Milnsbridge Village Hall Trustees Annual Report for year ending 31/12/2023
The year 2023 was an extremely busy one for MVH. The high level of activity was the greatest it has ever been. This was only made possible by the great efforts of a large number of volunteers, active in numerous roles and at many different degrees of involvement.
Two new trustees were appointed and three resigned as trustees. The three who resigned continue to show as high a level of commitment to the work of the village hall as previously, but no longer as trustees.
The Foundation Constitution of Milnsbridge Village Hall as registered with the Charity Commission on 16/03/2017 (Reg.no. 1172735) has as one of its objects (dating back to 1977) to establish or to secure the establishment of a community centre.
In July 2022 the chairman of trustees signed a new 125 year lease for the building under an Asset Transfer scheme. Kirklees Council are the landlords. MVH ,through its trustees, carries full financial responsibility for its upkeep and repairs, Kirklees Council having none.
It is fair to say that the building was not in good condition when it was transferred, although the council did replace the gable end wall at the end of the main hall prior to handover.
During 2023, phase two of the repair and reinforcement of the external walls, including the introduction of insulation and modern cladding, was completed. This work, costing approximately £10,000, was paid for from our own resources. A new boiler was installed at the same time, thanks to a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of this from the By and Buy charity shop in Golcar.
Planning for the next phase of improvement works to the porch including new doors, creation of an internal lobby, new opening into the Lewis Room, fire doors, new upgraded fire alarm system and most importantly the creation of a ramp inside the hall in place of the existing steps in the entrance, thus enabling better access for the physically less able, was begun.
An architect was engaged and the process of obtaining landlord's permission was begun. Grants, each of £5,000 towards the costs, were secured from Huddersfield Common Good Trust and the Ward Councillors' local budget. The total cost was expected to exceed the amount from grants.
MVH affairs are financially sound. The income from regular hirings, 'one off' hirings and party bookings together with committee fund raising events etc. more than
adequately cover the running costs of the hall.
It can be clearly seen from this that a community centre (MVH) has been established, is being improved and its future made secure.
Thanks are due to the treasurer, who keeps a watchful eye on the hall finances, and does a sterling job in dealing with the large number of transactions involved in the running of the village hall.
Jan Brooke, who has worked hard, thank you, running the booking system for the hall for the period of one year, stood down from this in June to follow other interests. This function has been undertaken since June 2023 by the chairman and treasurer, using the system that Jan put in place.
Chantelle, who had been our cleaning contractor for approximately 3 years, gave up the contract due to a house move. A new contractor, Sue Barber, has been engaged (from mid 2023) and has proved also to be very good.
Our regular hirers can be identified from the income column in the Balance Summary 2023. All have proved to be ideal hirers, self servicing for entering and leaving the hall, and always ensuring it is in a ready condition for the next user. All are also prompt payers.
Unfortunately Stay and Play ceased operating right at the beginning of the year due to staffing difficulties.
The provision of the building is just that – a building.
The community, the people and what can be provided within and around the building for them and with them, are the crucial elements of what we are about.
Equally important, along with the building itself, is the grounds and area surrounding the hall. The grassed areas have been wonderfully maintained in 2023 by volunteer Chris May, thank you. The garden and planters have been worked on to great effect by enthusiastic volunteers Robert Iredale and Madeline Andersen Warren. The community Garden has proved a great asset and MVH jam has been produced for sale for the hall by Pauline Burhouse using fruit from the garden.
In early 2023 the planting of the community orchard and work around the fruit trees was carried out by an enthusiastic group of volunteers ably lead by Simon and Maggie Bullet. The orchard is an ongoing commitment and the work by Simon, Maggie and the other volunteers is much appreciated.
Our sound financial position is greatly helped by a number of 'one off' bookings including children's' and family parties, along with a diverse range of uses such as
Strata Brass waiting and rehearsal room, Youth Theatre rehearsals, a creative and well being event, Menhdi party, Dog Training in scent detection, Huddersfield University Away Day and many others. Thanks are due to the volunteers who facilitated the 'one off' bookings.
The paper back book library is well used and is wonderfully maintained by Madeline.
Two food banks are supported by food collections – the Golcar Drop By food bank and the food share at Cowlersley Court Community Centre. Thanks are due to Madeline for her careful organisation of this.
We operated a Warm Room during the winter months on Wednesday and Friday mornings, later reverting to all day Friday. The offer was not taken up to any great extent despite a relaunch. It operated until the end of March.
The usual Christmas Day Dinner for individuals or couples who would otherwise be on their own was cooked by volunteer chefs Matthew and Andy and served by volunteers. Free transport was provided by the regular group of Ahmadi Muslim taxi drivers. Bingo and singing followed the meal and all the attendees had a present to take home.
A free event with food games and bouncy castle, supported by a £350 grant from the Councillors' Ward Budget, was held to celebrate the King's Coronation. The event was well attended and enjoyed by the attendees. Surplus food was distributed via the Cowlersley Food Share system.
The Craft and Friendship group continued to be a great success in 2023 with regular average attendances of approximately 24 per session. In the summer a minibus full of members (about16)went to Filey for the day. Andy was our volunteer driver.
The hall was made available for and volunteers worked hard to raise money for the Earthquake Relief in Turkey and Syria.
An event was held to thank MVH volunteers funded by a grant of £100 from Third Sector Leaders.
A Blues Band concert and a Jazz Duo concert were held. Neither was particularly well attended, but were greatly enjoyed by those who did. The musicians expressed a wish to return again.
Remembrance Day was marked by a wreath laying and observation of the silence.
Coffee mornings were held on the fourth Saturday of each month, again not particularly well attended, but they each did show a profit for hall funds. The usual
seasonal fairs were also held.
A tombola and second hand book stall was run at the Golcar Lily Day event. This raised the profile of MVH and £300 + for the funds. Again thank you to the volunteers who manned the stall.
A very successful Quiz Night was organised by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable committee. Interval entertainment was provided by a local Ukelele band, refreshment of pie and peas were also greatly enjoyed.
It is only when writing this report that I am reminded of the huge amount of use that our little village hall gets and how much benefit it brings to people in terms of health, well being, companionship and positive mental health.
The other object stated in our constitution, again from 1977, relates to promoting for the inhabitants of Milnsbridge and neighbourhood, working with the local authority, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
I believe that we are achieving and exceeding the objects of our constitution.
This is only made possible by a fantastic group of individuals – our volunteers.
PRB June2024
Milnsbridge Village Hall (MVH) Trustees
Patrick Robin Beaumont Jill Batley Pauline Burhouse Janet Anne Beaumont Robert Christopher Iredale
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Milnsbridge Village Hall Balance Summary 2023
Outgoings
| Income | Outgoings | ||
| Grants & sponsorship | £12,382.00 | Gas | £569.96 |
| Cash in | £3,618.74 | Electricity | £942.71 |
| Bookings | £2,898.00 | Broadband | £547.86 |
| Seated Zumba | £506.25 | Water | £1,287.50 |
| Tai Chi | £344.00 | Insurance and PPLPRS | £1,689.87 |
| Yoga | £1,053.00 | Cleaning | £2,500.00 |
| Slimming World | £1,960.00 | Energy Innovation | £360.00 |
| Dogs | £935.00 | Maintenance | £3,595.75 |
| Wildlings | £2,184.00 | Building work | £11,243.29 |
| Pennine Academy of Dance | £2,727.00 | Sundries | £4,487.34 |
| Boogie Bounce | £300.00 | ||
| Hoofers | £1,455.00 | ||
| Stay and Play | £40.00 | ||
| New age Kurling | £990.75 | ||
| Bank Interest | £210.86 | ||
| TOTAL | £31,604.60 | TOTAL | £27,224.28 |
| Bank Balance Dec2022 | £10,884.61 | ||
| Bank Balance Dec 2023 | £10,041.57 | ||
| Deposit Acc Dec2022 | £25,126.96 | ||
| Deposit Acc Dec 2023 | £30,337.82 |
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The small grants were for the new boiler, and were also for a party for the Coronation, the volunteers party and Christmas Day Lunch for people who would otherwise be alone. The Masons also gave us a donation to share between the local foodbanks. The two larger grants, each of £5000, are for a building project in 2024. The building work this year was to clad and insulate the rest of the building excluding the porch.
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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Milnsbridge Village Hall I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Milnsbridge Village Hall for the year ended 3111212023. Responslbllltles and bas15 of report As the charity trustees of Milnsbrid8e Village Hall you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirement5 of the Charities Art 20111.the ACVI. I report in respect of my examination of the Milnsbridge Village Hall accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon In connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any materia5 respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of Milnsbridge Village Hall as requlred bv section 130 of the Act. or 2, the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to which attention should be drawn in this rewrt in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Signed- Name: David Lewis Relevant professlonal qualification". BTech (Honsl. FCA Address- 151 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth. HD9 3TP Date: 26 September 2024