**Minutes of FOAL AGM Thursday 23[rd] February 2023 Held in Adlington library at 7.15pm** 1. **Present** - Alison Evans (chair) , Andrea Bernard, Philip Pilling, Margaret Jackson, Gerry Fielding, Jeanette Lowe & Terry Diviney. 2. **The chair’s welcome** . Members were welcome by Alison Evans FOAL Chair. 3. **Apologies** were received from Carl Fazackerley, Erica Fazackerley, Peter Walkden, Caroline Hesketh, Donald Hesketh, Audrey Yates, Margaret Burgess, David Carpenter, Kathy Maidment & Penny Panting 4. **Minutes of 2022 AGM** - These have previously been sent out to members. Their acceptance was proposed by Philip Pilling & seconded by Andrea Bernard. Voted on and approved as a true record. ## 5. **FOAL Committee** 5.1 **Resignations** - Whilst none have been received, Penny Panting has advised she is no longer able to continue as minute secretary but will remain on the committee, it was agreed the minutes should be noted to thank Penny for her efforts in this role. ## 5.2 **Re-elections of existing members to committee** . All existing members to be re-elected – approved, proposed by Jeanette Lowe, seconded by Philip Pilling. ## 5.3 **Election of new committee members** – none have been received. 5.4 **Election of officers to continue in their present role** , Caroline Hesketh in her role as secretary will receive some additional support from Gerry Fielding . Proposed by Andrea Bernard, seconded by Margaret Jackson – approved 5.5 **Vice Chair** - it was requested that the minute should also be noted that Margaret Burgess be appointed as vice chair - proposed by Philip Pilling, seconded by Margaret Jackson – approved **7 Treasurer’s report** 7.1 The accounts were presented by Philip Pilling and were made available to people attending. This has been the first year of full activity since the pandemic, finances are in a healthy position. Philip was thanked for his report by the chair. The accounts are attached to the end of the minutes - **7.2 Acceptance of the accounts** , proposed by Gerry Fielding, seconded by Terry Diviney. They were unanimously accepted. 7.3 **Acceptance of Donald Hesketh** as auditor for 2023, proposed by Philip Pilling, seconded by Gerry Fielding - unanimously accepted. **6 Report by Chair Alison Evans Welcome to the Friends of Adlington Library AGM 2023.** Thank you to all our volunteers and members for their time, energy and valued contributions to our first full year of activities following the closures and restrictions of the pandemic. **Events and Activities:** **Meetings** – FoAL members met regularly throughout the year to plan social activities that support mental and physical health and wellbeing and organise fundraising. **Saturday Coffee Mornings** – Our regular Saturday mornings with themed craft/activity focus continue to engage all ages. Many thanks to Audrey and our team of volunteers for continuing to organise and run this popular social event. Lego has now been added as a regular activity on the last Saturday of every month due to its popularity. **Learning and classes:** See reports from individual groups: French group – Monday evenings; Family History – 1st Tuesday of the month; Sign Language - 4th Wednesday of the month; Reading groups – Friday every 4 to 6 weeks **Play and Stay** – details are in a separate report. The group continues to be popular with young families. Many thanks to Andrea and the team. **Films For All** – regular movies aimed to appeal to all interests and ages. A local community grant from LCC was used to fund some of our film showings over the winter as part of the warm spaces initiative. **Community Fitness TIF** – detailed in separate report. Baby yoga, chair yoga and walking group promoting health and wellbeing. **Crafts** – throughout the year craft activities have offered a creative way to commemorate, celebrate and express: Jubilee celebrations included making London Landmarks and Crown Jewels; summer crafts included Butterflies, Bug Shelters, Painted Rock and cone; Christmas crafts included button trees and cards. **Special Events:** **VE Day Remembered, 7th May** – a wonderful event with so much positive feedback received from attendees – singer, pasties, ukuleles and tombola to support Ukraine refugee appeal. **Fashion Show** – successful fundraiser and social event in conjunction with St Catherine’s Hospice – well attended, promoting sustainability and supporting a local charity. **Lancashire Day** – Co-op funding paid for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon talk and reading by local actor Dean Fraser following a busy coffee morning. **Jubilee** – FoAL’s contributed to the community celebrations marking the Queen’s Jubilee with craft activities and an indoor street party on Sunday 5th June which included tea, cakes an sandwiches and film of the Coronation on the big screen. **Murder Mystery, October** – Lots of fun had solving another murder at the library – great social and fundraising event. **Fun Palace, October** – FoAL supported the library in offering activities during the day, including dream catcher making, bracelet making, crazy Boccia and French quiz with food tasting. **St Catherine’s talk, May** – talk about the work of St Catherine’s. **Chris Martin, December** – local author ran a workshop on mystery plays and had an interactive session bringing characters to life – with hats and wigs, of course! ## **Steering Group:** Christmas tree bracket was used again this year and, thanks to support from Adlington Town Council, we had a lit up Christmas tree attached to the side of the library. Cllr Alan Cullens attended the coffee morning on 14th May to discuss LCC’s work with Friends groups and the needs of our library. FoAL and Adlington in Bloom have worked hard to maintain and improve front garden of the library. Following permission from LCC, members painted the benches and railings to give a much-needed makeover. The building has been cleaned. Plans are in place to add new planters to the rear and side of the building and to repair or replace fences around the children’s garden. Defibrillator has been replaced and can be used at FoAL events. **What’s next?** Over the next year plans include Coronation events, Fashion Show, regular films for all, and a continued programme of activities that reflect and respond to the community we serve. Alison Evans Chair of Friends of Adlington Library ## **8. Reports from FoAL Groups.** Stay and Play Report by Andrea Barnard Our numbers vary – we may have two one week or eight another, but Mums tell us how much they appreciate having the stay and play session. It gives them access to adult conversation and a chance to net work with other mums, their children socializing in a safe environment. We watch as children learn new skills, and mum’s grandparents and carers reassure each other about problems with teething, diet ,at what age milestones will be reached etc. Towards the end of the session those who are able sit round the table and enjoy toast and bananas. We move on to our finishing singsong, with requests for favourite songs. We finish with a personal bye bye to each of them. ## Family History report by Gerry Fielding The family history group meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 7pm to 9pm in the library. We have now been meeting since September 2019 and there is still an average of 10-12 people attending each month with some new members joining since last year. In the sessions we tend to concentrate on working through ‘break walls’ that individuals have come across throughout the month, and try to suggest different sources they can try, which may help them resolve their mysteries. We have also been astounded to learn that all members of the group can trace at least one ancestor back to Adlington! It seems that all roads really do lead here! A few members of the group have now taken DNA tests and we have been learning what information this can open up to us. It’s amazing how many relatives you can find without ever knowing they existed. The group is open to everyone and there is no need to attend every session as they are very informal. You don’t need to have any experience as there’s always someone who can help you get started and guide you along your family history journey. Everyone is welcome to come along and join us. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 7[th] March 2023 at 7pm. ## Report for Films for All by Margaret Burgess A variety of films for both adults and children were shown throughout the year. There was a special screening of the film “ A Queen is Crowned “ to celebrate the late Queen’s jubilee. Audience numbers were very varied and it is not always easy to judge the best day or time to show films. It might be worth considering if we should produce a list of future films perhaps quarterly which we could circulate. The main cost of showing films is the licence fee - A grant from Chorley BC of £500, donations , sale of refreshments and the occasional ticket sale has helped cover costs. Thank you to everyone who helps with setting up the room and equipment, serving refreshments and tidying afterwards. _FoAL Reading Group - Wot the Dickens - report:_ _The group continues to meet on Friday nights, once every four to six weeks. Currently, there are ten members. Numbers are steady with around five to eight members in attendance each session._ _We have read a range of fiction over the last year, some based on factual events, some fantasy and magical realism and all offering a widening of members' existing reading choices._ _The group's discussions are wide ranging and move from characters and events in the text to conversations on connected themes, ideas and topics. There is always a lot of laughter._ _Anyone is welcome to join and members do not have to have read the book to come along to the meeting._ French class Report by Margaret Jackson The French class has now been meeting for four years. It continues to thrive with 5 regular attendees meeting in the Library from 6.45 till 9pm on Monday evenings. We always start with general conversation and progress to other activities, some using a textbook. We practice the four skills needed to learn a language - listening, speaking, reading and writing. We have also covered all the main tenses and practice them regularly. A few months ago we had a new member join us who is self -taught and he has done remarkably well and fitted into the group. I have had an occasional request for beginners' lessons but feel it would not be appropriate to try to integrate complete beginners into the group. Library Review for FOAL AGM 2412123 Firsuy, thank you one and all for your support again over the last 12 months, it is very much appreciated. As this is really just a precis of the last 12 months it will mainly be artivitie5 run and the attendance figures. Starting with Together Fund activities Iforfflally known a5 TIFI-. Monday Morning Movement-janine Noblett has deliVe￿d weekly sessions with attendances totalling 381 ftsr the period 113122-1212123. This has been paid for alternate months through the funding we received in 2022, Chorlev Buddie5 have pasd for the other months. Baby Yoga-carol Unsworth has delivered weekly sessions with an attendance total of 124 for the period 113122 to 1012123. The number5 here are re5twicted due to the size of the room. There is also a B￿ater changeover of attendees as the babies start to walk or parentslcarers return to work. Health Walk- We don't have accurate figures for this but seem to be averaglng 8-10 walkers these days. The only outlay here is forthe refreshrnents on the return to the Library. The fundin8 we received is now almost exhausted. as at 1412123 we have £138.20 remaining, which should cover the Baby Yoga to the middle of March. It is Chorley BuddiÈs' turn to paythe seated exercise bill for February. A bid for further funds to tske us from I" March to the end of September is to be Submitted. c105ing date 2812123 $0 there will be arn interim period where we are waiting to find out if that has been successfvl and the funds being issued. We have discussed thi5 before at P￿vIouS Committee meetings as to whether FoALwould consider either covering thi5 interim period or, If the bid is unsuccessful, paying some Of all of the amount going forward. I will also approach Chorley Buddies with regards to the Exercise in Chairs. I know they ale really pleased with how the numbers have risen here and may well be happy to take over the fvll payment of Monday. They already fund the Tuesday class in full. This may be somethlnito conslder In the Commlttee Meetingfollowing the AGM in connection with the Sports & Culture Grant mentioned at 4.2 on the agenda. I have emailed Chorley Buddie5 on 16 February. but on leave slnce $0 not aware of thelr response In tlme for the meeting. Digltal Cours We held 2 three week computer sessions with a company called UDevelop. who work in conjur7Ction with Chorley Borough Council. Over these 2 courses we helped 10 people improve their online skills or with a technical issue they had. We are hoping to work with UDèvelop further in the next business year. elther with more of these courses or other services they offer. I have put our name in the hat for a session around food povertylfuel poverty and debt management and they have also mentioned scam awareness sessSons- something we could also invite Fern Jones IPCSOI along to to give us the Police advise in this are too. Junior Sessions Icrafts etcl Easter-we had 52 children attend over 2 sessions Jubilee 80 children Summer SCART Club a total of 196 attendan￿$ over the 5 sessions, 91 sign ups. 29 completions131.9%1 Christmas- 42 children Feb Half Term- 29 children Winter SCART sign ups 31. completions 11134.4%) as at 1612123 We have also had I cla55 from each of our 4 Primary schools attend sessions with Dan Worsley, kindly paid for from FOAL funds. This is the feedback from Miss Der¥tsh. Year 3 teacher at Anderton: The children thoroughly enloyed the vlslt to the Ilbrary wlth storyteller, Dan Worlsey. They leftextremely excited to read his storles. It Was 8reat to watch thelrfaces118ht up and the smlles to appear whllst Ilstenlng to him. He Is fantssttc storytelkr. The chlldren were enBaged thyoughout and we would love to invits him to school forthe rest of the Children to experfen¢e hls expert storytelllng skilt& Looking at how all this ties in with our Business Plan- SCART-Tar8et wa$ 75 sign ups and 31￿ completion Di8ltal-Tar8et was 24 Record of Achievement form5 (where either staff, volunteers OT digital partners have helped customers in at least 4 identifiable areasl. Thanks to the UDevelop course we have completed 261108%) Collaborative events- Our Target was I per quarter. QI- London Landmarks with yourselves and the restart of Reading Friends with the help of LSc￿ Community Efigagement. Q2-Slgn Language classes for both children and adults- Loulse Donlan and exhibitions by both Bill Nolan and St Paul's Guide5 Q3- Fun Palace with various groups, businesses and individuals175 adults & 53 children) Author visits ljen Camey & Dan Worsleyl, Clo8 Dancin8 Q4- Further Dan Wor51ey vi51t5. Fiona's flower5. Lego Club We have also got tsrgets around dementia friendly activities and the boccia falls into this. We promoted Playlist for fe during Oementia Action Week and at Fun Pala￿. Movlng forward on this subject, we would like to offer Dementia Frtends trainin8, possibly a play Isubjert to cost and ava*labilityl and, as pat of the new Together Fund bld, Raise the Roof with Genesis Day Care la singkng and dancing session for people wÈth dementia and parkinsonsl I have also been to Marley Court this week and have signed up 9 new Home Library Service cu5tomers-our target was to increase our numbers by 21 The Home Library is available to anyone who would like books but is no longer able to get to us. There are 2 options. collection SerV￿Ce where we pack a bag up and a relativelneighbourlcarer collects for the borrower or a delivery Se￿iCe where the ba8 is dropped off and the old one collected by ourvolunteer Maureen. Lancashire Adult Learning We had a tsrget of one course per quarter lor4 peryearl. So frdr we have had 2 tutors at the Fun Palace and the Taste of Germany at Christmas course so 3 to date. We did have a dementia course booked in May but it was cancelled due to insuffTrcient numbers. I do have a list of possible classes we could try for but don'tthink we would get anythine this business year now. STEM We have been asked to get closer to STEM and things like the Lego Club and the crocuses would count towards this. STEM is Science TeChnol￿Y Engineering and Maths but we don't need to suddenly become Physics Professors or Coding Experts ovemightl We will be starting to work on the 2023124 business plan soon and I will let you have a copy 50 that we can ensure that the work you do is supportive of our core areas and helps with the tèrgets we aim to achiève. **9 Future events** – Another full year of activities & events, which will be promoted on social media & posters. ## **10 AOB** – none **11 Date of AGM 2024** – exact date to be confirmed but will be in February 2024 FRIENDS OF ADUN6foN UBRARY.HNANaALsfATEMEtir FOR year endlng 3y1212022 INCOME EXPENDttURE DONATIONS Public Insurance 179 310 83 EVEiif EXPENSES Films for All screenings ITF Chair based movement 1062 8Z EVENT FUNDRAISING Coffee Mornings Murder Mystery Fashion Show VE Day Remembered Films for All Others 1812 62 Baby Yoga Sign language course Perfonners Others 540 573 161 19 261 li 170 07 50 54 PURCHASES Bluetooth Speaker TIF Boccia Set Sun blinds Craft Equipment Printer ststionary/Printing/Card Refreshments & Event Licences Donations 120 SALES io 588 1796 40 61 242 io 53 GRANTS Jack Simmons trust LCC shared reading 1102 300 71 TSF grant. Chorley B Council Saving Account Interest 2021 Savlng Account Interest 2022 Saving Account Interest 2021 Easyfundrasin8 1470 Craft,Jubilee. Decoration5 Benches and Fencing Jigsaws.games. and Cornmemorative items Others 441 201 79 29 221 52 86 52 52 131 82 81 50 16 TOTAL INCOME 11817 15492 15625 TOTAL EXPENDMJRE 7892 18916 16126 27 Closin¥ Balan￿ In T58 31n2m savingsAc￿UTrts- c105tTrg balance Iz 73 C105ing Balan￿ inTS8 31112122 Closlng Balante. United Th4t Bank 50 45 Petty Cash-d05ing balanEe ToTALOPENINfj BALANCE 24 31141 Petty ca5hlca5h in hand balan 24 35066 95 Income over Expenditure 3925 35066 io 95 35066 95 Treasufes_. AudltOT_