Rusthall Community Cinema
Trustees' Annual Report to 31[st] May 2024
Charity registration No. 1171282
Principal office: 21 Manor Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8UD
Trustees:
Anne Goldstein, Alain Lewis, Eugene Gardner, Karen Gardner, Kevin Mullery, Peter Kemp, Rachel Bain, Rosemary Romano
Governing Document: Constitution dated 22[nd] January 2017
Organisational Structure: Charitable Incorporated Organization
Purpose and Activities
Our purpose is to promote principally cinematic facilities for the occupants of Rusthall and immediate surrounds in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life.
Audiences are invited to suggest films they would like to see then vote to select those that get screened. A short entertainment (perhaps of educational or cultural significance) is provided before the main feature, then a discussion group is initiated for all to exchange views and learn about the films. Free transport is available for the infirm and we charge the bare minimum to enable as many as possible to share the experience.
The Trustees believe that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission as required by section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.
Financial Review
The position of the charity is as described in the attached Income and Expenditure Account. No specific reserve policy is in place although the Trustees intend to maintain a reasonable sum to cushion against poorly attended events and provide for purchase and maintenance of equipment.
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Comment on the Year
From an average attendance of 30 in the 2020 – 2021 year when Covid was at its height, we have steadily increased to 44, 54, and in the year currently under review, 62 (including both Saturday films and Sunday events). The number of screenings has similarly increased from 9 to 26, 32, and last year, 36.
Sunday afternoon screening of National Theatre Live events continued and with increased attendance over the previous year. Where no current NT event was available, we staged one each of an opera, ballet, and classical concert; although audiences averaged just 41 compared with 65 for the recent NT Live shows, the Trustees felt the experiment worth continuing.
In the Summer our volunteers were offered free tickets to attend the NT filming of This England in London, and the overwhelming view was that despite being an enjoyable evening, the show was not significantly more so than the time, a few months later, when we showed the film of the event in Rusthall. Some later visited London again to see Nye.
Our policy of offering all seats free and inviting donations to cover our costs continued and has proved to be broadly revenue neutral. Consequentially our membership scheme is being retired, there being no financial benefit in paying up to a year in advance.
After wide consultation with audiences, we began including subtitles on all films as an aid not just for those with poor hearing, but to enhance films with poorly recorded dialogue or difficult dialects. This turned out to be better received than expected and we plan to retain it as a permanent feature.
Our appeal to raise funds for a replacement projector continued. Three grants totalling £9,000 through the Kent Community Foundation, Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, and ColyerFergusson Charitable Trust were gratefully received. We also appreciate those who add Gift Aid to their donations yielding an additional £2,550 in the year.
Some of our funds were used to buy a freezer to house a larger selection of ice creams than was previously possible, and an illuminated display refrigerator to allow a greater selection of chilled drinks.
Despite the loss of use of our overflow car park, and vandals’ destruction of two of our poster display poles, the Trustees are happy to report a thriving and happy community attending our shows.
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RUSTHALL COMMUNITY CINEMA INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024 2023 Bank Balances l June 2023 INCOME Subscriptions Gift Aid Ticket sales Catering Grants, lotto & donations Raffle Interest received 13,090.55 8,437.28 748.37 2,550.04 1,779.82 1,477.37 20,860.63 1,340.04 236.35 28,992.62 996.50 437.70 7,787.36 2,291.24 1,464.38 1,327.06 14,304.24 EXPENDITURE Licences Hall hire Media Film Fest Equipment Advertising Administration 5,170.64 2,292.00 422,20 2,955.60 1,488.00 258.02 257.87 2,883.59 847.78 920.11 9,610.97 156.97 1,212.77 1,577.16 10,831.74 EXCESS INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE 18,160.88 4,693.27 31,251.43 13,130.55 REPRESENTED BY: Current account Deposit account Paypal Cash 15,997.33 15,236.35 17.75 13,092.93 12.38} 40.00 13,130.55 31,251.43 I confirm that the above accounts give a true and fair view of the organisation's financial position for the period 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2024 Mrs Catherine Metcal 21st July 2024 (Accountant)
RUSTHALL COMMUNITY CINEMA INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MAY 2024 2023 Bank Balances l June 2023 INCOME Subscriptions Gift Aid Ticket sales Catering Grants, lotto & donations Raffle Interest received 13,090.55 8,437.28 748.37 2,550.04 1,779.82 1,477.37 20,860.63 1,340.04 236.35 28,992.62 996.50 437.70 7,787.36 2,291.24 1,464.38 1,327.06 14,304.24 EXPENDITURE Licences Hall hire Media Film Fest Equipment Advertising Administration 5,170.64 2,292.00 422,20 2,955.60 1,488.00 258.02 257.87 2,883.59 847.78 920.11 9,610.97 156.97 1,212.77 1,577.16 10,831.74 EXCESS INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE 18,160.88 4,693.27 31,251.43 13,130.55 REPRESENTED BY: Current account Deposit account Paypal Cash 15,997.33 15,236.35 17.75 13,092.93 12.38} 40.00 13,130.55 31,251.43 I confirm that the above accounts give a true and fair view of the organisation's financial position for the period 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2024 Mrs Catherine Metcal 21st July 2024 (Accountant)