Benhilton Granfers Association Trustees. Annual Report For the period From - 01/04/2022 To - 31/03/2023 Charity Name: Benhilton Granfers Association Registered Charity Number: 1164697 Charity's Principal Address: Granfers Community Centre 73 - 79 Oakhill Road Sutton Surrey SMI 3AA Trustees: Offfice: Dates acted, if not entlre year: Stan Palmer Chainnan Chris Carter Secretary Geoff Nlckson Treasurer Terry Godey Anne Kasey Norman Scarlett Nature of Goveming Document: Benhllton Granfers Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organlsation and Its affairs are ordered by a Constltutlon. The Trustees are the only voting members. Charlty's Objects: To relleve the elderly Sn the London Borough of Sutton and to provide facllities for their recreatlon and other leisure time occupation, with the objert of improving their condltlons of life. Executive Summary Intr In the 2022123 year we continued to operate on a business as usual basis following the pandemic. The charity has remained stable, contlnuing to function and remain viable agalnst: (a) the cost of living crisis. and (b) a backdrop of many small charities having to close in the post pandemic world. Activlties Outcomes and Achievements Whilst we can be said to be operating on a buslness as usual basis i.e. fully open for business, we a￿ still not fully back to pre-pandemlc levels in terms of: activities; achievements; outcomes. or Income levels. Nonetheless, we continue to achieve our objettives to remain solvent, malntaln our community building and provide a safe space for the elderly Sn our Borough. inR I.. IHaving survived the pandemlc and moved to buslness as usual, in 2022-23 in common with many others, the Charlty faced number of challenges with the onset of the cost of Ilving crlsls. The Granfer's buslness model Is prlmarily based on the lettlng of indoor accommodation to local communlty groups. However, we faced challenges to attract new buslness whllst havlng to Increase rental prices and meet increased costs. 1.2 Given the challenges highlighted, the Trustees took steps to identify solutions by regularly dlscussing the Issues and Implementing attions to support positive outcomes. 1.3The Board met on a quarterly basls throughout the perlod. 2.Attivities Outcomes nd Achievements 2.1 Followlng the pandemic, as we contlnued to operate as business as usual, we sought to maximise our income generation via increased lettlngs to community groups. In terms of lettings, in the period, we remained below the level of occupation enjoyed prior to the pandemic - thereby leading to a ￿duCtIon in income. This together with a material Increase in costs has exacerbated the net negatlve Impact on our Ix)ttom line. 2.2 The Trustees commissioned a detailed fire risk assessment in the period; the report highlighted a number of issues, works, repairs and actions for whSch the Board would be required to Identify funding for and add￿ss. 2.3 Notwithstandlng the prevlously reported Increase In varlous NHS related lettings, as we moved away from COVID driven actlvltles (for example, Long COVID support sessions) these lettlngs have fallen away. 3.Fln ncl I Perf rm slti 3. 1 2022/2023 was the first year slnce the Covld pandemic when the hall hire continued to approach normal occupancy The budget for the year showed a projected surplus of £4k wlth a current account balance of £37k In the event we ended the period wlth a surplus of £529 and a current account balance of £39k. The reduced surplus was due to necessary Inc￿ased maintenance costs to the building and the let property Total recelpts Increased to £89k due to Increases in rental and letting rates. Office and property rentals continued to be paid throughout the year. Current expendlture totalled £88850 of which £38101 was dirett costs with salaries and general expenses of £50749 .Durlng the period of the pandemic the general maintenance of the premises was curtalled and the Trustees are aware of the necessity of continuing to carylng out these works, subjett to funding. RESERVES POLICY The PCC have reviewed the charities needs for reserves In line with the Operational Guidan￿ No. 43 (Charity Income Reserves) issued by the Charity Commission. liance with T stees, D 4..IThe Trustees continued to maintain oversight of the charity's operatlon and its main resource, the Granfers Communlty Centre. At all tlmes our priorlty was to ensure the health and safety of staff and service users and to secure the assets of the charity so as to ensure that Granferfs was In a good position to resume its normal activities when this became possible. Therefore, the Trustees are able to confirm that they continued to carry out thelr dutles with due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public beneflt. The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees. report above. Signed on beh f of the charlty's trustees: Signature(s) Full name(s)