation that was set up and registered with the Charity Commissioners on August 4[th] 2015.
It is unclear how the current budgetary constraints of the Council will, as yet, affect library services.
It has not been necessary to have any volunteer only opening of the library but it may be something which we need to revisit in the future if budget constraints limited staff availability. However, only volunteers who have built up enough expertise and experience will be used should volunteer only opening be required.
We have a strong team in our Friends group, and we are confident that in co-operation with the Kirklees Library Service we will be able to face future challenges.
March 2024
Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the There are no regular financial commitments at the present and hence no charity’s policy on reserves need for reserves. However, this may change in the future depending on the actions required by the Council to eliminate their current deficit. Details of any funds materially None in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include A small amount of fund raising (badge making) was undertaken at additional information, where various events throughout the year. This has allowed FoGL to ensure relevant about: various library initiatives were enhanced e.g prizes for children entering • the charity’s principal the Easter and Christmas ‘art’ competitions, jigsaw folder as well as sources of funds (including supporting development of the garden. any fundraising);
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how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) John Chappell Full name(s) Karen Margaret Armitage Position (eg Secretary, Chair Secretary Chair, etc) Date 11/03/2024
March 2024
Charity Name No (if any) Friends of Golcar Library 1162979 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period To from 1st January 2023 31st Dec 2023
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 40 33 - - - - 74 - - - 74 145 28 25 31 - - |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 40 33 - - - - 74 - - - 74 145 28 25 31 - - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 100 - - - - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 100 - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 145 100 28 25 31 - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 145 100 28 25 31 - - |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badge Making | 40 | ||||||||
| 33 | - | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
74 | 82 | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - |
- | ||||||||
| ~~Sub total~~ | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 82 | |||||||||
| Easter Resources | 145 | ||||||||
| Garden Work | |||||||||
| Jigsaw Storage | 28 | ||||||||
| Rosources for Light Switch on | 25 | ||||||||
| Lego | 31 | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 229 | 100 | - | 329 | 60 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 60 | |||||||||
| - 156 | - |
||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| 527 | 911 | - | |||||||
| 371 | 655 | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
11/03/2024
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Treasurer FoGL Chair FoGL B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Bank Account Cash in Hand Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 296 284 75 - - 371 284 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Andrew Marchington Karen Armitage |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
|||
| Andrew Marchington | 11th March 2024 | ||
| Karen Armitage | 11th March 2024 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
11/03/2024
2