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2023-06-30-accounts

Allendale Lions Club

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Reg No 1173463

Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements for the year from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

DRAFT

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Allendale Lions Club

CIO Reg Number 1173463 Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees’ Report 3 - 6
Independent Examiner’s Report 7
Financial review and statement of financial activities for the year ended 8
30 June 2023
Receipts and Payments Accounts for Allendale Lions Club 9
Declaration 10

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1. Introduction

The Trustees of Allendale Lions Club present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2023. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Charity’s governing document.

2. Reference and Administration Information

Charity name: Allendale Lions Club Registered charity number: 1173463 Charity’s principal address: Ravensworth, Catton, Hexham NE47 9QR

Charity Trustees, including offices held during the year 2022-2023:

Peter Aldcroft President Stephanie Atkinson Secretary Rosemary Granger Treasurer Douglas Ness Margaret Stonehouse David Humes Health and Safety Officer Julie Humes Social Activities Peter Aldcroft Publicity Officer Olive Norris

Independent Examiner:

C M Welch FCA

3. History, objectives and activities of the Charity

The Club is a member of the International Association of Lions Clubs. The club was originally established in 2004 and was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 16 June 2017.

The club’s objectives are exclusively charitable including: to advance citizenship, to promote the voluntary sector for public benefit, to empower volunteers to serve their communities, the relief of poverty and to meet humanitarian needs, the advancement of health, to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and to promote community participation in healthy recreation.

Allendale Lions Club raises funds each year to enable them to provide grants to deserving causes within the Allendale area, the United Kingdom and overseas, including via the Lions Clubs International Foundation, and also to support and put on events to benefit and serve the local community. The grants are made in accordance with the Club’s Grant Making Policy.

Throughout the year the Trustees have paid regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in dealing with the objectives and activities of the club.

The club relies on the surpluses made on fundraising events and, on occasions donations from the public, to provide the funds with which to carry out its objectives. All administrative expenses of the Club are met from donations paid by its members. There has been no change to these policies during the year.

The work of the CIO is carried out entirely by volunteers.

From time to time as appropriate, the Club works closely with other local and national agencies, with other Lions Clubs and with Lions Clubs International to achieve its objectives.

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4. Management and governance arrangements

The Club is governed by its CIO document dated 16 June 2017, and by the Constitutions and Bylaws of Lions Clubs International, as revised from time to time.

The Trustees are appointed as appropriate by the members of the Club, and have overall responsibility to ensure the Club operates in accordance with Charity law and the Club’s CIO document. The day to day running of the Club is overseen by the Club’s officers, elected each year by the members. All business of the Club is ratified by members in general meetings, which are held at least once per month.

The Club is ably supported by the volunteer services of its members and others.

5. Fundraising and Community Service activities for the year ending 30 June 2023

We both organised and participated in a wide range of community events during 2022 – 2023. There follows a summary of the main events:

September - Allen Valleys Folk Festival

With the help of Heritage Lottery funding, Allendale Lions worked with the AONB Partnership to launch the festival in 2014. Almost ten years later, AVFF is now run by a separate charity – Allen Valleys Community Arts – but the Lions remain very supportive and one of the main sponsors in 2022. Last year’s festival was a great success, the first after a two year Covid break.

October - Illuminated Sheep

Last October, a brand new visual arts trail lit up Northumberland to celebrate the arrival of the Lindisfarne Gospels in the North East. A full flock of 30 life-sized illuminated sheep appeared at a handful of key locations across the region and Allendale was one of them! Our sheep (which we subsequently named Allen) arrived in the village on October 18[th ] and after four weeks, it moved outside to the village green until December 1[st] , when it rejoined the flock in Hexham. This was a surreal project pitched for jointly by Allendale Forge Studios and Allendale Lions. The aim was to create community involvement and we achieved this through a number of sheep focused activities.

December - Dr Feelgood

Dr Feelgood is an iconic rhythm & blues band founded in 1972 and still touring today! We were approached in September to provide a venue, a support band, sound and lighting kit plus local marketing and ticket sales. We accepted on the basis that the financial risk was the promoter’s, not ours. It was hard work, including on the night of the event, but a big hit with our community and the proceeds from the raffle provided a boost to our funds.

December - Carols in the Square

This a regular event and combines our 20’ village Christmas tree with lights, the appearance of Santa with his bag of sweets, The Backworth Colliery Band and over a hundred villagers who enjoy a good old sing. This year we added a free mince pie and mulled wine and there were generous donations to our bucket collection. The club was very appreciative of a grant from the parish council to support this event and the tree, which was enjoyed by all for a number of weeks around the festive season.

Scarecrow Royals

We launched a competition in March and invited residents to create scarecrows with royal relevance. These were mapped and voted on in April/May. Winners were announced at Coronation Capers, a fundraiser held at Allendale Village Hall on the afternoon of Sunday May 7th. The event included a quiz, raffle, strawberries & bubbly and live music. Funds raised enabled us to send a £500 donation to Great North Air Ambulance Service.

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Close Encounters

We have held two of a series of events similar in format to Desert Island Discs. Local personalities talk about their lives and times and share their favourite music tracks. These events have been well received and added to club funds.

We were not able to run our charity auction this year due to a number of factors outwith our control. The auction has been the main fund raising event for the club for many years, frequently accounting for around half of our annual total funds raised and we have felt the loss of this significant boost to our funds.

Unfortunately we also lost the annual bonfire and fireworks event in November, again due to a number of factors. The most significant factor affecting our decision was changes to the rules and regulations governing public bonfires and firework displays. Whilst the annual bonfire was first and foremost an event for the benefit of the community, it had in recent years also raised funds for the club. The club is committed to finding a way to offer a bonfire night event of some sort in future years, within new restrictions, but it is as yet unclear what shape this will take.

Without the significant auction and bonfire income in 2022 – 2023 we adopted a different approach to fund raising during the year, focusing instead on running more smaller events to raise funds which resulted in the programme of events described above. We also for the first time sought funding support from the Parish Council to provide community events at Christmas.

Grant making:

This year the increasing impact of the cost of living crisis has influenced the club’s grant making decisions with the largest grant of £500 being to the West Tynedale Food Bank in August 2022 and a further grant of £180 being made to support the Allendale Warm Hub in April 2023. A full list of donations made during the year can be found below.

Grants made by the club to other organisations and events totalled £2,235.99.

The beneficiaries in the year ending 30 June 2023 have been:

Date Organisation Purpose Award
August 2022 West Tynedale Food Bank To contribute to support available to
tackle the cost of living crisis.		 £500
Oct 2022 Tynedale Hospice at Home To contribute to the important work of
this organisation		 £250
Feb 2023 Allendale Village Hall To provide funding for new stage
curtain rail and mechanism – critical
for community events, especially the
annual pantomime		 £480.01
Feb 2023 Allendale Pre-school group To provide funding for the purchase of
new play equipment		 £229.98
March 2023 Allen Valleys Wildlife Group
(via Fawside)		 To fund two places on outdoor first aid
training to enable the group to run
guided wildlife walks		 £196

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April 2023 Allen Valleys Folk Festival To support this important local cultural
event		 £400
April 2023 Allendale Village Hall To contribute to the warm hub which
has been set up to support local
people by providing warm meals and
support during the cost of living crisis		 £180

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6. Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Allendale Lions Club - Charity No 1173463 On Accounts for the period ended 30 June 2023

Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission.

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison 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 concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports)

Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and

fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

13 November 2023

C M Welch FCA, Shilburn Road, Allendale

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7. Financial review and statement of financial activities for the year ended 30 June 2023 It is the policy of the Club to maintain unrestricted funds only to the extent that they are expected to be required within the foreseeable future to meet the objectives of the Club. The adequacy of the reserves policy is reviewed periodically.

The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the Club is exposed to satisfy themselves that systems are in place to mitigate those risks.

8. Receipts and Payments Accounts for Allendale Lions Club

The receipts and payment account information presented below is taken from the Charity Commission pro forma for receipts and payments accounts and it provides the recommended format for the preparation of such accounts and therefore meets the requirements of the Charity Commission. The pro forma is designed to meet the minimum recommended levels of accountability.

Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the charity during the financial year. In this context ‘cash’ includes cash equivalents for example bank and building society current and other cash accounts into which money is banked or used to make payments. It is generally accepted that receipts and payments accounts should not report all individual receipts and payments – these are recorded in the Club’s cash book from which this summary information is drawn.

These financial statements are prepared in GBP Sterling, rounded to the nearest pound which is the functional currency of the Lions Club. Allendale Lions Club meets the definition of a public entity under FRS102. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Lions Club’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Receipts including fundraising and donations are recognised when there is entitlement and certainty of receipt, and the amount can be assured with sufficient reliability.

Fundraising income and members’ contributions are recognised when they fall due.

Payments are recognised when a liability is incurred:

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Section A Receipts and Payments

Section A1 – Receipts
Receipts Unrestricted
Funds £		 Restricted
funds £		 Endowment
Funds £		 Total
Funds £
Fundraising events 3,133 0.00 0.00 3,133
Members’donations 1,633 0.00 0.00 1,633
Sub total (gross income
for AR)		 4,766 0.00 0.00 4,766
Section A2 Asset and
Investment sales
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Sub Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Total receipts 4,766 0.00 0.00 4,766
Section A3 Payments
Cost of fundraising events 1,600 0.00 0.00 1,600
Website/ publicity 17 17
Donations made 2,236 2,236
Dues to Lions
International and District
NE105		 1,487 1,487
Room hire 361 361
Sub Total 5,701 5,701
Section A4 Asset and
investment purchases		 0 0
Total payments 5,701 5,701
Net of receipts 935 935
Section A5 Transfers
between funds		 0 0
Section 6
Cash funds last year
end		 6,713 6,713
Cash funds this year
end		 5,777 5,777

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

B1 Cash Funds
Charity current account 3,794
Admin account 1,485
Tynedale Community
bank		 498
Total cash funds 5,777
B2 other monetary assets 0 0
B3 Investment assets 0 0
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 0 0
B5 Liabilities 0 0

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The charity current account comprises funds raised and donations received which have not been restricted by the donors or designated by the Trustees for a particular use. The Trustees are entitled to allocate such funds as they see fit towards the object of the Club.

The Admin account funds are raised by contributions from the members and is for use in the administration of the Club in accordance with the Club’s constitution. No funds raised from the public may be used for Club administration.

9. Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s) Rosemary Granger

Date 8 January 2024

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