2023-03-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report					for theperiod
From	Period start date			To	Period end date
	6th	April	2022		5th	April	2023

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name CROWLAND COMMUNITY HUB Other names charity is known by N/A Registered charity number (if any) 1163120

Charity's principal address Hall Street Crowland Peterborough Lincolnshire PE6 0EW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Paul Bywater	Chairperson
	David Kennerley	Treasurer
	Julie Smith	Secretary
	Ian Gordon
	Peter Richard Sparkes
	TracyCleaver		30.01.2023 -
	Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

March 2012

TAR

1

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Charitable Incorporated Organisation (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted Association (eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods Elected by members / appointed by existing Trustees (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

• The structure of the Charity is:

• You may choose to include additional information, where Trustees: this group consists of the main office holders. Chair, Treasurer

• relevant, about: Secretary and other Trustees responsible for the overall Management of

• • policies and procedures the Charity. adopted for the induction and training of trustees; Management Groups: these consist of Trustees and Members who are

• • the charity’s organisational responsible for the day-to-day management of the Charity. structure and any wider Members consisting of the Trustees, Management Groups and Library

• network with which the charity and Shop volunteers.

• works;

• relationship with any related There are no paid staff.

• parties;

• • trustees’ consideration of The library service element of our use of the building continues to be major risks and the system supported via GLL and the full time GLL Library Development Officer. and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

1. The advancement of education for the benefit of the public in Crowland and the surrounding areas by the provision of library services.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its 2. To further or benefit the residents of Crowland and the surrounding governing document areas, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in

March 2012

TAR

2

the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.

Since the formation of the Charity our activities have focused on developing the structures necessary for delivering our business plan including adapting to deal with Covid and post pandemic changes in operation and the needs of the community.

Having regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission the following is a summary of the activities undertaken for the public benefit.

• 1) Recruiting people with the skills and experience needed to deliver our business plan via membership of the group.

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)

• 2) Recruiting and training volunteers in the policies and processes necessary to provide a voluntary staffed library service to the standards required by Lincolnshire County council initially and later to the standards required by Greenwich Leisure Services.

• 3) Extending the hours of fully staffed library provision and increasing the numbers of registered library users.

• 4) Negotiating the terms of agreement that would enable the building housing the library to be fully used as a community facility.

• 5) Recruiting and training over 30 volunteers in the running of our fund-raising Charity Shop. Providing opportunities for some of those who are on benefits to fulfil their working time hours.

• 6) Establishing a group of volunteers with a brief to raise funds and promote the purposes of the Charity within the local community.

• 7) Publicising the purposes and activities of the Charity with a view to both establishing community needs and interests and recruiting people to assist in delivering programmes to address these.

• 8) Extending the range of activities provided by the Hub involving the community, particularly young people.

• 9) Providing accommodation and IT facilities for community interest groups.

March 2012

TAR

3

Volunteers have been taken through a process of establishing the skills and experience they bring with them and utilising these in the best way to meet the needs of the Charity.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

• policy on grant making;

• policy programme related investment;

• contribution made by volunteers.

In conjunction with the Lincolnshire County Council /GLL Library Development Officer all library volunteers have had training in the relevant policies in place that are required to deliver a full and highquality library service.

Through the establishment of the Charity shop a number of people of people have come forward who do not have an interest in the library service but who do want to be more involved in the community. 30+ people have been inducted in how to run a retail outlet in the context of remote management. This means that each person has to understand and be able to fulfil their responsibilities within a set of policy guidelines.

The above processes have added to the skills pool in the community.

The Charity does not make grants.

The Charity does not invest.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Our achievements have been the continuation of the development and expansion of the provision of services set out in our Constitution and business plan.

• 1) Continuing to bring together a group of people with little prior knowledge of each other and forming a cohesive Management Structure to manage delivery of the service.

• 2) Continuing to recruit and train volunteers engaged in the various roles that enable the service to be delivered

• 3) Creation and development of a Local History Archive.

• 4) Following the disruptions through the worst of the COVID pandemic, the Management Groups have blossomed. As well as taking responsibility for the day-to-day organisation of the Library, Hub and shop, they have adopted amended opening hours to maximise the efforts of the volunteers and to extend the community group activities.

• 5) The works to refresh and revitalise the appearance of both the Hub and the shop continued during the year.

• 6) Specific achievement in the year include:

Warm Spaces

Through January to March, along with many other libraries we set up as a Warm Space on two days a week so people could come and take advantage of our heated building throughout the day. We recruited 3 new volunteers to staff this initiative. It was used but by a very limited amount of people.

Good Mood Cafe

In September after a lot of preparation we partnered with South Lincs MIND (SLMIND) to establish a ‘Good Mood Cafe’ for those people who are feeling isolated, lonely, having mental health issues, recently bereaved or who just need to get out and meet people to life their spirits. The Social Prescriber from the local surgery has also brought along people who have presented at the surgery and who they feel would

March 2012

TAR

4

Section D Achievements and performance benefit. We successfully applied for 6 months grant funding for a research period and a facilitator. The initial sessions were held in a local cafe supported by the cafe owner who is also a Trustee of our Charity. It has proved to be very popular, so much so that a second session was established towards the end of February in our own building. The funding came to an end at the end of March, but the sessions are continuing under our own provision with volunteer facilitators who have ha, and will have, ongoing training through SLMIND. Dungeons & Dragons One ongoing challenge is how to engage with teenagers in a library setting. Fortunately, one of our library volunteers is a Dragon Master and she has successfully set up a Dungeons and Dragons evening that has proved to be a draw for that age group. First Aid courses We have also had a focus on getting people trained in First Aid starting with the very young age group 3 - 6-year-olds, which was very well supported and followed that by a course for 6 – 10-year-olds. Gallery @ The Hub We have hosted the Artists of Crowland group for a few years now and this year we have set up Gallery @ The Hub where we have had a continuing display of local artists work on the walls featuring one artist’s work for two months at a time and writing a feature about that artist in the local town magazine. Remembrance Event We recruited around 85 local people who are knitting and crocheting poppies with the aim of draping our historic Crowland Abbey with a 130ft drape of red poppies for the month of November. They come together once a month to share their makes and patterns and generally get to know others. This is something everyone can get involved with, including those who are housebound. We already have over 2,000 made, just another 2,000 to go. Local History In Jan our volunteer who had set up and managed the Local History Display left us. We have been fortunate in that one of our library volunteers who has a keen interest in this area has stepped forward and working with a local historian and author is developing further this area.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details	Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed their annual grant will continue for the 2023/2024 period. They have also confirmed that the current peppercorn rent will not be increased. SHDC have indicated that although the discretionary charity relief on Business Rates continues for 2023/2024, they warn that this is being reviewed and although reserves are being made available to extend the services being offered, a cautious approach is to be maintained.
	N/A
	(Optional information)

March 2012

TAR

5

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

• the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

The Charity receives grant monies towards running costs of the building of £5,167 per annum (while funds allow).

The Charity has continued to maintain sustainable streams of income via the charity shop and selling advertising on our crowlandhub.com community website.

• how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

• investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

In a small town of 4k people we feel we continue to make an impact by retaining a valuable community facility in terms of the library but also in the extension of that by saving a building that has huge potential as a community facility and by continuing to develop that potential.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Paul Bywater Julie Smith Position (eg Secretary, Chairperson Chair, etc)

Date 28/05/2023

March 2012

TAR

6

CROWLAND COMMUNITY HUB REPORT ON ACCOUNTS 2022-2023

Both the Hub and Togs 'n Cloggs have shown improved income in all areas. Venue hire income has more than doubled, which along with higher expenditure on Activites (Events/Public Services) indicates a marked increase in Hub use.

Excess Income over expenditure is down significantly, which with the energy price increase was to be expected.

Togs 'n Cloggs energy costs were subject to Government assistance but still cost just over £900 more than the previous year.

Owing to The Hub having a fixed price contract in place, it was not subject to assistance, but in the overal context remained affordable.

Hub energy 2021-22 2022-23 % increase £2,071.50 £4,391.07 + £2,319.57 112%

In addition both venues increased self financed* expenditure on Capital

and Maintenance work.

The Hub had new signage, foyer and window murals. Togs 'n Cloggs was recarpeted and redecorated throughout, which is reflected in the increase in T'nC's costs.

* Previous Capital works were subject to a grant from LCC.

2021-22 2022-23 £26.27 £3,531.60 The Hub £2,907.31 Togs 'n Cloggs

T'nC increased maintenance and energy expenditure accounts for all of its increased costs versus the previous year.

As mentioned above Activities (Events/Public Services) spending increased by 5.5 times over the previous year, a welcomed trend.

The issue of the payment for Gas supply remains unresolved despite repeated contact with LCC. Fortunately our strong reserves gives us resilience in the event of a back-dated charge.

Indications are that the LCC annual grant (£5 167.00) will continue.

CROWLAND COMMUNITY HUB PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT INCOME Library Donations Walkers Funding LCC Events Trading Website Commission Sales Fund Raising Togs 'n Cloggs Misc Income Gross Income	31/03/2023 £ % Printing 232.25 Fines/Cards/Talking books 99.20 Computer use 0.00 Venue Hire 2896.50 £3,227.95 13.8%
	£309.54 1.3% £0.00 0.0% £5,167.00 22.1% £143.60 0.6% £0.70 0.0% £0.00 0.0% £11.50 0.0% £0.00 0.0% £14,469.25 62.0% £0.00 0.0% £23,329.54
EXPENDITURE Utilities Rates Insurance Library Trading Website Publicity & Promotion Library	Water 510.44 Phones/Internet 0.00 Electricity 4391.07 Heating 0.00 £4,901.51 21.4%
	£0.00 0.0% £721.21 3.2% Printing 34.69 Events/Public Service 2396.94 Janitorial 642.45 Walkers 0.00 Misc 320.38 Refreshments 52.54 Craft 0.00 Stationery 11.95 Licenses/Permits 221.22 Equipment 476.90 Repairs & Maintenance 120.00 £4,277.07 18.7%
	£0.00 0.0% £280.36 1.2% £414.00 1.8% £10,594.15 46.3%
Commission Sales Fund Raising Togs 'n Cloggs Capital Works Total Expenditure	£0.00 0.0% £0.00 0.0% £8,734.78 38.2% £3,531.60 15.4% £22,860.53 98.0%
Net Income	£469.01
	Cash at Bank B/fwd 2021 - 22 £67,857.90 Cash Library Float 20.00 RFID Float 36.50 Activities float 100.00 Togs 'n Cloggs Float 60.00 £68,074.40 Total C/Fwd to 2023 - 24 £68,543.41

TOGS 'N CLOGGS

PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT 2022-2023 INCOME

TOGS 'N CLOGGS PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT 2022-2023
INCOME		£	%
Sales
CASH	£6,009.27		41.5%
CARD	£7,200.55		49.8%
CFC	£681.00	£13,890.82	4.7%
Donations		£61.87	0.4%
Events		£516.56	3.6%
Gross Income		£14,469.25
EXPENDITURE
Trading		£0.00	0.0%
Refresh/Janitorial		£64.06	0.7%
Misc		£548.49	6.3%
Card Costs		£231.79	2.7%
Equipment		£567.40	6.5%
Telephones		£0.00	0.0%
Maintenance		£2,907.31	33.3%
Rent		£1,800.00	20.6%
Rates		£130.56	1.5%
Water		£0.00	0.0%
Electric		£2,366.17	27.1%
Insurance		£119.00	1.4%
Total Expenditure		£8,734.78	60.4%
			100.0%
**Net Income(transferred to Crowland Community **	Hub A/c)	£5,734.47

Card handling costs (Mobile charges and commission) represent

3.22% of card income.