Chair Report AGM 2023
Our 40[th] Anniversary events and Afternoon of Entertainment were the highlight of another successful year. Led by Amanda Brown and Heather Quiney who organised and inspired some amazing activity and entertainment. Heather writes more about this below. Our Christmas Party with an enlarged Rock Choir and buffet was wonderful and even had a few members dancing in the aisles literally – great to see! In May we held our Quiz which was attended by about 80 people and afterwards there have been requests that we should have another if possible, later this year. It is always encouraging when members come up and say or email how much they have enjoyed these events because it takes much energy to put such things together.
The real strength of Du3a is of course in the Groups; we have 39 at present ranging from art to Zumba, a testament to the hard-working group leaders without whom we would cease to function. We know they enjoy the activity themselves but my profound thanks to them all as well as my committee colleagues. A good job well done.
40[th] Anniversary Celebrations ( Heather Quiney Publicity and Newsletter)
Back in September 2022, u3a was 4 0 years old and Dunmow u3a celebrated with a variety of events. We started with an 5-day Exhibition in Dunmow Library of paintings and drawings from our two Art groups. Then many of our interest groups marked the anniversary by tailoring one of their meetings in September to tie in with the u3a colours, the number 40 or hark back to the 1980s, eg the Cycling group planned a ride of over 40km and the Walking group attracted 40 walkers for a choice of 3 Anniversary Walks.
The month was concluded with an Afternoon of Entertainment, attended by almost 200 members, wearing blue, yellow and white. We also welcomed Dunmow's Town Crier, the Mayor of Dunmow and the Regional Trustee for the East of England u3a. Anita Davey arranged an amazing sketch around the life in our u3a with walk on parts for the cyclists, line dancers, walkers and even the committee. The 3-hour programme of entertainment included demonstrations from our Line Dancing and Zumba Gold groups, with talks and presentations from several of our other interest groups. There were also static displays around the theme of the number 40 and the Science group displayed
technology from the early 1980s, complete with Sinclair C5! A couple of our members baked a wonderful celebration cake to toast the occasion.
We used all these activities to promote Dunmow u3a with articles, not only in the local newspaper and neighbouring parish magazines, but also regional and national u3a publications. And to round it all off, we produced a picture booklet to commemorate all that we did to celebration the milestone.
Groups Coordinator’s report (Rosemary Jensen Groups Coordinator) There have been a few changes this year:
Heather Quiney has replaced Adrian Hoodless as leader of Family History, David Cole has stepped in to lead Geology from Linda Powell on a temporary basis, Julie Coates has replaced Peter Hodge for Mah Jong
Jean Hull is the leader of the new Line Dancing 2 group that started at Easter. The Meet and Greet Lunch Group led by Jackie Carr has closed as has Gentle Exercise. Anita Davey has ran this for several years and special thanks to her for keeping this running through difficult circumstances.
Many thanks to all Group leaders for their persistence and continued support.
Dunmow Events (Hilary Jinno Events Manager)
24[th] June 22 – Quiz in Day Centre A successful evening for all who attended; 9 teams in all and tried the no meal approach for the first time which seemed to work fine leaving people to bring their own food and drink allowing us to reduce the ticket price to cover the hall hire and prizes only. We followed this model in the next quiz.
September 17[th] – Dunmow carnival – we had a stall on the site with
information about Dunmow u3a and the human fruit machine game. Thanks to Mike and Maureen, Shirley and others who gave their time.
December 7[th] Christmas Party with the Rock Choir in St Mary’s church.
We had a good turnout of members who enjoyed the music provided by the Rock Choir followed by refreshments and conversation. Everybody seemed to have a really good time and we are planning to repeat it this year if possible. Many thanks to the many committee and members who gave their time to set up and run the event, including the refreshment team led by Mary Jensen and too many others to list here, but you know who you are!
Quiz night 12 May 2023 This was very popular and I had to turn teams away as we had a limit of 10 tables/80 people for the venue. On the night we had 71 quizzers (a few expected did not turn up) plus 5 organisers. Winners were a team entered by Julie Coates. It seemed as if members enjoyed the night and I’ve had positive feedback. We should consider booking a larger hall next time
to increase the number of tables and avoid turning people away (with the challenges that may provide) New Members welcome meeting 17[th] May 2023
We had 15 new members for tea and cake in the Dourdan Pavilion and nine committee members who made them very welcome and provided them with information about our u3a. Despite the challenges caused by lack of an urn, Anna and Maureen coped admirably with the provision of hot drinks for everybody. Good feedback from all who attended and said it was very useful.
Outings Report (Pat Jones Outings Coordinator)
First of all, a big thank you to all those u3a members who buy our tickets and support the outings.
The past year has been a busy year for the Dunmow u3a outings team. We started the year with an interesting trip to the Brooklands Motor Museum and followed it up with a wonderful sunny day at Broadstairs. This was particularly popular resulting in several upgrades of coach size to accommodate demand. The autumn saw us visiting Sutton Hoo and Cambridge to see the farce “Noises Off”. We visited Thursford for their “Christmas Spectacular” and then Canterbury for their Christmas Market.
At the request of the Geology and Science groups we visited the British Museum and the De Havilland Museum.
We made two other visits to the theatre at Milton Keynes to see both the Sleeping Beauty and the Mousetrap.
In total we will have done 10 outings from June 2022 up to May 2023. This involved the sale of over 300 places to members.
My thanks to the Geology and Science groups for allowing us to widen access to their outing, to the wider membership.
My thanks also to the outings team who have worked hard to make our outings programme such a success. Our thanks also to Don’s Coaches and our “regular” driver Dave for getting us “there and back again”.
Membership Report (Terry Parker membership secretary)
For the year 2022/23 we had a total of 577 members, the highest membership number since Dunmow u3a was founded. The total included 85 new members which compares with 89 new members in the previous year.
The membership fee remained at £13 for 2022/23. We aim to keep this as low as possible but we have a range of fixed costs such as the subscription we pay to the Third Age Trust and the cost of the Beacon system which is used to record member data, Group information and all of the financial data.
Additionally, we have the cost of the monthly meetings at which we continue to offer free refreshments.
Early indications from renewals for 2023/24 are encouraging and at the time of writing this report (mid-May 2023) we have 530 members. We continue to attract new members.
As in previous years we encourage members to pay their subscription using the bank transfer process though we appreciate that some members do not have this facility or are wary of using this process so we continue to accept cheques and cash.
With our high membership numbers, it is clear that members of Dunmow U3A are very pleased to be associated with an active and caring community that offers the chance to make new friends, socialise at our various events and participate in our Groups.
New Committee Members
Welfare Coordinator Maureen Best nominated Other Committee Member TBD
Mike Best
Chair
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR £NGLAND AND WALES DUNMOW U3A Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from To 01- r-22 31-Mar-23 Section A Receipts and payments Charitable Fund$ AIC No Charltable Funds AIC No Endowment fund8 Total funds Last yoar to th• ng•rnst tothè nearest £ tothè nearest £ totho ntarestE totho no8$t £ A1 Rècèipts MembErship Subscnpbons GIN Aid Granis and Donts5 Group AJivilies Ticket Sales Relreshmenis 7.839 1.079 1.1T4 202 16,056 1,174 202 16,056 14,728 11,328 14,681 14.726 341 199 Mis¢d18neoJs Trans2Ctions 32 32 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 25.418 14,996 40,414 35,667 A2 Asset and Investment sales, Isee tsblel. Sub total Total receipts 25,418 14.996 40,414 35.667 A3 Payments U3A N81ion31 Fees GroupAcbviues Ticket Purchases and Ti8nswrt Refresnments Hall Hire Speakers CommunI¢81ions PubliTrty Stationary Welfaie Miscellaneaus Tran5aoons 4,333 15.543 4,333 tS,S43 12,206 1,239 1,022 814 254 t2S 357 3.279 10,104 13,008 12,206 699 340 1,022 814 254 125 357 1,208 731 622 499 23,287 622 30.104 Sub total 13.105 36,392 A4 Assèt ond InSnent purchases, see table 715 715 Sub total Total payments 23,287 13,105 36,392 30,819 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year 8nd Cash funds this year end 2.131 1,891 4.022 26,521 28,652 6,893 8,784 33,414 37.436 28,566 33.414 CCXX R1 aoxunts ISSI 3010412023
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to n•arfrst £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowiwieiit funds Cat•gories Detabls to nearest £ 81 Cash funds CharitsNe Funtt No I 28.653 Ch8niaUe Fur¥J No 2 8.784 Total cash funds 37,437 iagrnè boiarKe8withre¢thW paymen15 actOuMI$II Unrestrtcted funds 10 ne8re$t E Restricted funds Endowment funds Details to near0$1 B2 Other monetary assets Funtt fo whl¢h 888et btrlon Details Cost loptionall Currènt valu• tionol B3 Investment asset8 Fund to which a8set bolon Details Cost loptlonall Current value 84 Assets retained for the charlty's own usg Equiptnent cn8fiiabie No 1 503 Fund to which relates Amount dutr on81 Whon dL* Details B5 Liabilities Group Actiw15 Charrtablt No 1 ¢0. 4.500 Aprll-July u38 Nahongl Fees Chantable No 1 8. 4.000 Oubngs Chantable No 2 ca. 3,000 Signed by onè or Iwo Irust86s on behalf of all the truste8S Signature Print Name Date of roval -f < CCKX R2 a¢¢ount$ ISSI 3010412023
Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of DUNMOW U3A On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 Charity no (if any) 1168310 Set out on pages 1 and2 Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities A¢1 2011 Ilhe Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilily to.. examine the accounts under seclion 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 14515llbl of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner's statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a cornparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees Conrning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and onsequently no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and Ihe report is limiled to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent In connection with my examination. no matter has come lo my attention examiner's statement which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in ac¢ordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been Met., or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. IER
Signed.. Date: Name: Peter Hodge Relevant professional qualification{s) or body {if any): Retired Bank Manager Address: Sectlon B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. No matters have come to my attention during my Independent Examination of the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023 that require disclosure to the Charity Commission. Give here brief details of arty items that the examiner wlshes to disclose. IER