**The Annual Report of the Trustees of Rural Reels for the period August 2020 – August 2021** 

## **Introduction** 

Rural Reels is a Partnership of village halls in Worcestershire with the common aim of bringing 

big screen films to local communities. 

## **Overview** 

Rural Reels raises funds, or supports its partners to raise money for themselves in order to purchase, install and maintain projection and sound equipment for each venue. 

The  members  of  the  group  support  each  other  by  exchanging  ideas  on  film showings, publicity, marketing and fundraising. 

## **Activities** 

Having had to close in March 2020 due to the pandemic two venues managed to show a small number of films in September and October when the first lockdown lifted.  Turn  out  for  these  films  was  understandably  low  but  audiences  were appreciative of the efforts made by the venues to ensure that they were Covid secure. Sadly, due to the second lockdown at the start of 2021 all venues closed again. 

Historically our venues close during the summer months, but one venue did open and showed two films when restrictions eased again in the summer of 2021. 

## **Expenditure** 

Income is raised through a levy charge on our members. This is based on the audience numbers at each venue so that most halls contribute something during the year. The levy payments would normally raise around £600 per year. However, it was agreed in August 2021 that the levy would be suspended until December to help venues recover from the period of closure during Covid restrictions. 

Due to venues being closed for the majority of the year there has been very little financial activity. The only expenditure has been payment of the insurance premium for the mobile film equipment. 

## **Activity** 

Another venue, Callow End Village Hall, is interested in becoming a partner but this will not take place until they are able to open fully. This will bring the total number of venues in the partnership to sixteen spread across the county of Worcestershire. The Rural Reels AGM will be held in October 2021 

Sheena Walsh 



Chair and Trustee Rural Reels

## Rural Reels 

Financial Report for AGM 

October 2021 

## 1. General Overview 

Annual Accounts have been submitted to the Charity Commission for the year ending 1[st] August 2020. 

The financial Activity was very limited in that period due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that very few films were shown by members and therefore levy income was extremely small. 

The  balance  in  the  Rural  Reels  account  as  at  1[st] August  2020  was £4082.79. 

## 2. Accounting year 2020-2021 

Financial Activity for the year ending 31[st] July 2021 was similarly limited. Levy payments of £162 were received together with a grant of £300. The only outgoing was the payment of Insurance for equipment of £119.42. 

The current balance in the Rural Reels account is therefore £4424.37. 

The annual Account will be reported to the Charity Commission in due course. 

## 3. Current Financial Year 

A decision was made at the meeting on 19[th] August 2021 that no levies would be charged on members for films shown up until 31[st] December 2021  to  allow  them  to  recover  following  the  long  period  without  any income and the uncertainty surrounding the return to showing films. 

There has been no financial activity on the account so far this financial year. 

11[th] October 2021 

Mark Lister 

Treasurer