Bampton LARC - Chairman’s Report April 2023 to March 2024
Scope
This report covers the activities of Bampton LARC and does not include the Library, run by Libraries Unlimited, who are reporting later in the meeting.
Visitor numbers and volunteers
During the period April 2023 to March 2024, we managed to run open sessions usually 3 times a week depending on volunteers’ availability.
We rely on volunteers for day to day running and organisation, the volunteers deserve huge thanks for their efforts and commitment.
Volunteer numbers have stayed steady. As discussed last year, we could open for more hours if we had more volunteers, but without increased visitor demand it is hard to recruit more volunteers. Chicken and egg!
There has been little change in visitor numbers, and we are resigned to the fact we will not reach pre-Covid levels of visitors. People’s use of LARC has changed and we no longer have visitors to use the computers, so these were retired as replacement hardware was expensive and unlikely to ever be used.
Fund raising and community events
Volunteers and visitors were key to the success of our two outside fund-raising events. At Bampton Charter Fair in October 2023,we were again lucky with the weather and raised a lot of money on the LARC book stall.
Secondly, in May 2023 the Plant Swap and Sale organised by Jo Holdom was very well supported and a good opportunity to mingle with friends and neighbours and share plants and ideas; it was another fund-raising success.
Events such as these are hugely important to Bampton LARC not just raising money, but also enabling people to see and use the community space if they haven’t already done so.
Jo Holdom and Gen Ottaway were instrumental in organising World Book Day Window Trail from LARC and the Summer Reading Challenge for children. We are very lucky to have their help and support.
Donations and grants
Oliver Courtney Chair Bampton LARC Trustees
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Bampton LARC - Chairman’s Report April 2023 to March 2024
We were very fortunate to receive a generous donation from The Toucan Café in Bampton. Donations such as this make a huge difference to our finances, and we are very grateful for their generosity. Donations from the public were down as fewer people visit during the open sessions, there was little demand for the technology support which previously attracted donations.
We successfully applied to the National Grid Local Giving Fund and obtained a grant towards heating costs over the cold winter months. This enabled us to open LARC for more hours and keep it warm for visitors. The grant went a long way towards helping with these costs and supported our Warm Space initiative from December to March.
Successes and Challenges for 2023-24
Last financial year we stated we also wanted to be a community hub and be financially viable with income from a range of sources.
This year we managed to increase the number of individuals and groups using LARC. Many have become repeat users and we’ve had very positive feedback about using LARC which is very gratifying.
Increased LARC bookings have helped to keep LARC going and solvent; this is a major success everyone can be proud of.
Bampton LARC is a community hub used by many:
Creative writing group, Book club, various Well-Being activities including the walking group, Bampton Town Council, Yoga, French Group, Bampton Ladies, Chess Club, several Church groups, Bampton Open Gardens, Signpost, Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre displays, Meet the Police, numerous groups and committee meetings, and a selection of one-off gatherings.
Running costs are always a challenge for charities such as ours. Fortunately, we negotiated a new and slightly better electricity contract in January at a time when we were concerned costs would increase.
Although we retired all the unused LARC PCs, we retained the Wi-Fi printer and copier so visitors can print from their own devices.
We retained the fast broadband service providing free Wi-Fi for all; this is a major benefit for many LARC users.
LARC is approaching its 10[th] anniversary and we increasingly need to repair and replace items. One of our challenges is to ensure we
Oliver Courtney Chair Bampton LARC Trustees
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Bampton LARC - Chairman’s Report April 2023 to March 2024
have sufficient funds in place to cover expected recurring maintenance and enough funds for unexpected expenses.
There are still quiet, unused times, at LARC, particularly towards the end of the week. We are always looking for more users or ideas to run events and activities at LARC.
Personnel Changes
The LARC Trustees have remained unchanged this year. Oliver Courtney (Chair) David Graham and Kelvin Holdom are Trustees and Geoff Girdlestone has been our Treasurer.
Thank You
The LARC relies on lots of people for its existence, to keep it running and be viable, all of them give their services voluntarily.
We are extremely grateful to Stan and Sarah Vincent, who allow us to use the building at a minimum cost, for the benefit of the community in Bampton. We are all grateful for their generosity.
Thank you to Libraries Unlimited and, of course, Pam Wheeler for continuing to run the library in Bampton; we wouldn’t be here without them.
Thanks to Geoff Girdlestone for keeping our accounts in order and producing the financial statements.
Thanks also to all the Trustees, the management team and all volunteers who’ve made it a successful year and one we can all be proud of.
Finally, thanks to anyone accidentally omitted from this report and to the whole community for your support as users, helpers, customers at our sales. It is greatly appreciated!
Oliver Courtney Chair Bampton LARC Trustees
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Bampton LARC Accounts Year to 31 March 2024
| Receipts & Payments 2023/24 | Receipts & Payments 2023/24 | 2022/23 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |||
| Donations | 295.50 | 765.45 | ||
| Grants | 1035.00 | 144.00 | ||
| Fund raising | 479.50 | 297.50 | ||
| Lettings & events | 3648.95 | 2261.65 | ||
| Licence fee LU | 2000.00 | 2000.00 | ||
| Electricity LU | 718.86 | 589.71 | ||
| Computer usage | 2.00 | 7.80 | ||
| Printing & Photocopying | 81.20 | 110.95 | ||
| Calenders & Books | 2.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Youth Club | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Bank Interest | 0.00 | 97.00 | ||
| Total Receipts | 8263.01 | 6274.06 | ||
| Payments | ||||
| Fundraising costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Event costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Rent | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | ||
| Business rates | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Insurance | 392.43 | 620.76 | ||
| Heat, light & power | 2932.04 | 3509.94 | ||
| Water | 242.06 | 185.22 | ||
| Cleaning/Covid supplies | 531.38 | 459.00 | ||
| Repairs and renewals | 286.76 | 475.50 | ||
| Holiday Club | 0.00 | 206.00 | ||
| Telphone & Internet | 591.18 | 724.17 | ||
| Printing & stationery | 34.16 | 58.94 | ||
| Wellbeing Group | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Youth group | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 45.00 | 139.51 | ||
| Total Payments | 6055.01 | 7379.04 | ||
| Larcs net receipts | 2208.00 | -1104.98 | ||
| Statement of Funds at 31/03/2024 | ||||
| Nat West bank balance | 3247 | 1134 | ||
| treasurer | 258 | 163 | ||
| float | 15 | 15 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 3520 | 1312 | ||
| Investments | ||||
| United Trust Bank | 5339 | 5339 | ||
| Fidelity Funds Network | see below * | 5000 | 5000 | |
| (Artemis strategic Bond Fund) | ||||
| Total Investments | 10339 | 10339 | ||
| Total funds | 13859 | 11651 | ||
| value at 31/03/22 was £7472 | ||||
| £2000 sold on 6 Jan 2023. | ||||
| value at 31/03/23 was £4985 | ||||
| 0 |