2025-03-31-accounts

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AWEN@theLibrary A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees Annual Report

The Trustees present their report of the charity for the year ending 31[st] August 2024.

1 . Objectives and activities of the Charity

These are as follows:

‘To further or benefit those persons residing, studying, working or undertaking voluntary activity within Whitchurch and Tongwynlais (or its successor) an the surrounding areas, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said persons and the local authority, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education, the arts, culture and heritage and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for those persons.

In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power:

To provide support to Whitchurch library and to maintain, develop or manage or co-0perate with any statutory authority in the maintenance, development and management, of a cultural centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects’.

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing Awen@theLibrary’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

The objectives of the original business plan included:

• a. working for the continued public funding and management of the library

• b. raising funds for the library

• c. working for the greater community use of the library

• d. transforming the library into a cultural hub (by adding a new extension)

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The charity has promoted community events comprising conversations, reminiscing, lectures, musical evenings, exhibitions, board games, children’s arts and crafts groups. These have been open to the community, most of them without charge. Voluntary collections have been taken. In addition to their intrinsic value – advancing education, the arts and culture – they have raised funds for the above business plan objectives.

2. Achievements and Performance

This year, the charity has accomplished a great deal through a wide range of events, as outlined in the "Activities for the Public Benefit" section above. These events have been made possible by a dedicated group of members, many of whom bring impressive artistic talents—a real strength of Awen@thelibrary and one we’re excited to build on in the year ahead.

Our Facebook following has now grown to over 1,500 , and the programme of events we’ve delivered includes:

Regular Events

The Reminiscence Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 1:45pm . It’s a welcoming space where members come together to discuss pre-agreed topics and share memories of Whitchurch’s past.

If you’d like to know more, please speak to Chris or Nigel Lewis .

FAN (Friends and Neighbours) meets every Monday at 2pm for an hour of friendly conversation around a chosen topic. It's a great way to meet new people and share different perspectives. For more information, speak to Sarah or Judith.

101 Things About Whitchurch

Now that the 101 Things About Whitchurch series has been completed, Nigel and Terry have continued to lead historical walks around the village, highlighting many of the fascinating stories shared each week. These walks remain incredibly popular, and Nigel has now published a book featuring all of his contributions — a huge congratulations on this fantastic achievement!

Book Reviews

Every week, without fail, Caroline has shared a brilliant book review that we’ve posted on our Facebook page. These reviews have been really well received by both our members and the wider community — a big thank you to Caroline for her thoughtful recommendations!

Gardening Group

The Gardening Group has continued to thrive this year, going from strength to strength. Work has continued with our planters around the library area, bringing colour and life to the space. The group has also expanded its efforts by working closely with the Parks Team and Coed Caerdydd to plant trees and bulbs in the park — helping to make the area greener and more vibrant for everyone.

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Local History Group – Monthly Meetings at Llandaff North Hub

Local History Group now meets monthly at the Llandaff North Hub to explore the fascinating history of Gabalfa, Llandaff North, and Primrose Hill. Whether you have local stories to share, memories to reminisce, or simply an interest in the past, everyone is welcome to come along and take part in these friendly and informative sessions. Each month we delve into the rich history of our community and share our views and experiences with one another.

Through these events and many others, awareness of our work within the local community has grown significantly. We’re now focusing on encouraging more people to get involved with the charity, and see this as one of our key goals for the coming year.

We also continue to maintain strong links with local schools and community organisations, helping to strengthen our reach and impact.

The Trustees would like to thank everyone who has contributed to any of the activities that we have been involved with this year. The group of volunteers who look after the website and Facebook, created posters, translated material into Welsh, designed craft activities, baked cakes, tirelessly helped at numerous events have been wonderful, committed, reliable and endlessly willing. Thanks go to all the staff at the Library for their continued work with AWEN and the community.

3. Financial review

In addition to our membership subscriptions (currently £5 per person per annum) our regular source of income has been form voluntary donations from the public collected at our events. This will continue. For details of finances see Treasurers report 2022-23

4. Structure, Governance and Management

Awen@theLibrary is a charitable incorporated organisation(CIO) constituted on the association model. The organisation was formed following a public meeting which took place in 2015.

The CIO has a membership to which the board of no more than 12 trustees is accountable. The first Trustees are those who subscribed to the CIO constitution when charitable registration was sought plus four later co-options. All these trustees retired at the first annual general meeting and thereafter trustees retire in rotation as provided by the constitution. The Trustees meet every 6-8 weeks. The events sub group meets regularly and submits reports to each trustee meeting.

5. Reference and administrative details

Registered Charity Name –Awen@theLibrary – Arts, Whitchurch, Eglwys Wen Charity Registration Number – 1165980

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Principal contact address – [e-mail]

The Trustees who served the charity during the period were:

Marc Palmer (Chair) Judith Evans (Secretary) Gary Chung (Treasurer) Sarah Duncan Jones Iain Claridge Huw Rogers Christopher Griffin Christine Lewis Ceri Stennett Jeniffer Miles Rachel Hazlewood

Bank: Lloyds Bank, 514 Cowbridge Road East, Victoria park, Cardiff CF5 1BL

7. Exemptions from disclosure

None

Marc Palmer Chair of Trustees

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CHARITY COMMISSION ' Ii'iri-ty F4!;11)I FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Awen at The Llbrary Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a For the perlod from 11412024 311312025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to th• n•ar•st Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to th• n•ar•st £ to th• n•ar•st £ to th• n•ar•st £ to th• n•ar•st £ A1 Recei Membership Centre for Ageing Better Other fundraisig and donations 760 760 400 217 400 217 tota ross Income or AR) 977 400 1,377 sse an see table . nves en sa es, rotal receipts 977 400 1,377 A3Pa ents Insurance Expenses 318 1,600 318 1,600 Sub total 1,918 1,918 A4 Asset and Investment Sub total Total payments 1,918 1,918 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 942 400 542 6,613 6,071 6,613 6,071 400 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 11412025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to near•st £ Restricted funds to n•ar•st £ Endowment funds to n•gr•st £ Categories Details B1 Cash funds 4,671 400 Total cash funds 4,671 400 (agree balan￿S with receipts and payments account(s)) Unrestricted funds to n•ar•st £ Restrlcted funds to n•ar•st £ Endowment funds to n•arest £ Detsils Fund to whioh asset belon Cost (optlonAI) Curr•nt valu• tlonal Detsils B3 Investment assets Fund to whloh asset belon Current value tional Detsils Table and 24 Chairs Cost (optional) B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Projector, projector stand and screen 10 display boards and poles Display table x 4 Post box and rack Shelves PA and Mic Fund to whioh relates Amount du• tlonal Wh•n du• tlonal Detalls B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Date of roval Signature Print Name CCXX R2 accounts (SS)