## **Sidlesham Community Association** 

## **Annual Report for the year ended 30th April 2023** 

The trustees of the Sidlesham Community Association (SCA) submit their annual report for the above year during which the Association has undertaken a major refurbishment with the Parish Council of the premises owned by the Parish Council  and known as the Sidlesham Memorial Hall. 

As a result of the Association's contract with the NHS in the previous financial year, we earned suficient from that contract to make a decision on whether such monies should be used to repair and renovate the existing premises or plan to have a new building with help from the Public Works Loan Board. The Parish Council felt that the risks associated with a new build through any debt which the Parish would incur was such that a repair of the old building was the only realistic option. In consequence renovation work commenced in the year commencing April 2022 costing around £50,000 of which the SCA agreed a comitment of £25,000  with a similar sum from the Parish Council. The major outgoings so far relate to the roof repairs, a new stage, stage lighting and the essensial new floor in the main hall. There is still the need to have adequate heating in the main hall during the winter months in order to make this part of the premsies viable for letting. 

Although the commitment of £25,000 each by the Parish and the SCA will not be sufficient to undertake all the repair work deemed necessary, the strategic aim is now to generate sufficient surpluses through the letting of both the external football pitch(es) as well as the internal rooms of the renewed premises. To this end the Parish Council invited the Association to take over the income generated from the football clubs who are now using the main football pitch. A written contract is in the course of being drawn up between Infinity Football Club as the principal user of the grounds, changing rooms, bar and internal rooms and the SCA as the operator of the facilities.  In order for this to occur the SCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Parish Council setting out the respective responsibilities of both parties. The former are now dealing with all the lettings and associated income and costs. 

During the year the SCA welcomed Bill Martin as a new trustee and his contribution to trustees meetings has been very welcome. The trustees were very sorry to loose a longstanding trustee in Richard Hall who died in December 2022 after a long illness. Richard had been instrumental in the setting up of the SCA and its subsequent development. His role and responsibilities as Chairman and latterly as Secretary enabled the SCA to be transformed into a CIO under his guidance. Further contributions from him will be badly missed.  Although much comment in this annual report has been made about the renovation of the premises, much hard work has been freely undertaken by the Devonshires on the external gardens as well as their work in 



obtaining a grant which enabled rainwater to be garnered from the roof of the building and its subsequent use. 

The annual accounts show a loss of almost £12,000 although almost £20,000 was expended on the repair work outlined about. In the absence of such work a profit of around £8,000 would have resulted. A further significant contribution was made through the hard work of another trustee, Corina Hall, who has run the small cafe which not generates a significant service for the community as well as income. 

As regards governance mention has been made of the new trustee. It is eviden that not only have all trustees given of their time freely in order to bring the hall facilities back to life in a practical way, but they have fully understood their responsibilities as trustees of a charity through their contribution to the regular board meetings. In consequence the Memorial building now represents a real asset to the community in Sidlesham. 



## **SIDLESHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** 

## **ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th APRIL 2023** 

|**income (£)**|2023|2022|
|---|---|---|
|Cafe Income<br>(Net)|1,167|1,499|
|Grants|1.260|0|
|Coronation Day/Open Day|698|1,389|
|Bric a Brac|108|736|
|N.H.S Hiring|4,200|25.237|
|General Hiring (less refunds)|2,306|0|
|Luncheon Club|616<br>|0|
||10,353|28,861|
|**Expenditure (£)**|||
|Website, Printing & Subscription|152|152|
|Insurance|314|128|
|Premises Expenditure & Maintenance|19,560|2,467|
|Donations/Wreath|75|50|
|Utilities (Water and Electricity)|1,787|0|
|Equipment Purchased|238|0|
|Cleaning & Hall Running Costs|88|542|
|Carol Costs|47<br>|0|
||22,261<br>|3,339<br>|
|**Excess of Income over Expenditure      (£11,908)**||**£25,522**|
|Bank Account|£22,994|£34,902|



Accounts prepared by Norman W Robson Hon. Treasurer, independently verified by Tony Harrison and accepted by the Trustees.